BSc (Hons) Software Development for Business
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Key information
- Delivery type
- Graduate Apprenticeship
- Duration
- 4 years
- Qualification
- BSc (Hons)
Contact
Contact our enquiries team
Contact usOverview
The graduate apprenticeship programme is open to new or existing employees in Scotland of all ages and consists of 20% academic learning and 80% work-based learning.
This programme helps you develop highly skilled employees in:
- Software development and testing
- Web development
- Database architecture and development.
Graduate skillset
The Software Development for Business graduate apprenticeship programme aims to produce BSc (Hons) graduates who:
- have a solid foundation in computer science and are proficient in applying programming techniques in diverse application
- are able to operate in a team and multidisciplinary contexts
- have problem-solving skills
- have the ability to develop innovative solutions to society's practical needs
- have developed professional competencies of software engineers.
Key areas of the programme
The primary focus of the Software Development for Business graduate apprenticeship programme is on developing the knowledge, understanding and skills outcomes sought by employers.
Business
- Business functions, behaviours, ethics, and courtesies
- Business strategy and management
- Business finance and accounting
Technology
- Data structures and algorithms
- Object-oriented programming
- Design and development of interactive systems
- Web applications and mobile apps
- Database management systems
- Software development life cycle
- Software design, modelling and analysis
- Software architectures and design patterns
- Software verification, testing and quality assurance
- Cloud-native applications
- Data mining, modelling and data analysis
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Network and software security
Personal and interpersonal
- Communications
- Personal attributes
- Professional attributes
- Team working
Software project and delivery management
- Project management methodologies
- Project planning
- Project execution
- Agile project delivery
- Risk assessment and management
- Software project planning and management
- Software configuration and release management
Course content
Year 1
Semester one
- Introduction to Interaction Design
- Software Development 1
Semester two
- Enterprise and its Business Environment
- Software Deveopment 2
- Industrial Project:Software Development Methods
All semesters
- Introduction to Computer Systems
- Internet Technologies 1
- Industrial Praxis
Year 2
Semester one
- Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms
Semester two
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- Hardware-Software Interface
All semesters
- Database Management Systems
- Internet Technologies 2
- Programming Languages
- Introduction to Software Engineering
- User-Centred Experimental Design
Year 3
Semester one
- Artificial Itelligence and Intelligent Agents
Semester two
- Accounting for Managers
All semesters
- Operations Management
- Software Engineering
- Digital Enterprise Services
- Computer Networks and Communications
- Professional Development
- Industrial Project: Software Quality
Year 4
Semester one
- Computer Network Security
- Industrial Project: Research Methods and Requirements Engineering
Semester two
- 3D Graphics and Animation
- Strategic Management
All semesters
- Data Mining and Machine Learning
- Industrial Project: Testing and Presentaion
- Mobile Communications and Programming
- Industrial Project: Design and Implementation
- Project Management
Entry requirements
Year 1
Year 1 – 96 SCQF credits at level 6 or Minimum 106 UCAS points, for example:
- SQA Highers at ABBB including Computing or equivalent, plus suitable Mathematics;
- A-Levels at BBB including Computing or equivalent, plus suitable Mathematics;
- Int. Baccalaureate 28 points;
- BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF 3) at DDM;
- Foundation Apprenticeship in Software Development in conjunction with SQA Highers at BBB.
Year 2
Year 2: – 96 SCQF credits at level 7, for example:
- SQA Advanced Highers at BBB including Computing and excellent SQA Highers or Scottish Baccalaureate plus suitable Mathematics;
- A-Levels at ABB including Computing plus suitable Mathematics;
- Int. Baccalaureate 30 points including Mathematics and Computing at Higher Level 6.
Why Heriot-Watt?
Ranking (Computer Science, The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023)
Ranked 5th in Scotland and Top 30 in the UK for Computer Science by The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.
Ranking (Computer Science and Information Systems, Guardian Good University Guide 2023)
Ranked 3rd in Scotland and 9th in the UK for Computer Science and Information Systems by the Guardian Good University Guide 2023.
Graduate apprenticeship success stories
Read our graduate apprenticeship partners' success stories who are already seeing the benefits.
Computer Science facilities
Computer Science students can access facilities including specialist teaching labs, the Edinburgh Centre for Robotics' Robotics Laboratory, and parallel and high performance computing platforms
Computer Science Society
The Computer Science Society is a student run community active across Edinburgh, Dubai and Malaysia. The society gives students a platform to discuss everything computer science and attend regular social events with like-minded individuals.
Clubs and activities
At Heriot-Watt we have an extensive programme of over 90 sports clubs and societies to get involved in. You can try as many as you like or start one of your own!
Edinburgh Campus facilities
At Heriot-Watt University, we offer a wide range of services to help you deal with all aspects of your life with us, whether these be academic, personal, technical, financial or just plain fun!
Health and wellbeing
Student Wellbeing Services aim to provide a range of support, guidance, activities and advice to help students to be their best, and get the most from their university experience. From counselling to coaching we'll sure you are fully supported.
Heriot-Watt Student Union
There's more to university life than simply getting your degree, and Heriot-Watt University Student Union is all about helping you to have the best possible experience while you study here.
Living in Edinburgh
Historic and beautiful, a cultural capital that fuels the senses whether you love the arts or nature, nightlife or study life, Edinburgh is stimulating and inspirational and never, ever boring.
Sport facilities
Oriam, Scotland Sports Performance Centre offers state-of-the-art sports facilities, for all levels of sport and ability
Your career
Employers around the world actively seek out our graduates because they are work-ready. All our degrees are career-focused and relevant to the needs of industry. Around 95% of our students are in employment or further study within six months of graduating.
Register your interest in Graduate Apprenticeships
Places are in high demand, and offered on a first come, first served basis to qualified employees – so please register your interest right away.
If you are an employer, please complete the contact form to our GA team and we will contact you to discuss a detailed plan for your company.
If you are already working, ask your manager to get in touch with us by completing this web form.
If you are looking for an employer who could employ you and put you forward for the GA programme, you can find vacancies with current partner companies.