Software Engineering
Full-time
Part-time
One year
Three year
September 2025
In a nutshell
Fast-moving technology is driving organisations in almost every industry to disrupt convention and seek new solutions. Prepare for a rewarding career in software development and shape the digital future with our Software Engineering postgraduate degree.
Designed in consultation with industry, our course curriculum is built to ensure you gain contemporary computing knowledge and skills sought by employers. You will learn how to meet the challenges of engineering complex software solutions that meet client specifications. You will explore software development technologies, cyber security and software architecture.
Software engineering is a creative, diverse and rewarding field. Available with full and part-time pathways, our course will equip you with career relevant technical and transferable skills. You will acquire lean and agile software development skills, alongside collaboration, communication and leadership skills, ready to apply once you graduate.
International applicant? Please check international intakes for the latest information and application dates.
Start your MSc Software Engineering study journey
Register for our next Open Day where you can learn more about the course, tour our impressive new computing suites and meet the tutors
You will:
- Learn how to meet the challenges of engineering a complex piece of software through the design and realisation of software systems to meet a specification
- Study advanced software development technologies and other skills relevant to industry, such as cyber security and software architecture
- Have the opportunity to acquire lean and agile software development leadership skills
students accepted
This is for you if...
You want to enhance your existing skills and qualifications for a career move into software engineering and development
You want to take your software development skills to the next level, ready to lead software projects and businesses
You want to contribute to thought leadership and the future direction of software engineering
All about the course
Course delivery
The course is delivered through a range of highly-focused modules. The 180-credit MSc award comprises four taught modules, plus a research dissertation. The 120-credit PgDip award comprises four taught modules.
Flexibility is at the heart of our learning approach. You can choose to study this postgraduate course full-time or part-time on campus.
- Full-time students will complete taught modules in each of the first two trimesters, and complete the 60-credit dissertation project in trimester three
- Part-time students will complete taught modules in years one and two, and complete the dissertation project in year three
Course content
Designed in consultation with industry, you will study advanced software development technologies and other skills relevant to industry, such as cyber security and software architecture. You will have the opportunity to acquire lean and agile software development leadership skills.
Current course topics include software development, lean, agile and large-scale software engineering, software architecture and security, and software business skills. We regularly review content with our industry partners to ensure your acquired knowledge and skill set reflects trends and needs within professional and business communities. Learn more about the course modules in the section below.
Through our industry-focus, we invite speakers from major companies and employers to participate in course delivery, providing real-world case studies and projects. A unique course feature is the opportunity to apply the lean and agile skills you acquire by mentoring an undergraduate software team on a project where they develop software for a live client. This opportunity can enable you apply your leadership, mentoring and coaching skills developing further transferable skills.
Course team
The Software Engineering postgraduate programme is delivered by an academic team with extensive industry experience and research connections, and a track record of developing software products through industry partnerships.
Working as members of Salford's Software Engineering and Visualisation research group, the course team has worked on complex software systems with major international clients.
Course leader: Dr. Julian Bass
Advanced Software Development
This module covers key concepts and advanced techniques for developing robust business applications using industry best practice and standards. With the continuing proliferation of online technologies and services, particular focus is placed on professional approaches to client-server and web development utilising frameworks.
The module is delivered as a blend of lectures, interactive tutorial sessions and hands-on software development workshops.
Lean, Agile and Large-scale Software Engineering
In this module, you will learn how to compare, evaluate and apply lean and agile practices working with a development team as they design, implement and test a software solution. You will learn about agile roles, ceremonies and artefacts as well as agile coaching and mentoring skills.
Software Architecture and Security
In this module, you will learn the fundamentals and advantages of security architecture, as well as concepts of security models for developing secure software. Additional subjects include an overview of security capabilities, threats and vulnerabilities, as well as an overview about countermeasures and defence in detail.
In the module, you will also learn how to compare, evaluate and apply secure architecture and patterns lean and be used in building computing systems such as bioinformatics, financial services, healthcare, transport or others.
Software Business Skills
In this module, you will learn how to develop strategies, plans and models to support software start-up company creation. You will explore and apply concepts using a value proposition to create features for a specific market or demographic. You will select software practices relating to the software start-up company context, focusing on trade-offs between process maturity and innovation agility.
This module will include software product leadership in addition to professional skills development
MSc Project
This module will provide you with an opportunity to integrate learning from the course modules and demonstrate the knowledge and skills you have acquired. Working under the direction of an academic supervisor, you will carry out high-level coordinated academic and practical work on researching a suitable problem and developing, evaluating and critically assessing a robust and scalable software engineering solution.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
School of Science, Engineering and Environment
Rising to the challenge of a changing world, our postgraduate courses are designed to shape the next generation of urbanists, scientists, engineers, consultants and leaders.
Shaped by industry, and delivered by supportive programme teams, you can develop the skills to take your career potential further.
Industry collaboration and research
When you start this degree course with Salford, you are joining a community making a difference in industry, our local region and in our wider society.
Many of our academics and technicians who support your course also lead collaborative, interdisciplinary, high-impact work in a range of local and global computing and informatics issues and challenges.
Discover how you are part of something bigger.
What about after uni?
EMPLOYMENT
There is huge demand for qualified and talented software engineers and developers across many global industries. With this qualification, you’ll be equipped with technical knowledge and transferable skills relevant for the job market.
This degree will appeal to aspiring technology leaders in the software development sector. The long-term goal for applicants might be to become a Chief Technology Officer. On graduation, and with some commercial software engineering experience, you can apply for roles working as software developers, product owners and software architects.
FURTHER STUDY
You might also choose to take your subject interest further with postgraduate research. The Salford Innovation and Research Centre (SIRC) is home to Informatics PhD and Research Master’s opportunities in knowledge discovery and semantic web, software engineering, big data, data mining and analytics, cyber security, information visualisation and virtual environments.
Explore our Doctoral School to learn more about research training, support and opportunities.
What you need to know
APPLICANT PROFILE
This course is recommended for mathematics, computing or science graduates, or experienced computing and I.T professionals, looking to develop software engineering expertise. The course is also recommended for applicants who have thought leadership aspirations in software technologies or development processes.
We encourage applicants with an enquiring mind, who have a practical and analytical approach to problem solving. We also welcome applications from knowledge seekers who want to explore the possibilities created by applying software engineering skills to address major challenges we face.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
All of our courses are taught and assessed in English. If English is not your first language, you must meet our minimum English language entry requirements. An IELTS score of 6.0 (no element below 5.5) is proof of this, however we do accept a range of equivalent qualifications.
Read more about our English language requirements, including information about pathways that can help you gain entry on to our degree courses. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our Pre-Sessional English course.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS
Please check international intakes for the latest information and application dates.
Undergraduate degree
The minimum requirement is a second class division honours degree (2:2) or equivalent in a computer science, or related STEM subject with coverage of computer programming.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
For more information or enquires about this scheme, please contact: AdmissionsSEE-PGT@salford.ac.uk
How much?
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2025/26 | £10,350.00per year |
| Full-time international | 2025/26 | £19,100.00per year |
| Part-time | 2025/26 | Calculated on a pro rata basis |
Additional costs
Having your own laptop (16GB of RAM and an Ethernet port) is not essential, but it will give you more flexibility in where and how you engage with the software you will need to use during your studies (software is provided as part of the course).
You should consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
International student scholarships
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Learn more about our latest international scholarships.