Computer Science (Software Engineering) BSc Honours

Clearing - How to apply

What is Clearing?

Each year, universities may have spaces left on their courses after the application window has closed in June.

UCAS Clearing is your opportunity to snap up one of these places, even if you didn't apply to the university prior to the June deadline.

It also gives you a second chance to go to university if you didn't get the grades you needed for your firm and insurance offers.

How do I get in touch?

Our Clearing entry requirements may differ from those advertised; contacting our friendly advisers is the best way to find out if you’re eligible for a place.

You can get in touch through live chat or our hotlines. Call us on 0800 073 5050, or if you’re an international student calling from outside the UK, call: +44 191 222 5000.

Not available in Clearing

This course is not available in Clearing 2024.

This means there are no spaces available for Clearing 2024. If you can't find vacancies in your original course or subject area, try exploring other subjects in a related field.

Search our courses in Clearing

Course overview

As a software engineer, you’ll oversee the development of reliable software systems in modern technology.

Reliable software is essential to modern technology, from the embedded systems that make a washing machine work to the flight controllers on a passenger jet.

In this course, we’ll focus on the design and development of embedded software systems, including:

• software verification systems
• real-time and cyber-physical systems

Sorry, you need JavaScript to view this video

Download information about this course as a PDF

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Additional information

Flexible degree structure

All our Computer Science students study the same modules for the first two years. Once you have a good foundation, you'll specialise later in your course. This means you can transfer between our degrees, until the end of your second year.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions

Learn about the fundamentals of Computer Science. There’s an emphasis on developing your skills in program design and implementation.

You'll get experience in Java programming, develop your problem-solving skills, and get a broad view of hardware and software architectures.

During this year, you’ll get an insight into what it’s like working in the digital sector.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Fundamentals of Computing	20
Computer Systems Design and Architectures	20
Foundations of Data Science	20
Programming Portfolio 1	30
Programming Portfolio 2	30

You'll study modules in software engineering, algorithm design and the fundamental principles that govern the operation of the internet.

We'll introduce you to requirements analysis and databases, and the formal specification of software systems.

You'll also work in a team to engineer a substantial software product, developing practical teamwork skills.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Security Programming	20
Algorithm Design and Analysis	10
Software Engineering Team Project	30
Introducing Contemporary Topics in Computing	30
Software Systems Design and Implementation	30

In your final year, you’ll start to specialise in Software Engineering. You'll study specialist modules and learn to manage large-scale software projects.

You'll also complete a major project and dissertation. For this, you’ll need to research and plan a solution to a real-world software engineering problem.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Major Project and Dissertation in Computer Science	60
Distributed Systems	10
Fault Tolerant and Cyber-Physical Systems	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Graphics for Games	10
Gaming Technologies and Simulations	20
Introduction to BioDesign and Natural Computing	20
Biomedical Data Analytics and AI	20
Cryptography	10
System and Network Security	20
Human Computer Interaction: Interaction Design	20
Computer Vision & AI	20
Data Visualization and Visual Analytics	10
Career Development for final year students	20

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2023-24.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

Teaching methods include:

• lectures, including guest lectures from visiting professionals
• tutorials from our expert staff
• supervised practical work, which will account for most of your time
• project work to help you develop real-world business skills, such as teamwork and project management

During your project work in Stage 2, you'll work as a team to develop a software product.

In Stage 3, you'll work on a major individual project and a dissertation.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Coursework

• 

  Dissertation or research project

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Group work

• 

  Practical sessions

• 

  Presentations

• 

  Projects

Skills and experience

Business skills

In addition to your academic work, employers look for evidence of skills and experience. Our degrees have been created with industry needs in mind.

In Stage 2, you will gain a realistic preview into industry life, being taught in a team environment with real-life industry briefs. You will pick a problem, identified by industry, and develop a project to find a solution. The projects are marked by industry representatives, lecturers and the project sponsor.

Opportunities

Industrial placement year

Spend a year working in the industry with our Computer Science (Software Engineering) with Industrial Placement BSc degree. It’s the same as our Computer Science (Software Engineering) BSc degree, with an extra year for a paid industrial placement. The placement starts in Stage 3.

Your placement is a great opportunity to gain practical experience, key business skills and industry contacts. This practical experience can help you develop in a non-university setting.

Facilities and environment

Facilities

You'll be part of the School of Computing, based in the Urban Sciences Building on our Newcastle Helix campus.

This brand new £58m building offers great facilities for our students, including:

• cyber-physical systems laboratory
• decision theatre for data visualisation
• flat floor teaching facilities
• 315 PCs with a Raspberry Pi3 on every desk

The building and the surrounding area is becoming a living laboratory, underpinning research to make urban centres more sustainable for future generations.

The Newcastle Helix is an innovation district in the heart of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Research across the Newcastle Helix focuses on:

• cyber-physical systems
• infrastructure
• smart grids
• future of our city
• big data

Support

To help you with academic and personal issues during your course, you'll have the support of an academic staff member. They'll be your personal tutor throughout your studies.

Our peer mentors will help you adjust to life at university during your first year. Our peer mentors are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you might have.

Your future

Join a network of successful graduates

Recent graduates have taken the following roles after graduation:

• software developer
• software engineer
• data scientist

Preparing you for career success

In the present job market, computing science graduates are better placed than many others to obtain employment in a challenging and fulfilling career, and the employability of Newcastle graduates is particularly high.

An increasing number of employers require digital skills, meaning our graduates are highly sought after. They move into bespoke software development roles in software houses and computer manufacturers and also into corporate organisations that use computers on a larger scale, such as banking, insurance and manufacturing companies and public sector institutions.

Benefit from strong industry links

You'll also benefit from our well-established links with organisations within the industry. Our placement students and graduates are regularly recruited by companies such as:

• Nissan
• Waterstons
• Accenture
• IBM
• P&G
• Deloitte
• Microsoft
• Sage
• DWP
• GCHQ

You can also gain work experience with local businesses. Many local businesses approach our School to advertise short, part-time or voluntary work opportunities.

Sorry, you need JavaScript to view this video

Careers support

We want all our students to succeed in their careers. That’s why we’ve designed our courses to give you the skills employers are looking for. You can also go to guest lectures from industry professionals, mock interviews, and professional skills workshops.

Every year, the school hosts a week of career events. In the past, these have included:

• hackathon workshops
• placement discussions
• coding and enterprise challenges
• employer talks
• networking events

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

The 2025 home fees have not yet been confirmed (see ‘Home Fee Students’ information below).

Qualification: BSc Honours
Home students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (per year) Not set
International students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (per year) 30600

Home Fee Students

Home students starting in 2024 entry
£9,250 is the maximum fee that we are currently permitted to charge for home fee-paying students. This is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Home students starting in 2025 entry

In November 2024 the government increased the maximum fee level to £9,535 for 2025/26. It is expected that Parliament will approve the Government’s proposed increase in January and we intend to confirm our Home fees at this higher level following this.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

 

Read more about fees and funding

International Fee Students

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages