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BEng Software Engineering with Year of Professional Experience

Academic Year 2017/18

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance and Enhancement processes as set out in the DASA Policies and Procedures Manual.

Programme Title

BEng Software Engineering with Year of Professional Experience

Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)

Bachelor of Engineering

Programme Code

SEP-BENG

UCAS Code

G604

JACS Code

I300 (DESCR) 100

Criteria for Admissions

A-level: BBB including Computing, Mathematics or Software Systems Development + GCSE
Mathematics OR ABB including Chemistry, GCE A-level ICT (not Single Award Applied ICT),
Physics, Technology or Double Award Applied ICT + GCSE Mathematics.

BTEC Extended Diploma: a relevant computing, engineering or scientific BTEC Extended
Diploma with 10 Distinctions and 8 Merits + GCSE Mathematics.

BTEC Higher National Diploma/Foundation Degree: those with good grades in a relevant
Higher National Diploma/Foundation Degree will be considered individually on their merits
for entry to Stage 2.

Irish Leaving Certificate: B2B2B2B2CC/B2B2B2B2B2 including Higher Level grade B2
Mathematics OR B2B2B2B2B2B2/AB2B2B2B2 including Higher Level grade B2 in Chemistry or
Physics + Ordinary Level grade C in Mathematics

ATAS Clearance Required

Health Check Required

Portfolio Required

Interview Required

Mode of Study

Full Time

Type of Programme

Single Honours

Length of Programme

4 Academic Year(s)

Total Credits for Programme

480

Exit Awards available

INSTITUTE INFORMATION

Awarding Institution/Body

Queen's University Belfast

Teaching Institution

Queen's University Belfast

School/Department

Electronics, Electrical Engineering & Computer Sci

Framework for Higher Education Qualification Level
www.qaa.ac.uk

Level 6

QAA Benchmark Group
www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

Computing (2016)

Accreditations (PSRB)

British Computer Society (BCS)

Date of most recent Accreditation Visit 17-10-13

REGULATION INFORMATION

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

None

Programme Specific Regulations

The programme is subject to the University General Regulations which can be found at: http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/AcademicStudentAffairs/AcademicAffairs/

Progression from Stage 1 to Stage 2:

At the end of Stage 1, students enrolled on a Computer Science, Software Engineering or Computing and Information Technology programme may choose to swap programme and transfer into Stage 2 of any of these listed programmes subject to meeting the normal Stage 1 to Stage 2 progression requirements of the chosen programme. Students will not normally be permitted to swap from a Bachelors to Masters programme or from a programme with Professional Experience to a programme without Professional Experience.

Year of Professional Experience:

Students must, unless exempted, spend at least 9 months between Stage 2 and Stage 3 in obtaining professional experience in a manner approved by the School.

Normally students may proceed to the Year of Professional Experience if they have no more than one module fail (20 CATs) at Level 2.

Students wishing to apply for exemption from their Professional Experience Requirement must do so in writing to the Director of Education before 1st December in Stage 2. Applications for exemption will be considered by the Placement Adviser and the Director of Education, with advice from the students’ Advisers of Studies or other staff as appropriate. Exemption will be granted only in circumstances where a student can demonstrate either personal extenuating circumstances or the equivalent of a minimum of 9 months relevant previous experience.

Students who have been granted exemption from the Year of Professional Experience will be required to transfer to the equivalent programme and may proceed directly to Stage 3 subject to meeting the normal Stage 2 to Stage 3 placement requirements.

In September, prior to the start of the first semester, students who are unable to secure a placement will be considered for exemption by the Placement Adviser and the Director of Education, with advice from the students’ Advisers of Studies or other staff as appropriate.

Before a student will be deemed 'unable to secure a placement' he/she will be asked to demonstrate a consistent effort throughout the year in obtaining a placement. Normally, this will be interpreted as a minimum of 20 relevant applications to advertised positions, spread across the year. Speculative enquiries to companies not advertising placement opportunities do not form part of this.

Students who, despite repeated attempts, are unable to obtain a suitable placement may be permitted to transfer to the equivalent non-placement programme and may proceed directly to Stage 3 subject to meeting the normal Stage 2 to Stage 3 placement requirements.

Students with protected characteristics

N/A

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF PROGRAMME

The overall aim of the programme is to provide a broadly-based education in Software Engineering, supported by fundamental topics in Computing Science, which will produce graduates equipped to apply best practice in software engineering to the design and development of a wide range of software systems in organisations.

• Embark on careers as professional Software Engineers or undertake research in Software Engineering.

• Understand the fundamental principles of Software Engineering and Computer Science.

• Understand and able to able use a range of current, emerging, novel and exciting developments in Software Engineering theory and practice.

• Apply the skills necessary to critically evaluate new developments in technology and take advantage of them where appropriate.

• Maintain a rigorous approach to the design and development of software systems and the analysis of their correctness and complexity, which will remain applicable through changes in technology.

• Exercise high levels of professionalism and an awareness of the wider business and legal environment in which software engineers operate.

• Possess strong interpersonal skills, encompassing team-working skills and effective oral, written, presentation and listening skills.

• Uphold the values, attitudes and competencies needed to undertake CPD and self-directed learning throughout their careers.

Specifically, students graduating from the programme will have achieved the following learning outcomes, commensurate with degree classification, relating to subject specific knowledge and understanding; intellectual, practical and key transferable skills:

• Draw upon practical skills and experience of software development in a business/commercial context.

Consistent with the general Educational Aims of the Programme and the specific requirements of the Benchmarking Statement for Computing, this specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme, and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.