Software is critical to the industry. It can save lives, improve performance and help us predict future events. We’ll give you the skills and the knowledge to create high-quality software with plenty of opportunities to access our industry-standard facilities to test it.

And that's what employers expect to see from you. Someone who is confident, work-ready and already has the software skills needed.

There continues to be a steady demand from industry and commerce for well-qualified software engineers. In fact, according to eSkills UK, there will be a shortage in the next ten years.

This software engineering degree seeks to meet that need by producing graduates with the precise combination of skills required to design and develop robust, efficient, high-quality software.

Why choose this course?

There's an opportunity for a year-long paid work placement with prestigious companies such as GE Consumer Finance and IBM.

You will have access to contact and share ideas with other computer games students throughout the country through our own Computer Society.

This course shares a common first year with BSc (Hons) Computer Science and BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Games Technology) allowing you the flexibility to review your pathway once you've started studying.

You will have access to ultra-modern facilities, equipment and software.

Our student work can be ground-breaking, and innovative and consistently attracts industry attention.

What our students say

Nottingham Trent University is an amazing place to study, combining quality learning and a degree at the end with a brilliant social life and excellent sporting facilities.

Simon Gilmurray

High quality accredited courses

by the British Computing Society. We work closely with industry and know what they want from graduates. With that in mind, we’re constantly developing our courses to meet these needs.

of BSc (Hons) Software Engineering (FT) students were positive about the academic support on their course (National Student Survey 2026)

Top 20 in the UK

for Computer Science and Information Systems (Guardian University Guide 2026)

World-Leading Research

In the last Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) we’re proud that 80% of NTU's Computer Science submission was assessed to be world-leading or internationally excellent.

What will I study?

You will learn core skills concerning the production of computer programs and applications, as well as specialist knowledge in areas such as software engineering and analysis and design.

All of the courses within the Computer Science cluster share a common first year. This will provide you with the flexibility to review your pathway once you have started studying. At the end of year one, you can choose to transfer to:

BSc (Hons) Computer Science

BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Games Technology)

BSc Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence)

BSc (Hons) Data Science

Learn from the experts

We have a rich mix of knowledge ranging from software development for different types of system through to hardware aspects such as networking. This involves many uses of computing and considers all aspects including security and management. Our knowledge is built up and maintained through our wealth of industrial experience, our industrial links and our research activity. These are the ingredients for ensuring the relevance and vitality of your course.

Our highly regarded academics are active in a broad range of research areas, particularly in the areas of machine learning, AI, smart sensors, cyber security, virtual reality, Internet of Things and robotics to drive advances in health, education and wellbeing. The Computing and Informatics Research Centre (CIRC) unifies and provides an overarching research vision to our academics.

Drive with Confidence - a safe and secure driving system to mitigate remote vehicle hijacking risks.

SmartBerry - Artificial Intelligence to enhance strawberry farming in developing countries

Hydra Cluster and Quantum Computing - high performance computing facility made out of 320 Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and networked control computers.

Serious games and virtual environments - developing virtual environments and games for promoting cognitive and perceptual skills in people with intellectual disabilities.

Get ready to embark on an adventure with our study abroad programs at partner universities or by getting a work placement overseas. Both opportunities will boost your employability, build lifelong friendships, and allow you to experience the world in a whole new way.

Learn a new language

Alongside your study you also have the opportunity to learn a new language. The University Language Programme (ULP) is available to all students and gives you the option of learning a totally new language or improving the skills you already have. Find out more about the ULP.

Course accreditations

This course is accredited by the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT to IT Professional (CITP) status.

Module information

A standard full-time BSc (Hons) course is made up of 120 credits studied each year. Some courses may vary, however, and you can find information on the total number of credits achieved per module below.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the

Year OneYear TwoOptional Placement YearFinal Year

ModulesExpand all +

Foundations of Computer Technology & Mathematics

This module provides a foundational understanding of computer systems technology and

mathematical principles essential for computing. It establishes core principles that serve as

a foundation for your subsequent studies in computing. The module will help you develop

both technical understanding of computer systems and mathematical problem-solving skills

crucial for your computing degree.

20 credits

Foundations of Computer Programming

This module gives you a good introduction to the discipline of computer programming. It will be delivered in a way that supports you in learning the key fundamentals that are built on in following modules and gives you some idea of what is to come. It will also give you the freedom and help you develop the confidence to learn technical skills independently.

