Heriot-Watt University
Study Postgraduate

MSc Software Engineering

The course

Delivery
Full-time, Part-time, Per course
Course type
Taught
Location
Edinburgh
Entry date
September, January
Find out how to apply More about this subject area

Contact

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Overview

Software engineers create and maintain software applications using best practice from computer science, project management, engineering, application domains and other fields. This programme is designed to teach students how to apply state-of-the-art techniques and methodologies to develop high quality software to professional standards at an advanced level. Computer Science at Heriot-Watt is ranked 6th in Scotland by The Complete University league tables (2021).

Students will be able to specialise in particular areas, such as the development of dependable systems, parallel or big data applications, advanced interactive systems like games, or novel applications using biologically inspired models of computing.

In some cases the project can be carried out in collaboration with an outside industrial or academic organisation.

Graduates from the programme can expect to find employment with software houses, IT companies, R+D divisions of companies, financial services organisations, defence contractors or government IT agencies and as researchers or research students within universities.

Programme duration

  • MSc: 12 months (full-time), 24 months (part-time)
  • PG Diploma: 9 months (full-time)

This full-time programme starts in mid September.

Professional recognition

This programme is accredited by the British Computer Society.

September 2023 Entry

The deadline for applications from UK students is 31 August 2023. For EU and overseas applicants, we guarantee to consider applications submitted by 1 August 2023.

Go Global

Some of our Postgraduate Taught Masters Programmes are eligible for Inter-Campus Transfer. Please contact goglobal@hw.ac.uk for further information.

Course content

Full-time students take 4 courses each semester and must normally take all core courses.

Core courses

  • Advanced Software Engineering
  • Information Systems Methodologies
  • Research Methods and Project Planning
  • Industrial Programming
  • Masters and Dissertation

Optional courses

  • Advanced Interaction Design
  • Big Data Management
  • Biologically Inspired Computation
  • Computer Games Programming
  • Computer Network Security
  • Distributed and Parallel Technologies
  • Data Mining and Machine Learning
  • 3D Graphics and Animation
  • Project Management
  • Software Engineering Master Class

After semester 2 students continue full-time on the MSc project.

Project

In the third semester (May-August) students undertake a specialist MSc project which is written up as a 15000 word dissertation. This project enables further development and consolidation of skills introduced in the taught courses, applying them to a challenging practical problem in this subject area.

Entry requirements

Entry requires a good honours degree in Computer Science. Candidates holding a little less than a good honours degree or its equivalent but with compensating qualifications or experience may be admitted to the Postgraduate Diploma programme. Transfer to the MSc will be possible later on if exam and course work are at MSc level.

English language requirements

Important: If your first language is not English, or your first degree was not taught in English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.

The minimum requirement for English language is IELTS 6.5 (with no component under 6.0), we also accept TOEFL (scores of 90 and higher).

We also offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement prior to starting your master's programme:

  • 20 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.0 with no skill lower than 4.5)
  • 14 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.0 with minimum of 5.0 in writing and no skill lower than 4.5)
  • 10 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5 with no skill lower than 5.0)
  • 6 weeks English (for IELTS 5.5 with no skill lower than 5.5)

Fees

Tuition fees for entry
Status Full-time Part-time Per course
UK £9632 £4816 £1204
Overseas £22264 £11132 £2783

Footnotes

  1. Your residency 'status' is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course. Find out more about tuition fees.
  2. Fee per course (module). Refer to the Course Content to see how many courses comprise the full programme.
  3. Overseas includes applications from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in the UK. Read more about the application process for EU nationals.

Scholarships and bursaries

We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.

View our full range of postgraduate scholarships.