Software Engineering
UCAS Code: GG6K
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
Grades A*AA including A* in mathematics. This should include Mathematics with a significant pure element (the Use of Mathematics or Core Mathematics does not satisfy this requirement). General Studies is welcome, but is not normally included as part of the standard offer. Typical Contextual Offer: Grades AAA including Mathematics.
AS level results are not considered as part of the standard admissions process at The University of Manchester.
Access to HE Diploma
Applications are considered on an individual basis, e.g. additional educational achievements, life experience and skills. Please contact the University for further information. Our standard academic requirements include 60 credits with 45 at Level 3. Minimum of 30 credits should be with a Distinction grade (15 of which must be in mathematics), plus 15 credits with a Merit grade in a science-related subject. Students are also required to have a Grade A* in A-level mathematics with a pure element.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
We consider applicants offering Pre-U Principal Subjects, or a mix of Pre-U and A Level subjects, provided a minimum of three distinct subjects, including Mathematics, is taken. Conditional offers will be set on an individual basis but are likely to include achieving Grade D1-D3 in three Principal Subjects including a D2 in mathematics.
The University recognises the benefits of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. Although the Extended Project will not be included in the conditions of your offer, we strongly encourage you to provide information about the EPQ in your personal statement and at interview. A number of our academic Schools may also choose to take your performance in the EPQ into account should places be available in August for applicants who narrowly miss the entry grades for their chosen course.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including: 5 GCSES at Grade A/7 or B/6 (both numeric and letter grade) including: Mathematics (please note we do not accept Applied GCSE Mathematics courses e.g. WJEC Mathematics - Numeracy) two science subjects from Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Science and Additional Science English Language is required at GCSE level with a minimum Grade of C/4. GCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE English Language.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
37 points overall, with 7,6,6 in Higher Level subjects, including 7 in Mathematics. Changes to International Baccalaureate Diploma Mathematics Courses from September 2019, first examination 2021. We are aware of the planned changes to the IB Mathematics curriculum. IB students will be able to choose from: Mathematics: analysis and approaches and Mathematics: applications and interpretation from September 2019. For this programme of study we will accept: Higher Level Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches only.
OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma
We consider the Cambridge Technical Diploma for entry provided it is in IT or Engineering with Grades DD in combination with a Grade A* in A level Mathematics.
We consider the Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate for entry in any subject provided it is in combination with two A levels including Mathematics. Our A level entry requirements are Grades A*AA including A* in mathematics and the full Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate can be used to replace one of the other two A levels.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
We consider the Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma for entry provided it is in IT or Engineering with Grades DDM in combination with a Grade A* in A level Mathematics.
OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma
We consider the Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma for entry in any subject provided it is in combination with two A levels including Mathematics. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma with Grades MM plus two A levels at Grades A*A including A* in Mathematics.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
We consider the National Diploma for entry provided it is in IT or Engineering with Grades DD in combination with a Grade A* in A level Mathematics.
We consider the National Extended Certificate for entry in any subject provided it is in combination with two GCE A levels including Mathematics. Our A level entry requirements are Grades A*AA including A* in mathematics and the full National Extended Certificate can be used to replace one of the other two A levels.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
We consider the National Extended Diploma for entry provided it is in IT or Engineering with Grades DDM in combination with a Grade A* in A level Mathematics.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
We consider the National Foundation Diploma for entry in any subject provided it is in combination with two A levels including Mathematics. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Foundation Diploma with Grade M plus two A levels at Grades A*A including A* in Mathematics.
We normally require grade A in Highers Mathematics and Grades AAAB in four further Highers subjects with a scientific bias. The Highers must be taken in one sitting. Or: Three Advanced Highers at grades ABB, including Advanced Highers Mathematics with Grade A. Two Highers in different subjects can replace one of the other two Advanced Higher subjects. English Language not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 Grade C/Intermediate 2 Grade C/Standard Grade 3). If a physical science has not been taken at Higher/Advanced Higher we require TWO science subjects at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 Grades AB/Intermediate 2 Grades AB/Standard Grade Credit level).
We normally require grade A in Highers Mathematics and Grades AAAB in four further Highers subjects with a scientific bias. The Highers must be taken in one sitting. Or: Three Advanced Highers at grades ABB, including Advanced Highers Mathematics with Grade A. Two Highers in different subjects can replace one of the other two Advanced Higher subjects. English Language not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 Grade C/Intermediate 2 Grade C/Standard Grade 3). If a physical science has not been taken at Higher/Advanced Higher we require TWO science subjects at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 Grades AB/Intermediate 2 Grades AB/Standard Grade Credit level).
The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate and this can be used in combination with two A level subjects including mathematics. Our A level entry requirements are Grades A*AA including A* in Mathematics and the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate can be used to replace one of the other two A levels.
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About this course
Software systems are the cornerstones of all modern business. Such systems are often complex and long lived, and must be robust and adaptable. By studying software design and production techniques, this degree programme will equip you with the skills needed to follow a career specifying and developing these systems, and other computer-based solutions.
You will gain not only knowledge and practical experience of the latest technologies, but also a grounding in the underlying principles of the subject. It is this combination of skills that enable our graduates to keep pace with this fast moving subject, and secure financially rewarding careers that can be pursued almost anywhere in the world.
The Uni
University of Manchester
Department of Computer Science
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Software engineering
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Computer science
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Computer science
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
A specialist subject, and not surprisingly graduates tend to go into software engineering roles or related. The degree classification students achieved made a particular difference last year — computing graduates with the best grades were much less likely to be out of work after six months and employers can even rate a good grade as important as work experience. Most students do get jobs, though, and starting salaries are good — particularly in London, where average starting salaries for good graduates were getting towards £38k last year. Be aware that at the moment, recruitment agencies are much the most common way for graduates from this degree to get their first job, so it may be worth getting in touch with a few specialist agencies in advance of graduation if you take this degree to get a foot in the door.
Computer science
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
This is a newly-classified subject area for this kind of data, so we don’t currently have very much information to display or analyse yet. The subject is linked to important and growing computing industries, and over time we can expect more students to study them — there could be opportunities that open up for graduates in these subjects as the economy develops over the next few years.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Computing
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£29k
£37k
£42k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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