MSc Advanced Software Engineering (January start)
ApplyKey facts
- Start date: January
- Study mode and duration: 12 months full-time
Study with us
- advanced masters designed for graduates with a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or a related discipline, with significant software development skills
- enhance your existing practical software engineering skills
- learn the techniques needed for creating large, reliable, secure software systems
- develop the skills to design and deploy sophisticated modern software systems
- skilled computer science professionals are in high demand
How could the Covid-19 pandemic affect my studies?
Covid-19: information & FAQsWhy this course?
Computer science supports the build, development and use of computer systems.
There is a growing need across the world for skilled, advanced computer science professionals. This course helps you develop the skills necessary to design and deploy sophisticated modern software systems in a range of application areas.
You’ll improve your practical software engineering skills and learn new theories of software development. This course gives you the necessary qualifications to get a skilled position in the computing industry.
What you'll study
You’ll study two eleven week semesters, each with 3-4 modules. Each module typically has four hours of lectures, laboratory practicals and/or tutorials, with additional study time required to enhance and apply your understanding of the topics covered, through further reading, self-directed study and assignments. In the summer, between June and August, you’ll undertake an in-depth three-month research project.

Course content
Learning & teaching
Our teaching and learning methods include lectures, tutorials, laboratory practicals and combinations of individual and group work. These will not only develop your expertise in computer science, but also in communication, team-working and analytical skills which are all essential skills for your future career.
You’ll have regular contact with our expert staff, many of whom have been nominated for, and won, teaching awards based on nominations by our students.
Assessment
Assessment is through a combination of individual work, group work, exams and practical work in laboratories. Around half the classes are assessed entirely by coursework, the others are a combination of coursework and examination.
Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues for the Information Society (10)
This class aims to ensure that you're aware of the legal, social, ethical and professional issues commensurate with the practice of Information Systems Engineering.
Research Methods (10)
This module aims to provide you with an understanding of both quantitative and qualitative research processes and associated techniques, including the effective presentation of findings in accordance with the best principles of scholarship.
Select 100 credits from the options below:
Advanced Topics in Software Engineering (20)
The aim of this class is to introduce you to a selection of recent advances in software engineering, along with some of the challenges and outstanding problems.
Designing Usable Systems (20)
In this class, you'll develop research level understanding of the design and evaluation of interactive systems and interfaces for newly emerging technologies and computing domains such as ubiquitous and mobile computing, universal access and domain-specific applications (e.g. older adults, education, health, children).
Distributed Information Systems (20)
This class will give you an extended understanding of the deep, technical issues underlying information systems in the particular context of distributing content over the world-wide web.
Mobile Software & Applications (20)
You'll develop a research-level understanding of the design and evaluation of interactive systems and interfaces for newly emerging technologies and computing domains such as ubiquitous and mobile computing, universal access and domain-specific applications (e.g. older adults, education, health, children).
Project Management (20)
This class will help you:
- appreciate the practicalities of project evaluation and management
- understand and use techniques for the evaluation, planning and management of projects
- examine the issues and problems in being a project manager
- gain an appreciation of the project environment
Software Architecture & Design (20)
The aims of this class are to:
- enable you to understand the challenges of advanced software design and the issues associated with large-scale software architectures, frameworks, patterns and components
- develop your understanding of the tools and techniques that may be used for the automatic analysis and evaluation of software
Over the summer semester, from June until August, you will undertake a significant piece of work that will be your MSc project. This is typically a very practical activity, and can include:
- Analysing a problem and designing, implementing and evaluating a solution
- Conducting an in-depth experimental analysis of technique or technology
- Performing an analysis of a large data set, and building and evaluating models of the data
We will also have a range of projects available that are sponsored by our staff based on their latest research, and many that come direct from the employers we work with, representing real-world problems they are trying to solve.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements | Minimum second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in computer science, software engineering, or a closely-related discipline Significant software development skills, ideally in Java or another object-oriented language, are essential |
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English language requirements | You must have an English language minimum score of IELTS 6.0 (with no component below 5.5). We offer comprehensive for students whose IELTS scores are below 6.0. Please see ELTD for full details. As a university, we now accept many more English language tests other than IELTS for overseas applicants, for example, TOEFL and PTE Cambridge. View the full list of accepted English language tests. |
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 100 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
Visit our international students' sectionFees & funding
All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.
Scotland | £8,100 |
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England, Wales & Northern Ireland | £8,100 |
International | £18,100 |
Available scholarships | Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities. |
Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.
How can I fund my course?
Scottish postgraduate students
Scottish postgraduate students may be able to apply for support from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). The support is in the form of a tuition fee loan and for eligible students, a living cost loan. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from England
Students ordinarily resident in England may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance England. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Wales
Students ordinarily resident in Wales may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance Wales. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Northern Ireland
Postgraduate students who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland may be able to apply for support from Student Finance Northern Ireland. The support is a tuition fee loan of up to £5,500. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
International students
We've a large range of scholarships available to help you fund your studies. Check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Careers
There will be opportunities for you to meet industry employers and take part in recruitment events, in addition to taking advantage of a wealth of support offered by our award-winning careers service.
We have a dedicated careers fair for our computer science and information management students each year, with over 30 leading companies, including:
- Amazon
- JP Morgan
- Morgan Stanley
- British Telecom
- Bridgeall
- Kana
- Skyscanner
- ThinkAnalytics
As a graduate of advanced software engineering you could be an analyst, architect or developer. There's a demand for advanced practitioners and researchers in the growing area of embedded systems development.
How much will I earn?
- Systems analyst – typical salaries for junior analysts are between £20,000 to £25,000. More experienced analysts earn £40,000 a year, on average.*
- Applications developer – graduate salaries start at around £20,000. This can vary depending on the size of the employer and the sector which you are working in. The typical salary range for a senior applications developer is approximately £45,000 to £50,000.*
*Information is intended only as a guide. Figures taken from careers website Prospects (last accessed 28 June 2019).
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We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.
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Advanced Software Engineering - January intake
Qualification: MSc
Start Date: Jan 2021
Mode of Attendance: full-time
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