Software Engineering with Foundation Year
Software engineering is the discipline of designing, building, testing, and maintaining software systems in a systematic and reliable way. As software becomes ever more deeply embedded in how society functions, from healthcare and finance to infrastructure and communication, the demand for engineers who can build it well has become one of the most consistent features of the modern labour market. Software engineers apply formal methods, structured design thinking, and rigorous testing practices to ensure that the systems they create behave as intended, can be maintained over time, and can be trusted by the people who depend on them.
At the University of Salford, this four-year, full-time programme includes a foundation year designed to help you build a strong grounding in computer systems and programming before progressing onto the full degree. This pathway is specifically designed for students who need to develop their technical foundation before engaging with degree-level content, making engineering education accessible to those who may not have studied computing at A level. A sandwich year is also incorporated into the programme, giving you the opportunity to undertake a substantial professional placement in a software development environment, and work placements are embedded throughout the course to develop your professional skills.
A typical entry tariff of 104 points reflects the programme's inclusive ambition.
Graduates of software engineering degrees go on to work as software developers, systems engineers, DevOps engineers, technical architects, quality assurance engineers, and project managers in organisations across virtually every sector. The combination of technical rigour and professional experience developed in this programme prepares graduates to contribute meaningfully from day one in their roles. Postgraduate study in software engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, or a specialist area of technology is a further option for those seeking advanced expertise.