Use your technical and creative skills to make everyday life easier.
As a software engineer, you’ll use your technical and creative skills to make our everyday lives easier. You could design, develop, maintain, and manage software for anything from efficient cars, mobile phones, and social media to the technology needed by the emergency services. Job opportunities for software engineering graduates are aplenty, whether you want to work for a tech or retail giant, in manufacturing, government, or the military. There were over 300,000 jobs available in programming and software development last year, and jobs are expected to grow by 2.19% in the next eight years. You could earn an average graduate salary to begin with, working your way up to £70-80,000 with a role as a senior developer, project manager, or consultant, or you could decide to set up your own business.
the impact you could make
- Work for businesses or government, thwarting malicious cyber attacks before they happen
- Solve incompatible software in the government or NHS to help streamline services
- Write the code that will power the technology that allows us to dig and explore further on Mars
What you could study
- Virtualisation and cloud computing
- Programming languages
- Mathematics for computing
- Core computing concepts
- Software design and architecture
- Application and web development
- Mobile application development
- Ethical hacking
- Algorithms and modelling
- Networking and operating systems
- Systems environments
Chat to a current software engineering student
Chat to a current software engineering student using UniBuddy.
Some conversation starters for you:
- Ask which modules they really enjoyed.
- Find out how easy it was for them to make friends on their course.
- Do they have any tips on your personal statement?
- Did they do anything to prep for uni before they went?
- Are there books, podcasts or YouTube channels they would recommend?
Chat to students
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UCAS Media Service
Example module
"I love the coding modules like paradigm of programming, advanced algorithms and data structures, and advanced programming."
Second year software engineering student at the University of Greenwich
Example Project
"By far my favourite assignment has been related to my module Software Hut where we develop a product for a client. It has been really challenging but really fun and interesting to do at the same time."
Second year software engineering student at the University of Sheffield
Computing and IT
Physics
Maths
Design Technology
Hard skills you'll develop
- Agile methodology
- Programming languages
- Data structures and algorithms
Soft skills you'll develop
- Communication and teamwork
- Analytical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Persistence
Available jobs
403,165 vacancies in the past year
6.43% growth over next eight years
Average salary
£47,634
Up to £78,593
What is a… cryptographer?
You may never have heard of a cryptographer but they’re an important part of cyber security. Cryptographers use their software engineering skills to develop algorithms and ciphers, and write the encryption code that protects sensitive data and communications for security reasons. As well as developing encryption technology, they’ll also likely test cryptology and identify weaknesses in existing systems for a range of employers like large companies, banks, and governments.
Getting in: Entry requirements
Find out more about what you'll need to study software engineering at university or as an apprenticeship.
Average requirements for undergraduate degrees
Entry requirements differ between university and course, but this should give you a guide to what is usually expected from chemical engineering applicants.
A levels
ABB
Scottish Highers
AAABB
Vocational
BTEC DDM
Level 3/Level 6 qualifications (e.g. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma or SQCF Level 6) may be accepted as an alternative to A Levels/Highers.
Listen to our brand new podcast all about degree apprenticeships in IT and digital Find out about funding, what day-to-day life is like, making friends, and more from our expert panel.
The expert view
Beth Clarke, award-winning Software Engineer, and BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, SIGiST Committee member
“In our interconnected world, software is the driving force shaping our future. As a software engineer you will be tackling real-world challenges using creativity, problem-solving, and cutting edge technologies. Software is everywhere: it powers the apps on our smartphones, drives innovations in healthcare, and navigates rovers on Mars. The possibilities of what software can do are always growing and evolving as we research new technologies, including machine learning and quantum computing. So, if you're drawn to where technology meets tangible change, welcome to the exciting world of software engineering—it's where your code transforms possibilities into reality.”
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Find out more
Read our guide to digital and IT apprenticeships.
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The Odin Project
Use The Odin Project free resources to start you on your coding and programming journey, and gain a better understanding of what the broader subject might entail.
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Software Development Times
Focused on what it says in the title, Software Development Times follows industry news and features.
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Programming with Mosh
Watch Programming with Mosh. Mosh is a software engineer who’s created lots of different YouTube videos about all different aspects of programming, including things like machine learning and ChatGPT.
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Pramp - interviewing skills
Use Pramp to practise your coding interviews and skills, both for university applications and for after your studies when you’re looking for jobs.
- Make sure you understand the aim and some of the modules on the course you’re applying to, so that you can tailor your statement towards them. Explain succinctly why you want to study software engineering, including particular types of programming and software you like, if it’s relevant, or books and research you’ve read.
- What qualities do you have that lend themselves well to this subject, like attention to detail, technical curiosity, and a natural talent with numbers and programmes? Can you give examples of when you’ve shown these qualities, whether during a school project, a coding competition or recognition in a particular subject area?
- You’ll also need to show you’re hard-working, analytical, and able to solve problems on the spot. Have you had a job where you had to think on your feet, whilst remaining calm? Maybe you like puzzles or escape rooms, or you’re into climbing, juggling, or magic, all of which involve an element of problem-solving.
- Write about how you work with others. Perhaps you've been part of a sports team, Scouts, or done the Duke of Edinburgh award. What about part-time jobs where you’ve had to work well with others? You could also mention times when you’ve led a team or organised something complex, like a sporting or charity event or competition.
- Don’t forget to mention what you’d like to do once you graduate. Show you understand the industry and job roles available.