Software Engineering

Software engineering is the application of engineering principles to the development and maintenance of high quality software.

What is Software Engineering?

Software engineers use an understanding of computer science, design, engineering, management, mathematics and psychology to enable team production of large software systems.

What You Study

Core engineering studies include mathematics. Software Engineering study areas include software processes and management, and modelling complex software systems. At Masters level, this course focuses on team-based projects, in which students must conceive, design, implement and operate software engineering solutions. Students develop technical skills and the ability to apply engineering principles to solving real world problems. A year-long industry project provides the opportunity to work closely with IT professionals and many graduates find roles in this field, in addition to those in other service-oriented and software development areas.

Career Outcomes

The IT industry in Australia is experiencing a critical skills shortage, and highly-trained graduates are in strong demand. The Master of Engineering (Software) is accredited by the Australian Computer Society, Engineers Australia and has recently received European accreditation, having been awarded the EUR-ACE® label via an authorised agency of the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE). This level of accreditation creates career opportunities in many countries around the world, and confirms that this program meets high European and international professional standards.

Dual accreditation with Engineers Australia (provisional) and EUR-ACE® allows graduates of the Master of Engineering, or the Master of Spatial Information Science, to practice as professional engineers virtually anywhere in the world. For more information see our accreditation page.

How to Become a Software Engineer

Step 1: Computing and Software Systems

The Computing and Software Systems major may be taken as a part of the following degree. You can find out more on the following websites:

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Commerce students may choose the Computing and Software Systems sequence, and study between eight and ten engineering subjects as the breadth component of their degree. You can find out more about the degree on the following website:

Bachelor of Commerce

Duration

300 credit points / 3 years full-time

Fees

Domestic Students

Commonwealth Supported Places: Fees per 100 credit points (depending on subjects taken) $4547–$7262 (with 10% up-front discount)

Commonwealth Supported Places are guaranteed until 2019 for the duration of the undergraduate degree and Master of Engineering course.

International Students

Typical yearly fee range per 100 credit points (depending on subjects taken) $28,788–$33,004

For more information please refer to the Fees page on the University’s Future Students website.

Course Structure

Sample Course Plan — Bachelor of Science (Computing and Software Systems)

This example is provided as a guide only. Subject availability will vary from year to year and there is no guarantee that the listed subjects will be available in future years. This information is for students with VCE Units 3 and 4 Specialist Mathematics.

Year 1	Semester 1	Foundations of Computing	Calculus 2	Science elective	Breadth
Year 1	Semester 2	Foundations of Algorithms	Linear Algebra	Science elective	Breadth
Year 2	Semester 1	Design of Algorithms	IT or Science subject	Science elective	Breadth
Year 2	Semester 2	Database Systems	Object Oriented Software Development	Science elective	Breadth
Year 3	Semester 1	Software Modelling and Design	Artificial Intelligence*	IT or Science elective	Breadth**
Year 3	Semester 2	IT Project	Computer Systems*	IT or Science elective	Breadth**

* One of Artificial Intelligence and Computer Systems may be replaced by an elective drawn from a list of specified alternative subjects.
** May also be used to take further Science or IT subjects, provided a minimum of 50 points of breadth is completed during the course of the degree.

Step 2: Master of Engineering (Software)

Graduates with a Computing and Software Systems major major (with a 65% average) are eligible for a two-year Master of Engineering (Software).

Find out more about the Master of Engineering (Software)

Sample Course Plan — Master of Engineering (Software)

Year 4	Semester 1	Masters Software Engineering Project	Software Processes and Management	Computer Science and Software Engineering advanced elective	Modelling Complex Software Systems
Year 4	Semester 2	Masters Software Engineering Project	Software Engineering Methods	Computer Science and Software Engineering advanced elective	Computer Science and Software Engineering advanced elective
Year 5	Semester 1	Masters Advanced Software Project	Software Engineering advanced elective	Computer Science and Software Engineering advanced elective	Approved elective
Year 5	Semester 2	Masters Advanced Software Project	Software Engineering advanced elective	Computer Science and Software Engineering advanced elective	Approved elective