Welcome to your Software Engineering course

Welcome to the Masters course in Software Engineering at University of Staffordshire!

If you're starting your postgraduate journey with us, we're thrilled to have you. If you're continuing your studies, welcome back! You are now part of the Department of Computing within the School of Digital, Technology, Innovation and Business.

The course is delivered by enthusiastic and highly qualified academics with extensive commercial and research backgrounds. We are dedicated to helping your acquire subject-relevant knowledge and develop skills that will unlock your potential and pave the way for a successful and rewarding career.

Remember we are here to support you. If you encounter any issues, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Course delivery

For full-time on-campus students

Lectures and tutorial sessions will be delivered live on campus, with class sizes designed to enhance your learning experience. Our labs are equipped with a limited number of computers to ensure you have ample opportunity to interact with your tutor during sessions. We offer a variety of session types and adjust them to provide the best possible experience for you. Formal lectures will be accompanied by electronic materials available on our learning system, allowing you to pre-read or follow along with downloaded content. The most crucial aspect of your learning will be our labs, where you can deepen your understanding through practical work and discussions.

For distance learning students

Lecture materials will be pre-recorded and accessible on our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Blackboard, along with tutorial materials.

Semester one activities

Once the semester begins, you will receive detailed information on Blackboard and/or during your first class about how each module will be delivered and assessed. This will help you plan your semester and learning effectively. If you have any questions after the first week of teaching, the module leader will be happy to provide additional information.

We understand that the first few weeks can be quite a transition from previous studies. If you encounter any issues, please feel free to speak with one of the tutors or the course leader for assistance.

Pre-learning

Research methods

We recommend starting with research methods, and Saunders' Research Onion is an excellent starting point. There is a wealth of information available online, and you can begin with this link from GradCoach. This topic will also be covered in one of your modules.

Academic writing and referencing

If you have been out of education for a while, it might be beneficial to review academic writing and Cite-Me-Rite referencing. Our library services offer excellent guides and workshops for individual support. Explore these additional resources to aid your studies:

Study Skills Guides

Useful links:

Equipment and software

Software

The software requirements will vary based on the individual modules you are studying. The University provides software at no extra cost to all students, which you can access from our University Software Portal.

Hardware

All of our labs are equipped with powerful computers, and additional computers are available in various areas for student use.

For personal hardware, we recommend a laptop with at least an i5 processor (or equivalent.) Most modern processors are sufficient for general software development tasks. However, we recommend at least 16 GB of RAM to ensure you can use virtual computing, which allows you to create virtual environments for specific assignments. This technique is widely used in the industry and has proven to be very useful.

Using Apple-based laptops is perfectly fine, but please note that not all software has a compatible version for macOS. This is particularly true for some freeware utilities that might be used in your modules.

Trips and activities

In addition to our activities during welcome week there may be opportunities to join guest lectures, either on campus or online, relevant to your course. We will advertise these in advance to give you the chance to plan your time so you can fit them into your schedule should you wish to attend. Please note that attendance of these is optional but highly recommended.

Clubs and societies

While studying with us, we encourage you to engage with at least one of our numerous clubs or societies. Joining a club or society offers you the chance to meet and connect with like-minded peers, enriching your student life and experience.

For more information on the types of clubs and societies available here at University of Staffordshire please visit our Students Union website.

Additional Information

Some of the modules in this course offer the opportunity to gain specialist knowledge in fields where you can obtain industry-recognised certifications. While this may involve additional study and a small investment, these certifications are an excellent way to make your CV stand out when applying for placements or positions in the industry after completing your course.

Understanding the value of these certifications in the job market, we highly encourage students to take full advantage of these opportunities.

Meet the team

Dr Carolin Bauer

Senior Lecturer

Carolin has been working for Staffordshire University for a number of years in her capacity as a senior lecturer. She is currently the Course Leader for the MSc Software Engineering course.

Carolin's profile

What to expect on Welcome Week

We're so excited for you to join us on campus and to welcome you to where you matter. During your welcome week you'll be able to meet our friendly student services teams, connect with new friends, join societies, explore on-campus venues attend club nights and much more.