The overall aim of the programme is to provide a strong foundation in broad computing knowledge and essential skills in computer programming which are required for Software Development. Graduates of the programme will gain strong programming skills and a high degree of self confidence in their ability to pursue further qualifications in Software Development which will ultimately give them access to a wide range of exciting roles in the Computing and IT industry. The online format and blended-learning delivery of this programme is specifically designed to allow students to gain their education in a highly flexible manner.
There are a limited number of fully funded places available (eligibility requirements and conditions apply) for this course as part of the Skill-Up programme from the Department for the Economy. These places are to retrain eligible individuals with no prior qualifications in coding or Computer Science.
If you’re looking for a career changing stepping stone into our part-time Master’s in Software Development, a strong foundation in coding and computing can help you stay professionally relevant.
Software Development highlights
Industry Links
Our graduates are employed by some of the largest companies on the planet, including IBM, Citi, Allstate and Liberty.
The aim of the programme is to provide a strong foundation in coding alongside the computing knowledge and essential skills that are required for software development.
You will gain solid programming skills and a high degree of self confidence in your ability to pursue further
qualifications in software engineering.
Specifically, students graduating from the PGCert programme will have achieved the following learning outcomes, commensurate with award attained, relating to subject specific knowledge and understanding; intellectual, practical and key transferable skills.
On completion of the programme the student will be able to:
• Apply necessary skills, tools and techniques of Computer Programming which are necessary for careers in the Software Development industry.
• Apply their knowledge and understanding of some of the fundamental topics of Software Development and Computing.
• Adhere to the values, attitudes and competencies needed to undertake CPD and self-directed learning throughout their careers.
Course Structure
Two taught modules which build from foundational to advanced topics of computer programming:
- Programming
-Computing Fundamentals
Modules
The foundational modules are studied in the first year and cover introductory programming using the Java programming language and progressing to advanced algorithmic and object-oriented programming. This runs alongside the computing foundations module which includes foundation knowledge of computing including an introduction to software engineering and software testing.
EEECS Email: askeps@qub.ac.uk or
pgt-admin-eeecs@qub.ac.uk
Teaching Times
Teaching takes place on two evenings per week with approximately 6 hours of timetabled activity each week.
Learning and Teaching
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Learning and Teaching
The course will be delivered in a distance based blended format. This involves students working through guided online course materials in their own time, with teaching contact on two evenings each week to participate in active learning sessions with their lecturers. If students require assistance while they are working through materials at home then they will be able to contact their lecturers using a number of methods.
Each taught module generally involves approximately 3 hours of contact time in interactive tutorials/computer lab sessions per week along with approximately 2 hours per week of guided online study. Alongside these structured activities, students are expected to work on group and individual assignments and projects.
Assessment
Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:
The course is the highest rated for overall student experience Computing Master course in the UK (2019). This includes excellence in student experiences in the quality of teaching and learning, student engagement, quality of assessment and feedback, organisation and management, learning resources and careers and employability.
The course encourages a hands-on approached to learning, with an emphasis on learning by doing. We provide videos of lecture content and continually offer you with opportunities to gauge your progress in each module through self-assessments and practical activities and challenges.
The structure of the PG Cert follows the teaching of the first year of the part time version of the MSc in Software Development. The curriculum of the MSc Software Development was designed through collaboration with significant industrial partners who helped select the most relevant module content to prepare the students for a range of software development roles. This has helped ensure that the graduates are highly trained and much sought after by employers.
The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2024/25). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.
This module will introduce foundational elements of computing for students that are studying a one-year MSc conversion course in Software Development. It provides detailed introductions to areas in:
1. Data storage: bits and storage. Gates (AND , OR, XOR, NOT) Memory, mass storage, bit patterns and data, binary system, storing integers (Two’s Complement etc.)
2. Computer architecture – including processors.
3. Operating systems – general theory and command line exposure e.g. Linux.
4. Data structures and algorithms. Including Sorting and Searching, Big O.
5. Networking and internet protocols. Cyber security, SSL, encryption.
6. Introduction to Software development: lifecycles including Agile.
7. Introduction to Software Testing, fundamentals of software testing, test types, characteristics of good requirements, white box and black box testing techniques.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, the successful student will have achieved the following learning outcomes, commensurate with module classification. The student should be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of the principles of Data storage: – including Gates (AND, OR, XOR, NOT) Memory, mass storage, bit patterns and data, binary system, storing integers (Two’s Complement etc.) Data compression.
Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of the principles of key sorting and searching algorithms and Big O notation.
Demonstrate knowledge, understanding of the principles of Computer architecture, Networking and internet protocols and current technology trends.
Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of the basic principles of Operating systems and command line programming.
Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of Software Engineering practices and Software Testing.
- Principles of programming – including variables, selection, iteration, strings and arrays and how these techniques are realised within the Java programming language.
- Principles of object-oriented design and development – objects, classes, methods, interfaces, abstraction, inheritance, encapsulation and polymorphism.
- Recursion, Threads, Advanced Exception handing, Events. Java Collection framework including - Lists, Sets, Queues, Maps, Sorting, Searching. Programming to an interface. Generics.
- SOLID principles, Common Design Patterns
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, the successful student will have achieved the following learning outcomes, commensurate with module classification. The student should be able to:
• Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of the basic principles of programming – including variables, documentation, selection, iteration, strings and arrays and how these techniques are realised within the Java programming language.
• Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of the principles of object-oriented design – objects, classes, methods, interfaces, abstraction, inheritance, encapsulation and polymorphism, SOLID principles.
• Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of some advanced principles of programming – including exception handling, threading, recursion, data collection, Generics, Lambda, design patterns and other industry relevant advanced topics and how these techniques are realised within the Java programming language.
Skills
This module provides an opportunity to exercise aspects of the following QCA Key Skills (at proficiency Level 4): Application of Number, ICT, Improving Own Learning and Performance, Problem Solving. During the module students will develop:
• Analytical and problem solving skills
• Design, implementation, testing and debugging computer coded programs
• Critical and creative thinking
Normally a 2.2 Honours degree or above, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any discipline excluding Computer Science or other similar Computing degree.
Applicants with entry qualifications other than a 2.2 Honours degree will be considered on an individual basis based on a Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) assessment. Please visit http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicy for more information.
In addition to the above qualification requirements, all applicants will also be required to pass an aptitude test.
A limited number of fully funded places (provided by the Department for the Economy) are available for this programme. Where there are more eligible applications received than places available, the academic selectors for this programme will make offers in rank order based on academic merit and potential as evidenced in the totality of the information provided in each application. We will operate a waiting list as required to allow us to fill all available funded places. If you have not been selected for a funded place, we will accept self-funded or employer-funded applicants, if spaces are available.
If you have already applied for this course but did not know about the funded places available, your original application will still be considered equally for a funded place. We will contact you if this applies to you.
Further information is available at the link below.
Closing date for applications is Tuesday 20th August 2024 at 12 noon. However, we encourage applicants to apply as early as possible. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal earlier than the deadline. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page. https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/skill-up-flexible-skills-fund/
International Students
Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.
English Language Requirements
Applicants for whom English is not their first language must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study. Please see the following link for further information: https://www.qub.ac.uk/International/International-students/Applying/English-language-requirements/
International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.
Employment opportunities in software engineering are excellent, as evidenced through the consistent and continued growth of the software sector. A career within the profession is not only well remunerated but also rewarding, with software professionals able to select between a range of career progression paths. Given the diversity of careers, the variety of skills gained from a non-IT primary degree are strongly valued by IT employers and will help augment the employment opportunities of graduates from this programme.
Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes alongside sterling integration with business experts helps our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally. http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/
Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
1EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.
2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
No tuition fees are payable by eligible students for the programme as it is funded by the Department for the Economy’s Skill Up programme. Please refer to https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/skillup for further information.
Applicants must meet the entry criteria for the course and be:
• over 18 years of age;
• eligible to work in Northern Ireland;
• settled in Northern Ireland, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years; or
is a person who has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK
All Students
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.
Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.
Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.
If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.
Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.
There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
How do I fund my study?
The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.
A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas (excluding Initial Teacher Education/PGCE, where undergraduate student finance is available). Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.