Software Engineering

These highly interconnected systems must meet multiple requirements, including correctness, usability, performance, safety and security. They leverage technologies, such as cloud, web, database, networks, mobile, IoT and embedded systems.

During your studies at Waikato, you'll develop an understanding of reliable processes and formal methods for software engineering. You'll learn how to use systematic techniques to test software systems. You'll develop the skills you need to be able to prove that safety-critical systems operate correctly under all possible operating conditions.

You'll work with a range of software systems, from operating systems and networks to real-time and embedded systems. You'll learn about distributed and parallel systems. You'll also develop knowledge and skills relating to engineering, scientific and business application software.

There's a strong connection between critical, complex systems and the people who use them or are affected by them. At Waikato, the relationship between systems and human interaction is emphasised.

You'll be able to develop your professional skills by doing 800 hours of real-world work experience. This work is supported by the Cooperative Education Unit. You'll be able to work on major research design projects which have a commercial focus and have an opportunity to showcase your work to industry at the annual Oji Fibre Solutions Engineering Design Show.

You can complete a BE(Hons) in Software Engineering at the University of Waikato. This is an innovative four-year degree. In the first year, you start with programming and building model boats. You progress to advanced programming techniques and computer hardware labs in the second year. In the final two years, you learn a wide variety of software development skills.  As well as these skills, during the degree you’ll study design, marketing and engineering management.