You will be introduced to methodical approaches to planning and developing programs to address real world problems in ways that reflect professional practice. This will involve you reflecting on your experiences and approaches.

Computer Science Programming

Learn about programming languages relevant to software with industrial scale, reliability and performance characteristics.

Computer Technology and Mathematics

Understand how a computer works, look at issues arising from the hardware architecture and extend your mathematical knowledge and ability.

Systems Analysis and Design (SAD)

Introducing you to the fundamental principles of SAD, this module gives you a working knowledge of key systems development methodologies, techniques and tools.

Academic & Professional Development

This module will provide you with a good introduction to the skills required to succeed on your computing degree. You will develop your ability to become an independent learner, through guidance from your personal tutor. You will learn how to carry out research in an area of computing, and learn techniques to present your findings. You will learn about current issues in society, business and the environment, with emphasis on the powerful role that computers and computer professionals play in a sustainable, technological society.

Information and Database Engineering

Understand the nature and application of database management systems and acquire skills for database administration and management.

Internet Application Programming

Design and produce a static or dynamic website suitable for both desktop and mobile platforms and which may contain complex scripted components.

Practical Project Management and Professional Development

Continued professional development and lifelong learning are important to your future career. Through this module you'll improve your time and project management skills, presentations and report writing. This module also includes detailed guidance about the development of your CV and provides experience of selection assessments for industrial placement/graduate employment positions.

Software Design and Implementation

Gain the knowledge and skills in software development techniques to support the development of robust, secure, maintainable and portable software systems.

Software Engineering

Develop confidence using the structures, techniques and technologies to support the development of robust software systems in a team environment.

Systems Software

Study operating systems theory, network solutions, design and implementation, and learn how computer systems can be connected to form large complex distributed systems.

Optional year-long work placement. If you are not taking a placement you will progress directly to your final year in year three.

Core modulesExpand all +

Investigate problems in computing, implement solutions, critically evaluate and reflect on your work, and develop your abilities to communicate, self-organise and manage.

40 credits

Advanced Analysis and Design

Study the critical elements of 2D and 3D image capture and display systems. You'll develop an understanding of the object model what it's based on and how it can be applied to build systems. Learn how to use notation and follow the process for object-oriented development.

Advanced Software Engineering

Explore the challenges of scalable software development and the theories and techniques that enable efficient and reliable system design. You will build advanced C++ programming skills while studying algorithmic complexity, data structures, memory representation, testing, and performance measurement. By the end, you will be able to design and evaluate high‑performance software using both analytical and empirical methods.

Mobile Platform Applications

Gain an awareness of the requirements, capabilities and constraints of a variety of mobile platform technologies and consider how they can be used to build systems that are outside the traditional desktop paradigm.

Optional modules - choose oneExpand all +

Distributed Database Engineering

Learn about the processes and techniques data scientists use to support the challenging workloads for data science by focusing on a range of distributed database technologies that can support big data.

Service-centric and Cloud Computing

Explore how to design secure, scalable distributed applications using service-oriented and cloud-native approaches. You'll examine core cloud models, deployment strategies, and the technologies that enable modular, fault-tolerant services, while assessing performance, security, and key trade-offs in cloud environments.

Information Systems Management

Develop an understanding of how to manage the build and deployment of enterprise and Internet information systems within small to medium organisations.

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

Student experience

Branden Millward

Computer Science student

“The environment at NTU was massively supportive. All of my lecturers were more than happy to take time out of their day to help with projects, as well as giving valuable insight when needed”

Read Branden's profile

Peter Lampard Profile

“I have had a great experience at NTU, the staff have been very helpful in guiding me to develop new skills that helped me progress throughout my degree.”

Read Peter's profile

Video Gallery

Watch our facility tour video to get an insight into the equipment you'll use and what you'll study on the course.

Computer Science | Facility Tour

How you're taught

You’ll learn through a mix of:

lectures - covering the key theories

seminars - smaller-group sessions perfect for learning key skills and collaborative working

practical sessions - using our extensive range of industry-standard facilities

workshops - this includes surgery sessions where you’ll meet with your lecturer in small groups to discuss any problems or work through challenging topics.

The rest of your time will be spent carrying out independent study such as reading textbooks and lecture notes, and working on exercises.

A placement year may be taken between Year Two and Year Three of study.

Artificial Intelligence and Innovation

On this course, you’ll engage with AI in a practical, informed way, reflecting its use across science and technology today. You’ll explore how AI supports analysis, problem solving and innovation, while developing the skills to understand its limitations and ethical implications.

