MSc Software Engineering
Become unstoppable. Engineer Software that Lasts.
The MSc Software Engineering is designed for graduates with computing or related STEM experience who want to develop systematic, research-informed software engineering capability beyond undergraduate level. Delivered by Robert Kennedy College in exclusive partnership with the University of Salford’s School of Science, Engineering and Environment, the programme integrates advanced software development with software architecture and security, lean, agile and large-scale software engineering, and software business skills.
You’ll learn to analyse requirements, make and justify technical and methodological decisions, and address non-functional constraints such as security, scalability and maintainability — while considering the legal, social, ethical, sustainability and commercial issues involved in the responsible development and deployment of software systems. The programme culminates in an independent, research-informed MSc project applied to a substantive software engineering problem.
Swiss Quality. Since 1998. British Excellence. Engineering Rigour.
This programme combines the excellence of Swiss-quality online education with the prestige of a British degree from the University of Salford. For over two decades, Robert Kennedy College has been at the forefront of online education, while the University of Salford’s School of Science, Engineering and Environment — with its research-led expertise in software engineering, secure systems and computing — ensures you graduate with a globally recognised and respected qualification.
Why This Programme?
- Beyond Coding: Advanced development, secure architecture, scaled agile delivery and software business skills in one degree
- Security by Design: Threat modelling, secure architecture patterns and security engineering as a dedicated core module
- Lean, Agile and Large-Scale: Scaling frameworks, inter-team coordination and global distributed development for complex products
- Fast and Flexible: Complete in as little as 9 months, 100% online via OnlineCampus, in focused six-week module blocks
- Optional Residential Week: One week in Zürich or Salford, Manchester, to prepare your final project — or take the same workshops online
Your MSc Software Engineering degree is:
- Recognised worldwide by employers and industry leaders
- Awarded directly by the University of Salford
- Identical to degrees earned on campus
- Fully recognised by the UK government
Career Outcomes
Graduates are prepared for roles such as:
- Senior Software Engineer
- Software Architect
- Application Security Engineer
- Engineering Manager / Head of Engineering
- Agile Coach / Scrum Master
- DevOps and Platform Engineer
- Technical Product Owner
- Software Start-up Founder / CTO
Award-Winning British Education
The University of Salford is a winner of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education 2025, recognising the University's pioneering research in sustainable building design and tackling fuel poverty, led by its Energy House Labs.
Part of the United Kingdom's national Honours system (formerly known as the Queen's Anniversary Prizes), the Prize is granted every two years to recognise outstanding work by UK universities and colleges that demonstrates excellence, innovation, and benefit for the wider world.
9 months to 4 years
Online, with an optional residential week in Switzerland or Salford, Manchester.
We offer rolling admissions throughout the year. Register at any time and begin your learning journey immediately.
Full details and currency options are listed on our Tuition Plans & Rates page.
Programme not eligible for UK Government student finance.
Optional residential week
Zürich, Switzerland or Salford, Manchester
Your degree is fully achievable online. But before you begin your final project, you can choose to spend one week with fellow students and faculty - at Robert Kennedy College in Zürich, Switzerland, or on campus at the University of Salford in Manchester, England.
The residential week is built around your Project for MSc. Through workshops, supervisor sessions and peer discussion you will sharpen your research question, settle your methodology, plan your project timeline and leave with a clear roadmap for the dissertation stage. It is also a rare opportunity to meet in person the international cohort you have been studying alongside online, and to experience the two institutions behind your degree.
Programme Outline
Introductory
Not-for-credit
- Induction
This is the first module of the programme which gives an orientation to the course and the online learning style. It does not carry credits, and students are encouraged to go through the material in this module at their own pace and get accustomed to the online medium.
The MSc Software Engineering consists of 180 credits delivered through five modules. All taught modules are core and delivered online in focused six-week blocks:
Stage 1: Taught Modules (120 credits)
- Module 1: Advanced Software Development (30 credits)
- Module 2: Software Architecture and Security (30 credits)
- Module 3: Lean, Agile and Large-Scale Software Engineering (30 credits)
- Module 4: Software Business Skills (30 credits)
Stage 2: Project for MSc (60 credits)
Module 5: Project for MSc (Dissertation) (60 credits)
Exit awards: PgCert / PgDip Software Engineering are available for students who complete 60 or 120 credits respectively.
Module Descriptions
Module 1: Advanced Software Development (30 credits)
- Contemporary development environments and frameworks
- Web and service-based technologies and software architectures
- Secure development practices, testing and deployment
- Researching, designing, implementing and evaluating solutions to professional standards
- Ethical, commercial, security and societal considerations
Module 2: Software Architecture and Security (30 credits)
- Security models and principles
- Threats, vulnerabilities and countermeasures
- Requirements engineering for secure software
- Secure architecture patterns and their trade-offs
- Designing, building, testing and evaluating secure software with secure data handling
Module 3: Lean, Agile and Large-Scale Software Engineering (30 credits)
- Lean and agile roles, ceremonies and artefacts, and product ownership
- Applying lean and agile practices in large-scale and global development
- Scaling approaches: Scrum-of-Scrums, SAFe and Large-Scale Scrum
- Distributed coordination, coaching and mentoring
- Selecting, adapting and evaluating practices for complex scenarios through case-based activities
Module 4: Software Business Skills (30 credits)
- The business model canvas, lean start-up principles, minimum viable products and pivoting
- Value propositions for defined markets
- Trade-offs between process maturity and agility, and product leadership
- Professional skills frameworks such as SFIA
- Legal, social, ethical and sustainability issues affecting the technology sector
Module 5: Project for MSc (Dissertation) (60 credits)
- Independent, research-informed project on a substantive problem in your field
- Robust research proposal and critical review of current practice and the state of the art
- Ethical considerations and appropriate methodologies and technologies
- A 15,000-word dissertation with results, reflections and recommendations
- Supported throughout by a dedicated supervisor