Software Engineering with Foundation Year

BEng (Honours)

UndergraduateComputing

Gain a degree in software engineering, with an initial foundation year to prepare for the course.

Everything you need to know…
  • What is the fee?

    International/EU: £16,655 per year (£1,200 for placement year)

  • How long will I study?

    4/5 Years

  • What are the admission requirements?

    80 UCAS Points

  • When do I start?

    2024.September

  • Placement year available?

    Placement Available

Course summary
Gain a degree in software engineering, with an initial foundation year to prepare for the course.
Gain real-world experience that’s relevant to your future career.
Develop your knowledge of database design and manipulation.
Study major programming languages and various modern frameworks.
Learn to produce high-quality, large-scale web, mobile and desktop applications.
Work on real client software projects
Prepare for the degree with an extra foundation year at the start

On this course, you’ll learn how to design, implement, and test complex, high-quality and large-scale software applications that can be used in enterprise environments. You’ll develop the skills you’ll need to work as a professional software developer using modern approaches which can be applied to new and emerging technologies.
How you learn

Work placements

You’ll have the opportunity to arrange a year-long work placement in between your third and fourth years. This gives you real-world experience to prepare you for your future career. Previous students have worked at organisations including Intel, IBM, 3Squared, SN Systems, CSC Servelec.

Live projects

In your third year, you’ll work in a small group on a client based project. You’ill analyse their requirements, then design, implement and test a prototype which you’ll present to your client. This will allow you to experience the types of demands faced by commercial software engineers – as well as increasing your confidence while you’re applying for your work placements.

Networking opportunities

Throughout the final year there are numerous opportunities for you to engage with career management, career fairs and workshops, employer presentations, visits and professional advisers.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

 

This course starts by helping you develop strong practical skills in developing software applications through lectures and hands-on tutorial sessions. These sessions will build your understanding of how and when to use appropriate processes, tools, technologies and project management practices.

The combination of teaching methods applied across the course will allow you to develop a range of skills through practical implementation, problem-solving activities, and teamwork, allowing you to take an active approach to learning and encouraging self-development. 

You learn through

  • lectures

  • hands-on lab sessions and tutorials

  • regular feedback

  • teamwork and group-based learning

  • practice-based applied learning

  • discussions

  • self-study

You’ll further develop your skills through real-world projects – where you’ll collaborate in small teams to produce industry-inspired software prototypes and projects. Tackling projects found in industry will help prepare you for a career in software engineering – all within a supportive learning environment.

During your final year, you’ll create a significant software deliverable, guided by a dedicated project supervisor. As part of this individual project, you’ll undertake research and apply new skills to create a software product you can be proud of.

You will be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate level employment through a number of key areas. These include

  • access to our unique student support triangle to help with your personal, academic and career development

  • access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments

  • industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities

This course is designed so you can develop skills in contemporary programming techniques, tools and processes and understand the project management practices used to support and control such projects. Through a combination of theoretical and practical activities, you’ll learn everything you need for a career in software engineering.

You learn through

  • lectures and seminars

  • practical tutorial sessions

  • reading and self-learning activities

  • problem solving activities

  • practical implementations and teamwork

  • assessments, reports and presentations

  • demonstrations, discussions and structured walkthroughs

  • online activities

  • coursework

  • practical projects and case studies

  • tutorials and workshops

In the foundation year, you’ll develop useful academic, computing and IT skills in preparation for undergraduate study. You’ll also build valuable communication and interpersonal skills.

Future career

This course prepares you for a career in

  • software development

  • web-based applications

  • mobile app development

  • systems and IT support

  • project management

  • IT consultancy

Equipment and facilities

On this course you’ll work with and have access to:

  • modern software IDEs including Visual Studio 
  • industry-standard software 
  • state-of-the-art hardware 
  • IoT and SBC devices 

We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students. 

 

Entry requirements

UCAS points

  • 80

This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC qualifications. For example:

  • CDD at A Level.
  • MMP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
  • A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

GCSE

  • English Language or English Literature at grade C or 4
  • Maths at grade C or 4

• Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.

We may also accept you, if you have limited qualifications but can show evidence of ability and a genuine commitment to studying the subject.

Some applicants may be invited to attend an informal interview with the course leader to ensure that the programme is suitable for themselves and their aspirations.

UK students may be able to claim financial support for the course.

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Modules

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

 

Year 1
Compulsory modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Foundations In Computing 1

40

Coursework

Foundations In Computing 2

40

Coursework

Maths For Foundation Computing

20

Practical

Study Skills For Computing Students

20

Coursework

 

Year 2
Compulsory modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Databases And System Modelling

20

Coursework

Programming

20

Coursework

Software Projects

60

Coursework

Web Development

20

Coursework

 

 

Year 3
Compulsory modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Introduction To Software Engineering

40

Coursework

Systems Programming

20

Coursework

 

Elective modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning 1

20

Coursework

Game Development

20

Coursework

Handling Data In The Cloud

20

Coursework

Mobile Applications Development

20

Coursework

Professional Software Projects

40

Coursework

Study Abroad - Computing And Digital Technologies

60

Coursework

 

Year 4
Optional modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Placement Year

 

 

 

Final Year
Compulsory modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Development Project

40

Coursework

Practical

Management Of It Projects

20

Coursework

Software Architecture And Design

40

Coursework

 

Elective modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Contemporary Software Engineering

20

Coursework

Machine Learning Algorithms And Heuristics

20

Coursework

Robotics

20

Coursework

Secure Software Engineering

20

Coursework