AI won’t replace scientific knowledge or professional judgement. Instead, you’ll learn how it complements your expertise and enhances professional practice in industry and research.

We’ll help you build confidence, adaptability and informed judgement, preparing you for a changing workplace where human expertise remains essential.

Research-informed teaching

Our research is tackling real-world issues – and the people working on this research will be teaching you. It also informs the subjects you’ll be studying with us so you can be sure your knowledge will be cutting-edge in your field. In the last Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) - the UK's system for assessing the quality and impact of research in universities - we’re proud that 80% of NTU's Computer Science and Informatics submission was assessed to be either world-leading or internationally excellent.

How you're assessed

People excel in different ways, and we want everybody to have the best possible chance of success. That’s why we’ve adopted a range of assessment types, including:

coursework, including group projects, case studies, dissertation and other assignments

practical assessments, such as individual and group projects and oral presentations

exams and tests, including formal exams, written tests and multiple-choice.

Contact hours

For each 20-credit module, you’ll spend about 200 hours learning overall. Around 40 of those hours will be taught in lectures or seminars. The rest of the time is for independent study, reading, research, or working on assignments.

Who will teach you?

Peter FitzGerald

Principal Lecturer

Find out more about Peter FitzGerald, Principal Lecturer and Undergraduate Courses Manager, in the Department of Computer Science at NTU.

Visit Peter FitzGerald's staff profile

Joanna Hartley

Deputy Head of Department

Find out more about Joanna Hartley, Deputy Head of Department of the Computer Science Department at Nottingham Trent University.

Visit Joanna Hartley's staff profile

Azi Meskaran

Course Leader and Senior Lecturer

Azi Meskaran is a Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University in the Department of Computer Science. She is a Software Engineering Course Leader teaching and leading system analysis and design module for all first-year students in Computer Science.

Visit Azi Meskaran's staff profile

Neil Sculthorpe

Senior Lecturer

Dr Neil Sculthorpe is the course leader for MSc Software Engineering, and 2nd Year Tutor for BSc Computer Science. He teaches Software Engineering modules for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Visit Neil Sculthorpe's staff profile

Entry requirements

UK students

Standard offer: 120 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications including an A-level equivalent IT, Maths or Science subject grade C

Contextual offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications including an A-level equivalent IT, Maths or Science subject grade C

To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.

Additional requirements

Additional requirements for UK students

There are no additional requirements for this course.

Contextual offers

We consider every application in the context of your individual circumstances and educational background. This may include information about where you live, the school or college you attended, or experiences that may have shaped your educational journey. This is known as a contextual offer, and we use information provided through UCAS to help inform our decisions. By considering achievement in context, we can better recognise academic potential and ensure applicants are assessed as fairly and fully as possible.

Meeting our entry requirements

Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS Tariff points attached to specific grades, including A-levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our Tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.

Other qualifications and experience

NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.

We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.

Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.

International students

Academic entry requirements: 120 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications including an A-level equivalent IT, Maths or Science subject grade C. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.

English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Additional international requirements

Additional requirements for international students

If you need help achieving the academic entry requirements, we offer a Foundation preparation course for this degree. The course is offered through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC) based on our City Campus.

English language requirements

View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.

If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.

If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.

You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.

Sign up for emails

Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.

If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students - see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

£10,050 per year

Year abroad - £1,507

Placement year - £2,010

If you choose to do a placement year or year abroad, you'll pay a reduced fee for that year. Please be aware that you will be charged the fee set for the year this takes place, rather than being fixed at the rate applicable when you start your course, and any increases are subject to Government approval. As a guide, the fees above are for the 2027/28 academic year.

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including NTU bursaries and scholarships.

Your course fees cover all the facilities and support you need to succeed.

You will have access to extensive computing facilities, some available 24 hours a day and including technician support.

You will have dedicated online storage to support backup of work.

You will have access to Microsoft Academic Alliance membership which gives you free copies of all Microsoft developer software including operating systems, Visio and Project.

As one of our students, you will be able to join the Oracle Academic Initiative as an individual member and get free database software.

Students are able to register for a free personal copy of 3D Studio Max.

Extensive equipment is available to loan for coursework and project work. For example, you can borrow cameras and phones.

We offer extensive free training software including tutorials on 3D Studio Max, Flash, Photoshop, TCP/IP Packet analysis, Java, Javascript, HTML5, Oracle.

