This industry-focused course is for Computer Science graduates and experienced professional programmers interested in developing high-quality, complex software systems and aiming at a high-quality career in the industry, e.g. software houses, consultancies, and major software users across different sectors.
Students will have a keen interest in designing complex software systems, coding them in a programming language using the latest technologies, and ensuring that they are of high quality and that they actually meet the needs of their stakeholders.
You will develop skills in analysing requirements and designing appropriate software solutions; designing and creating complex software systems to solve real-world problems, evaluating and using advanced software engineering environments, design methods and programming languages, and evaluating and responding to recent trends in interoperability and software development.
The Engineering Masters course focuses on advanced engineering concepts and methods, as well as design issues for the systematic development of high-quality complex software systems. These are explored using industrial strength technologies, like the C++ and Java programming languages and the UML modelling language.
The course covers significant trends in systems development, including cloud computing, security and big data. The course is delivered by acknowledged experts and draws on City's world-class research in Systems and Software Engineering, which has one of the largest groups of academics working in this area in London, covering almost all aspects - from requirements, to designing reliable systems for the nuclear industry.
Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Applicants should hold at least a lower second class honours degree, or the equivalent from an international institution or an equivalent professional qualification.
Previous academic and commercial experience is also considered. Applicants should have significant previous exposure to computing, especially programming (preferably in Java or C#) and relational databases.
If you do not qualify for direct entry, you may wish to follow a Graduate Diploma pathway to the programme through one of our partners.
Don't meet the entry requirements? INTO City, University of London offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare you for study at City, University of London. You'll learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre.
These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry. To prepare for this degree course, learn more about the Graduate Diploma in Informatics.
City works in partnership with Kaplan International College (KIC) London to provide preparatory courses for international students. Pre Masters courses at KIC London offer comprehensive support to students wishing to complete their postgraduate study at City. Progression to this degree is guaranteed if you complete the KIC London Pre-Masters course at the required level.
If you are an applicant whose first language is not English, the following qualifications are required:
For information about the various English Language tests City accepts please see the English language requirements. Please note though that the scores listed there are equivalent to IELTS 5.5.
Don't meet the English language requirements? INTO City, University of London offers English language programmes to help prepare you for study at university. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to degree courses.
International Students (EEA and Non EEA) coming to study in the UK, may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study. The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:
For more information see our main Visa page.
Thank you for having decided to apply to study a postgraduate course at the School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering.
Applications for 2021/22 are now open. Please note that the deadline for applications for the 2021/22 academic year is 31st August 2021, however we may close earlier if all places are filled.
You will be expected to submit the following:
Please note: Academic references are not required when you submit your application. However, the admissions tutor may request them at a later date to help make a decision on your application.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7040 0248
Email: smcsepg@city.ac.uk
Postgraduate Courses Office, A302
School of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London
EC1V 0HB
Fees in each subsequent year of study (where applicable) will be subject to an annual increase of 2%. We will confirm any change to the annual tuition fee to you in writing prior to you commencing each subsequent year of study (where applicable).
If a student leaves City after commencing but before completing their course, City reserves the right to charge the student the tuition/course fee for the full academic year (or full course for capacity limited post-graduate courses - up to a maximum of 2 years fees) in question. The student may be charged the full fee for that year or course as applicable unless the student is able to present justification that exceptional and unforeseeable reasons for their withdrawal exist.
City has introduced an instalment payment scheme which is available to certain categories of students, including taught postgraduate students. For students following the normal academic year, the annual fee may be paid in two equal instalments: the first on registering, the second on 31st January. If you wish to pay your fees by instalment you must pay the first instalment at or before registration, by cheque or credit/debit card. You must also supply your bank details or credit card details for payment of your second instalment which will be deducted automatically from your bank or credit card account on 31st January.
The School offers a range of generous scholarships, bursaries and prizes to applicants for this course:
As a postgraduate student on a Computing and Information Systems course, you will have the opportunity to complete up to six months of professional experience as part of your degree.
Our longstanding internship scheme gives you the chance to apply the knowledge and skills gained from your taught modules within a real business environment. An internship also provides you with professional development opportunities that enhance your technical skills and business knowledge.
Internships delivered by City, University of London offer an exceptional opportunity to help you stand out in the competitive IT industry job market. The structure of the course extends the period for dissertation submission to January, allowing you to work full-time for up to six months. You will be supported by our outstanding Professional Liaison Unit (PLU) should you wish to consider undertaking this route.
Benefits of completing an internship at City are:
We offer a variety of accommodation options and support services for postgraduate students.
Read more about our postgraduate halls.
Our Accommodation Service can also help you find private accommodation.
We offer a free language course for City, University of London students.
Course timetables are normally available from July and can be accessed from our timetabling pages. These pages also provide timetables for the current academic year, though this information should be viewed as indicative and details may vary from year to year.
