Software Engineering with foundation year and industrial placement

Congratulations. You're considering a career in the world's most in-demand profession (1). Software engineering is a truly global activity that concerns building and maintaining software systems and other computer-based solutions. By examining all elements of the process – from an initial understanding of the problem to be solved through analysis, design, and development to testing, documentation and maintenance – our BEng (Hons) Software Engineering degree with foundation year and industrial placement offers you a focused education in software engineering, ready to impress potential employers. By studying at the University of Bolton, you can develop essential knowledge and understanding of software engineering principles and practices while experiencing life at our supportive, student-focused, multicultural campus.

The foundation year is the first year of this degree, offering an excellent grounding in the fundamentals of computing, programming and mathematics. It's designed to prepare you for degree-level study.

Our dedicated staff team offers a balance of academic rigour, industrial experience and advanced technical expertise. We'll support you in exploring the underlying principles of software engineering while helping you gain knowledge and practical experience of the latest technologies. You'll be encouraged to appreciate both the technical and human aspects involved in areas such as the lifecycle of software systems, software design, systems analysis, programming, database specification and design, and system security.

We focus on helping you develop industry-relevant knowledge and skills so that you are well-prepared for a career in software engineering. We'll also support you in building lifelong learning skills so you can take ownership of your professional development for the future and maximise your potential for success.

The University will offer lots of support to help you find a placement with a relevant company in preparation for your year in industry (the industrial placement takes place between the third and final years of this five-year course). Through our relationships with employers, we'll share placement adverts as they become available, and you can also seek your own placement. Our placement team will help with applications and interview skills. Your placement does not have to be in the Bolton area – it could be elsewhere in the UK. Completing a year in industry will give you invaluable skills and experience that will help you in your final year of study with us and boost your CV to help you find an enhanced career afterwards. If you're unsuccessful in securing a placement, you'll be able to transfer directly to the final year of study and complete your degree in four years.

(1) https://www.michaelpage.co.uk/minisite/most-in-demand-professions accessed on 18 September 2023