Software Engineering (with Placement Year)

Take your coding and programming skills to the next level and become an expert software engineer.


• Study in the Silicon Fen, home to Apple, Microsoft, Samsung AI and many more – the perfect opportunity to connect with top employers.



• Bring the world of work to life through Live Briefs; designed and developed with regional employers, such as The Fellows House and Redgate to give you exposure to ‘real world’ problem-solving.



• You’ll develop a strong set of employability skills through studying with both academics and practitioners.



• Accredited by BCS and IET and a Cisco Network Academy for over ten years.



• You’ll develop skills in a range of programming languages including Java, C#, C++ and .net framework, supported by popular databases such as MySQL.



If you're fascinated by coding and are looking to take your interest further, our BCS and IET accredited Software Engineering degree in Cambridge is for you.

Learn techniques to identify, analyse and test IT solutions that industry needs and gain the edge on the competition with an optional placement year.

You’ll also build up all of the skills and knowledge you need to create and implement innovative software packages.

Our Software Engineering degree has been designed with employers in mind, so you’ll be equipped with all the skills you'll need by engaging with real-world projects through a range of Live Brief assessments, set and driven by local companies, across all years of your course.

You’ll get the chance to stay ahead of the game as you apply new models, techniques and tools for implementing custom designed systems while delivering high standard software products for various platforms.

As a student at ARU, you'll develop essential programming skills that are key to industry and learn to apply your new coding skills to a variety of programming languages. You'll also learn how to implement sophisticated, secure data systems and develop important skills in data handling techniques that are required by many employers. You'll also benefit from guest lectures and seminars from industry experts such as Citrix, ARM, Atom, Jagex and Sony.

There are plenty of opportunities for practical work as you carry out individual and team tasks in the software development lifecycle, from analysis and design to implementation, testing and maintenance of a software system. Cambridge is at the heart of the “Silicon Fen”, one of the most concentrated areas for Software Engineering and other computer sciences in the country. Companies such as Apple, Cirtix, AstraZeneca and many others have a strong presence in the area.

Our BSc (Hons) Software Engineering degree offers an optional placement year with a high-tech hub company in Cambridge, the region and beyond, where you can build up experience working in the industry, and make contacts to benefit your studies and enhance your long-term career prospects. If you do not opt for a placement year there will also be the opportunity for work experience during your long summer break.

At ARU, you’ll be supported from day one with wellbeing services, money advice and careers guidance to help you through university and beyond.

Their courses are built around the skills and experience employers value. ARU are proud to be in the top 20% of UK universities for teaching quality (TEF 2023), and ranked #1 in the East of England, and #8 in the UK, for UG graduates in senior roles 15 months after gradudation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025). You'll have access to fantastic facilities thanks to £95m of investment - think SuperLabs, TV studios, law courts, mock hospital wards, gaming studios and more.

Wherever you're heading, ARU will help you get there.