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The Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours)  (BSEng) is a four year single degree accredited by Engineers Australia and the Australian Computer Society.  The degree allows you to focus your study on Software Engineering and the software lifecycle, whilst also having the opportunity to explore other interests in computing, engineering, science or any discipline offered at ANU.  You will learn how to develop software, work for real-world clients, manage teams, design innovative solutions and implement them.

The BSEng can be studied as a double degree with a number of other degrees.

Single degree

  • This degree requires 192 units (each course is typically 6 units though some may be 12 units or higher)
  • Typically you will study four courses per semester (total of 24 units)
  • Majors and minors are not compulsory in the BSEng
  • You have 48 units of university electives (eight courses).  These courses can be used to study a computing specialisation, or a major or minor from another area of the university including Engineering.
  • You can study a maximum of 60 units of 1000 level courses

Double degree

  • This degree requires 144 units  of the compulsory Software Engineering requirements (each course is typically 6 units though some may be 12 units or higher)
  • Typically you will study four courses per semester (total of 24 units)
  • Majors and minors are not compulsory in the BSEng
  • There are no university electives in the double degree and therefore it is not possible to complete a computing specialisation expect in certain circumstances in the double degree with the BSc.
  • Typically you can do a maximum of 72u 1000 level courses in your double degree
  • You can find your double degree with the BSEng from Program and Courses

About this degree

  • The degree is made of up compulsory requirements, additional computing electives,  and 48 units (eight courses) of electives
  • In the single degree you have 48 units of university electives (eight courses).  These courses can be used to study a computing specialisation, or a major or minor from another area of the university including Engineering. 
  • In the double degree, you have no university electives - your other degree requirements use up all of these

Enrolment Status

While it's possible to enrol in fewer courses per semester, which is called studying part-time, it will take you longer to finish your program and get your degree. There are maximum time limits for completion of the degree on a part-time basis. If you are an international student you must always be full-time.

Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses

  • When you enrol for the first time you will typically study '1000-level' courses. These courses have '1' as the first number in their course code, such as COMP1100.
  • You need to enrol in courses for both First Semester and Second Semester though note that you can change your Semester 2 courses all the way until July.
  • You can’t study more than four courses (24 units) per semester, eight for the year, and international students cannot study less than 24u a semester.
  • You may take 1000-level courses later in your program. But remember you can’t count more than ten 1000-level courses (60 units) towards your single degree or six 1000-level courses (36 units) towards your BSEng half of the double degree.
  • In choosing your first year programming courses you will have a choice of doing COMP1100 or COMP1130 in Semester 1, and COMP1110 and COMP1140 in Semester 2. The standard courses are COMP1100/1110 but if you have a strong maths background, and/or significant programming experience, you might like to choose COMP1130/1140. Note that you choose 1130 you will be able to drop back to 1100 in the first 2 weeks.

Majors and Minors

See available majors and minors for this program

Majors, minors and specialisations are not compulsory in the BSEng and are only possible in the single degree. You can study an advanced Computing specialisation (third and fourth year courses), the Information Systems major, or any other major/minor from across the university using your university electives in a single BSEng. 

Electives

If you are in the single degree then in your first year you have two electives to choose.

  • To find 1000-level (first year) elective courses, use the catalogue search.
  • If you enjoy and are good at  mathematics and do not plan to do a major from another area of study, then you are encouraged to consider doing the following:
  • Semester 1: MATH1013 Maths and Applications 1, or MATH1115 Maths and Applications 1 (Hons)
  • Semester 2: MATH1014 Maths and Applications 2, or MATH1116 Maths and Applications 2 (Hons)
  • Suggested electives in your first year if you are interested in Engineering are:
  • Suggested electives if you are interested in Information Systems:
  • If you have an interest in another area (eg management, mathematics, psychology, languages) then you should explore first year courses in these areas and in particular, look at the majors and minors in these areas. These will give you an idea of the first year courses that you should study.
  • Students whose first language is not English and who feel they would benefit from not only some additional English assistance but who would like to learn more about the Australian academic style (eg essay structure, oral presentations, critical thinking, plagiarism and poor academic practice), might like to seek enrolment in ESEN1101 Essential University English
  • If you have an interest in innovation and entrepreneurship, creating your own business and/or using computing to tackle complex challenges and opportunities of local, national and global significance, then you should consider the Minor or Major in Innovation and Professional Practice - https://cecs.anu.edu.au/master-innovation-and-professional-practice

Study Options

Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) single degree

Study Options

Year 1 48 units COMP1100 Programming as Problem Solving 6 units OR COMP1130; ENGN1211 Discovering Engineering 6 units MATH1005 Discrete Mathematical Models 6 units University elective 6 units
COMP1110 Structured Programming 6 units OR COMP1140; COMP1600 Foundations of Computing 6 units Computing elective 6 units University elective 6 units

Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) double degree

Study Options

Year 1 48 units COMP1100 Programming as Problem Solving 6 units OR COMP1130; ENGN1211 Discovering Engineering 6 units MATH1005 Discrete Mathematical Models 6 units Course from other degree 6 units
COMP1110 Structured Programming 6 units OR COMP1140; COMP1600 Foundations of Computing 6 units Computing elective 6 units Course from other degree 6 units

Do you want to talk to someone before enrolling?

Contact Student Enquiries at studentadmin.cecs@anu.edu.au

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