Software Development - Professional

This intensive one-year Masters conversion course is aimed at highly motivated graduates with a good honours degree in any discipline other than computing. There is a strong demand in the local economy and beyond for graduates with software development skills. This course will give you the skills needed to apply best practice in software engineering across a variety of organisations. While the course has a particular focus on the employment needs of the local economy, the skills and abilities developed are easily transferred to a global stage.

You will cover topics including programming skills, computer hardware, operating systems, professional software development, software architecture and design, database systems, and web-based app development.

You will be well-placed to find employment in private industry, public sector organisations, and in research. You’ll gain the necessary skills to work in roles such as software developers, software testers and/or academic or commercial researchers, as well as have the capacity to diversify into other roles such as independent consultancy.

For further course details please see "Course Web Page".

Year one
Professional Software Development I
Software Architecture and Design
Professional Software Development 2
Database Systems
Project
Computer Hardware This module is optional
Data Validation and Visualisation This module is optional
Data Science Foundations This module is optional
Web Based Application Development This module is optional
Operating Systems This module is optional

Standard entry conditions
We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.

1) A second class honours degree or better from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, from the Council for National Academic Awards, the National Council for Educational Awards, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or

2) an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification; and

3) the content of the qualification presented (as described in (i) may have a maximum of 50% computing content.

AND
You must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements for admission to a first degree course and hold a GCSE pass in English Language and Mathematics at grade C or above (or equivalent)

The Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment does not accept students with Essential Skills in Application of Number as the only mathematics qualification. Please contact the Admissions Office directly if you have a query concerning this matter. Thank you.

T: +44 (0)28 7167 5678
E: admissionsmg@ulster.ac.uk

In exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink").

Attendance
This is a full-time, one year (12 month) programme, delivered across three semesters.

Start Date: September 2024

Career options
There is a strong demand in the local Northern Ireland economy and beyond for graduates with software development skills. Coupled with the skills and knowledge of their primary degree, graduates from this course will be well placed to find employment in private industry, public sector organisations and in research. They will have the necessary skills to initially work in roles such as software developers, software testers and/or academic or commercial researchers but will also have the capacity to diversify into other roles such as independent consultants.