Most major software is available across the campus machines, including Adobe Master Collection Suite.

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees, including the placement year and study abroad options are subject to government policy and may change in future years of study.

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but we don’t want you to feel anxious or confused about it. Visit our fees and funding pages if you have any concerns.

International students - see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

£18,400 per year

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees might increase from the second year of your undergraduate course, in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.

Scholarships

We offer international scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for a scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.

Living costs

See our advice on managing your money and the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment as part of your offer conditions. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, in order to enrol on the course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about your advance payment, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced international enquiries team.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Field trips

All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Year abroad

If you choose to study abroad for a year, you may need to consider additional costs such as visas, vaccinations, accommodation and travel expenses.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, phone the Student Money Team on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

Cost of living in Nottingham

Our student benefits and free services

Money advice for international students

Careers and employability

Your career development

The demand from industry and commerce for suitably qualified software engineers continues to show a healthy expansion.

Many graduates also choose to undertake further study on one of our Masters-level courses or MPhil and PhD research degrees.

Excellent placement opportunities

NTU is one of the most employment-focused universities. Increasingly, employers want to recruit graduates who have real-world work experience. That’s why all of our courses, across every subject area, offer you a work experience opportunity. Our experts help build and support your future with a range of career programmes and events.

On this course, after your second year, you will have the opportunity to take a year's work placement (sandwich placement). This will give you the chance to gain vital experience and put your knowledge into practice. You're also twice as likely to secure a graduate job within six months if you take a work placement.

You'll be supported and assessed throughout your placement year and will write a reflective report and diary at the end of your placement. When you complete your placement, you will be eligible to receive an additional award of a Diploma in Professional Practice.

Find out more about work placements.

Employability Promise

Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).

Graduate employers

Graduates from this course have successful careers in organisations such as:

Capital One Bank

Dyson Ltd

Puma Group

Bank of England

Experian

Co-Operative Group

Our graduates are…

Graduates from this course now work in a wide range of roles such as:

Software Engineer

Business Analyst

Software Developer

Systems Developer

Data Analyst

365 Software Consultant

JAVA SDET Consultant

Assessed work-like experience

We’ve embedded at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience into all of our courses. This gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in real-world scenarios, build your confidence, and develop the experience employers are looking for.

NTU Enterprise

If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Campus and facilities

You’ll be studying in the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Centre (ISTeC) with access to facilities including the Games Development Lab Robotics Laboratory, and High Performance Computing Suite.

Our self-contained, community-focused Clifton Campus has been designed to keep students busy between lectures. Catch up with your course mates in the Pavilion’s barista café and Refectory; brainstorm group presentations in chic study spaces; enjoy some proper R&R in The Point, home of our Students’ Union.

Clifton Campus also hosts the multimillion-pound Clifton Sports Hub, offering great options for everyone — whatever your interests, and however competitive you’d like to get!

Better still, you'll also be only four miles from Nottingham city centre — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. During termtime, a dedicated on-campus bus service will get you to the heart of the action (and back) in under 25 minutes.

You’ll find a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas, and vintage shopping by day, with an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.

360 ° view of the Virtual Reality Lab

Explore the Library at Clifton Campus in 360°

Computer Science Facilities

For more information visit the Computer Science Facilities page.

Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Centre (ISTeC)

For more information visit the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Centre (ISTeC) page.

NTSU Clifton Campus

For more information visit the NTSU Clifton Campus page.

Take a virtual tour

Applying

Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.

Writing your application and personal statement

Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only make a decision based on what you tell us. So include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades.

Your personal statement is a really important part of your application. It’s your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place! You’ve got 4,000 characters to impress us. Make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you’re applying for. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.

Keeping up-to-date

After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!

Apply through UCAS

You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.

Please read our application guidance before you start your application.

We advise you to prepare and apply as early as you can as Student visa processing time can vary.

We'll send you important emails throughout the application process. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam mail folder.

Apply through NTU portal

Personal statement guidance

You’ll submit a personal statement with your UCAS application – here are our tips on what to include and how to structure your personal statement.

Application support

If you have any questions about applying, get in touch through our online form or call us on 44 (0)115 848 4200.

Related courses

Software Engineering (with foundation year)

BSc (Hons)

Computer Science

Computer Science (Games Technology)

Computer Science - Artificial Intelligence

Computing

Cyber Security

Data Science

More from this subject

View more courses on the Computer Science subject page

Further study

View Computer Science postgraduate courses

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