Software Development MSc

Study level: Postgraduate
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This master’s degree aims to equip you with the professional and technical skills to specify, design, develop and test modern software systems in a variety of contexts and organisational settings.

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time
Sandwich

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time
3 years part-time sandwich
2 years sandwich

Course code

EECT042

Start date

September 2025
May 2026

At Coventry University, we continuously review the courses we offer to ensure we reflect industry-relevant emerging best practice and technology. As a result, this course is undergoing continuous improvement assessment and will be launched with a renewed curriculum starting in September 2025. Module content and titles will be updated. Course title, learning outcomes and assessments may also change. We expect our new curriculum to be fully updated by January 2025. Please return to this page to see the final course details.


Course overview

This course has been designed for those with previous experience of programming, and for those who would like the opportunity to pursue employment or further research in software system design and development.

  • The course is designed with inputs from industry experts to deliver a syllabus that is up-to-date and reflects employment trends. You will have the opportunity to learn how to construct and deliver software solutions on real-world case scenarios.
  • The degree combines theories and practices in the design and development of software systems. It covers a wide range of key topics, including software architecture design solutions, database management and big data, security, web and mobile applications development, and agile software development.
  • You will have the option to apply for a ‘work placement’ opportunity2 which if secured, is designed to further develop your skills and knowledge with the aim of maximising your employability prospects. See modules for more information.
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Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

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Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

The curriculum has been designed with the aim of supporting you in pursuing employment or further research opportunities in the field of software design, development and management.

  • If you are interested in learning about programming or wish to update your existing software development skills, this course provides opportunities to equip you with the skills and knowledge of software development professionals.
  • The course aims to provide a sound understanding of essential development platforms, protocols and standards with an emphasis on object-oriented modelling, design and programming, big data, security and the development of web-based and mobile applications.
  • We offer excellent facilities4, so you have the opportunity to learn core technical competencies of disciplines for software development using industry-standard or open-source tools.
  • You will be required to focus on advanced topics and investigate areas at the forefront of the software development research community and industry.

Collaborations

Visual Paradigm supports Coventry University with the use of UML tools, BPMN tools and agile story mapping tools, under the Academic Partnership Program.

I was initially sceptical about what a school could offer regarding software development that could not be learnt from online tutorials and trainings, but the Software Development MSc program of Coventry University quickly eliminated this scepticism. We were exposed to principles and concepts we either had never heard of or did not know there was a name for.

Adebayo Faboro, Software Development MSc, quoted 2022
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What you'll study

The course focuses on core technical knowledge of and skills in the software development lifecycle, from requirements, design, implementation, to testing with emerging technologies and industry recognised best practices. This will include the key technological advancements in software architecture design solutions, big data analysis and security, as well as web-based and mobile applications development, in frameworks such as Java and Python.

You will also undertake a software development project in a teamwork environment and an in-depth individual research project. Guided by an experienced tutor, the projects will help develop your research skills and experience the work of IT professionals.

Modules

With work placement pathway

The ‘With work placement’ opportunity enables you to apply in semester 1 for an optional work placement of up to 12 months, extending the duration of your master’s to 24 months. The placement provides an opportunity for you to develop expertise and experience in your chosen field with the aim of enhancing your employability upon graduation. The work placement would take place in semesters 3, 4 and 5.

Please note that the optional placement modules incur an additional tuition fee of £4,000. Placement opportunities2 may also be subject to additional costs, visa requirements being met, subject to availability and/or competitive application. Work placements are not guaranteed but you will benefit from the support of our Talent Team in trying to find and secure an opportunity. Find out more about the work placement option.

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.


How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Presentations
  • Group projects
  • Workshops
  • Practical laboratory sessions4

For online teaching and learning, our platform provider is currently Aula.

This course can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Please request information about studying this course part-time.


Teaching contact hours

The number of contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is estimated 12 contact hours per week in the taught semesters with self-study approximately 36 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.

The MSc project-based semester will include supervisor meetings about 1-2 hours per week (depending on the arrangement with the supervisor), with self-study approximately 45 hours per week.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

  • Phase tests
  • Essays
  • Group work
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • Projects
  • Coursework
  • Individual assignments

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

Applicants should hold:

  • A minimum of a second-class honours degree in a computing related subject. Applications from graduates in other disciplines (such as mathematics or engineering) with sufficient knowledge, skills or experience in programming would also be considered on individual merits.
  • An unclassified degree plus at least two years' further study or professional experience in the programming related areas.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

To enter the course you need to have one of the following:

  • A minimum of a second class honours degree in a computing related subject. Applications from graduates in other disciplines, such as mathematics, physics or engineering, would also be considered on individual merits.
  • An unclassified degree plus at least two years' further study or professional experience in the programming related areas.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £11,200 | £4,000 (work placement option additional fee)  
Request fee information
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £11,200 | £4,000 (work placement option additional fee) per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £20,050 | £4,000 (work placement option additional fee) per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £20,050 | £4,000 (work placement option additional fee)  
Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

The course offers facilities4 in the modern Engineering and Computing Building (EEC) and Beatrice Shilling Building (BSB), located on the Coventry main campus, with laboratories equipped with the latest workstations and virtual applications, which may include Android Studio, IntelliJ IDEA, Microsoft Azure software packages.


Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

  • Critically evaluate methodology, tools and techniques to develop software effective solutions through the development lifecycle to real-world problems
  • Critically evaluate software architectures, applications and related security issues to deliver appropriate and reusable software solutions to real-world problems
  • Develop relevant technical skills in emerging technologies to adapt to the challenges in building modern software systems in a global context
  • Develop a wide range of postgraduate level professional and transferable skills in building modern software systems in a team-work environment
  • Develop the awareness of professional, social, ethical, and legal issues along with commercial risk and management for software systems
  • Develop research skills required for advanced software development topics selected according to the interests of individual students.

The course provides potential career aspirations and exciting opportunities for any graduates who wish to pursue employment in software systems development and consultancy, such as software engineer, system analyst, architect, designers, programmers and testers. The programme also enables graduates to further their research as an academic researcher. The inclusion of theories and practical applications supported by industry case studies makes this course highly focussed and relevant to future employability and professional development.

The practical nature of our course means that upon successful graduation, you should have developed a wide range of technical, analytical and professional skills which will support a move into a range of areas in software development. This includes system requirements, design, implementation, to testing with emerging platforms, protocols and standards as well as key technological advancement in big data analysis, security as well as web-based and mobile applications development.

Where our graduates work

Career opportunities in the areas of software development are many and varied, including a software system architect, system analyst, software designer, software developer, software engineer or project leader. You could find yourself working in the private or public sector in software engineering or IT related areas, in sectors such as business, health, education, finance and manufacturing.


How to apply

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