Please note that all academic timetables are subject to change.
We offer an extensive support network during your time here at City, University of London – from Learning Support (including disability support) and counselling to financial and career advice – leaving you free to enjoy every opportunity campus life has to offer.
Find out more about the different types of student support available.
Chat to our current students and read their blogs to gain an insight into studying at City and learn more about our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
To make sure that you can begin or continue your studies with us during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have reviewed and adapted our courses to ensure a safe learning environment for our students and staff. We have modified the way some of our courses are delivered, with many programmes being made available online.
Contact us to find out more about how our programmes will be delivered.
Software Engineering MSc is available full-time (12 months) as well as part-time (up to 28 months).
Students successfully completing eight taught modules and the dissertation for their individual project will be awarded 180 credits and a Master's level qualification. Alternatively, students who do not complete the dissertation but have successfully completed eight taught modules will be awarded 120 credits and a postgraduate diploma. Successful completion of four taught modules (60 credits) will lead to the award of a postgraduate certificate.
Modules are assessed through a combination of coursework and examination but some are coursework-only.
Full-time students attend all taught modules during Term 1 (Oct-Dec) and Term 2 (Jan-Mar), and then complete their Project over 3 months (Jul-Sep), within the 12-month period of the degree (15-months for the internship route). This assumes they pass all the modules.
Students will usually need to attend three or four days a week. Full time students may take an internship route, in which they are given an extra three months for an internship-based Project.
Part-time students take half the modules during Term 1 (Oct-Dec) and Term 2 (Jan-Mar) in the first year, the remaining modules during Term 3 (Oct-Dec) and Term 4 (Jan-Mar) in the second year, and then complete their Project over 6 months (Jul-Dec), within the 27-month period of the degree. This assumes they pass all the modules.
Students will need to attend one or two days a week.
You will develop skills in analysing requirements and designing appropriate software solutions; designing and creating complex software systems to solve real-world problems, evaluating and using advanced software engineering environments, design methods and programming languages and evaluating and responding to recent trends in interoperability and software development.
If we have insufficient number of students interested in an elective module, this may not be offered. In rare cases, one or two elective modules may not run due to low interest or unanticipated changes in timetabling, including scheduling clashes, room and staff availability. If an elective module will not run, we will advise you at the beginning of every academic term or as soon as possible, and help you choose an alternative module.
The focus of the course is on advanced engineering concepts and methods, as well as design issues for the systematic development of high-quality complex software systems. These are explored using industrial strength technologies, such as the C++ and Java object-oriented programming languages and the UML modelling language.
The course covers significant trends in systems development, including cloud computing, security, big data, and XML-enabled interoperable services. The course is delivered by acknowledged experts and draws on City's world-class research in Systems and Software Engineering. City has one of the largest groups of academics working in the area in London, working on almost all aspects of the area - from requirements, to designing reliable systems for the nuclear industry.
The programme specification contains more information on how the course is organised, the requirements for progression for each part and credits required for awards.
The MSc in Software Engineering aims to meet the significant demand for graduates with a good knowledge of computing. This demand arises from consultancies, software houses, major software users such as banks, large manufacturers, retailers, and the public services, defence, aerospace and telecommunications companies.
Typical entrants to the course have a degree in an engineering or scientific discipline, and wish to either move into the software engineering field or to the development of software for their current field. Entrants must have previous exposure to computing, especially to programming (particularly in Java or C#) and relational databases (from either academic or professional experience).
From this base, the course provides solid technical coverage of advanced software development, including such widely used languages as C++, Java, UML and XML for which demand is particularly high. The course is therefore quite demanding; its success in providing advanced academic education along these lines is evident from the fact that recent graduates of the course are currently employed in a wide spectrum of organisations.
Of course, the employment value of a master's degree is not just short term. Although on-the-job training and experience as well as technology specific skills are valuable, they can be rather narrow and difficult to validate, and to transfer. The structure of this course ensures that there is a strong balance between the development of particular skills and a solid education in the enduring principles and concepts that underlie complex software system development.
In parallel to your degree you will be able to register for a SAP TERP10 Certification course at a substantial discount, thus obtaining an additional, much sought-after qualification.
Thank you for having decided to apply to study a postgraduate course at the School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering.
Applications for 2021/22 are now open. Please note that the deadline for applications for the 2021/22 academic year is 31st August 2021, however we may close earlier if all places are filled.
You will be expected to submit the following:
Please note: Academic references are not required when you submit your application. However, the admissions tutor may request them at a later date to help make a decision on your application.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7040 0248
Email: smcsepg@city.ac.uk
Postgraduate Courses Office, A302
School of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London
EC1V 0HB
Find out more about City and all our postgraduate degree programmes.