Prestigious Scottish Funding Council Awards are available to high calibre applicants for this programme. The SFC has selected this programme in recognition of the high demand for students with these qualifications. The awards cover all tuition costs; for further information, please see: funded places.

The Masters in Software Development will give you an intensive grounding in computer programming, professional software development, and related professional skills and issues. You will apply your knowledge and skills by undertaking a demanding software development project.

Programme overview

• MSc: 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time
• PgDip 9 months full-time; 21 months part-time
• PgCert 9 months full-time; 21 months part-time

You will attend lectures, seminars and tutorials and take part in lab, project and team work.

Core courses

• Systems & networks
• Advanced programming
• Algorithms & data structures
• Development project proposal
• Information systems & databases
• Professional skills & issues
• Software engineering
• Requirements engineering
• Programming.

Plus one of the following specialist courses:

• Enterprise computing
• Human-centred security
• Safety critical systems.

Optional courses

• Digitisation
• Document encoding
• Human computer interaction: design and evaluation
• Internet technology
• Cyber security
• Trends in information security.

Depending on staff availability, the optional courses listed here may change.

Project

• To complete the MSc degree you must undertake a project worth 60 credits. This is a project chosen by you to design, implement, and test a software development system.

Career prospects

Former students are now employed in the chemical, electronics, travel, food, and oil industries, in banking and insurance, in software houses, in retailing, in education, in the health service, in management consultancy, in civil engineering, and in other sectors. Some graduates apply their newly-acquired software development skills within their existing careers, or move into research or teaching.

Academic entry requirements

• Honours 2.1 degree or equivalent in a subject other than computing, or
• Honours 2.2 degree or equivalent in a cognate subject (such as Mathematics, Physics, or Engineering)

International students with academic qualifications below those required should contact our partner institution, Glasgow International College, who offer a range of foundation courses.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training):

• overall score 6.5
• no sub-test less than 6.0
• or equivalent scores in another recognised qualification (see below)
   

Common equivalent English language qualifications:

• ibTOEFL: 92; no sub-test less than 20
• CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): B minimum
• CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): C minimum
• PTE Academic (Person Test of English, Academic test): 60; no sub-test less than 59

Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the Language Centre Pre-sessional courses. We also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:

• Language Centre, University of Glasgow
• BALEAP guide to accredited courses 

FAQs

Visa requirements and proof of English language level

It is a visa requirement to provide information on your level of English based on an internationally recognised and secure English language test. All test reports must be no more than 2 years old. A list of these can be found on the UK Border Agency website. If you have never taken one of these tests before, you can get an initial idea of your level by using the Common European Framework self-assessment grid which gives you a level for each skill (e.g. listening B1/writing B2 etc.) However, please note that this is not a secure English language test and it is not sufficient evidence of your level of English for visa requirements.

If you require a Tier 4 student visa, your qualification must be one of the secure English language tests accepted by UK Border Agency:

• UK Border Agency Tier 4 English Language requirements
• UKBA list of approved English language tests [pdf]

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office: pgadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk

Please note: applications for SFC funded places are open for entry in September 2013.

Apply now

For 2013-14

MSc