Software Engineering is an innovative field filled with analytical-minded people seeking to create software solutions for end users.
Technological advancements bring about better devices and software for consumers and more efficient programmes for businesses to produce better results.
Software Engineers are the genius behind it all.
To join them and their passions, you would need to take up a Software Engineering course to learn all you need to know.
This article will provide you with a general guide to the fundamentals of a Software Engineering course so you can go into university with confidence.
What is Software Engineering?
Software Engineering can be defined as a branch of Computer Science that focuses on the design, development, testing, and maintenance of software applications and programmes.
While Software Programming is a similar field that intersects in many ways with Software Engineering, their definitions are not interchangeable.
This is because Software Engineering applies engineering principles when building software programmes.
To be specific, software engineers typically deal with designing, testing, and maintaining software systems, as well as optimising software for speed and functionality.
They also write and test code to provide new features in said software.
Their main priority is to find a solution to solve problems that their clients and stakeholders face.
Why Should You Study Software Engineering?
Technological Advancements
Technology is an ever-expanding field and industry – there is always room for improvement!
The secret to a software engineer’s success is to find a specific problem – no matter how niche – and then seek revolutionary ways to solve them through inventing or reinventing software.
As long as your innovations are relevant, you will always be making technological improvements for our society through your passion.
You Like to Solve Problems
Studying Software Engineering can be fun and challenging.
Suppose you are someone who enjoys solving complex problems and has strong analytical skills.
In that case, Software Engineering is a field with a wide range of different possibilities that stimulates critical thinking – there is no right answer to a solution as long as it works!
Great Job Security and Pay
Society depends on technology to survive, adding to the fact that technology is always improving, software engineering jobs don’t seem to face shortage any time soon.
As a future software engineer, you will get to enjoy great job security, and since software engineers are needed in almost every industry, you get to pick and choose which industry you want to head into.
Software engineers are shown great appreciation by society as a whole, as such, you will be greatly compensated.
What Are the Software Engineering Fields?
Software Engineering covers a wide variety of fields of study.
To help you decide on studying a software engineering course, the table below will paint a clearer picture for you.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
This field involves learning intelligent machines that can mimic human behaviours, logic, and skills to solve problems
Computer Games Programming
This field focuses on graphics, animation, and programming languages that are relevant to game development.
Probability and Statistics
This field studies the discrete and continuous distribution, which shows how data can assist in constructing computer algorithms for generating observations.
Software Application
This field studies the construction and maintenance of application software, which functions to carry out certain tasks like word processors and media players.
Operating Systems
This field covers system software that manages computer hardware functions and resources and provides common computer services. Examples include macOS and Microsoft Windows.
What Are the Popular Software Engineering Pathways?
You can start with Foundation in Science / Software Engineering / Computing for 1 year or a Pre-University (A-Level, SACE, STPM, etc.) course for up to 2 years after completing SPM or O-Level.
Alternatively, you may also choose to pursue a Diploma in Software Engineering for up to 2.5 years.
Upon completing your diploma, you’ll be able to enter the job market immediately or you can choose to continue with a bachelor’s degree.
So what does your pathway look like?
Diploma in Software Engineering
To qualify for a diploma course, you only need to have 3 credits in SPM/O-Level, including Mathematics.
Diploma courses usually take between 2 to 2.5 years to complete and cost from RM 25,000.
You can enter the workforce immediately after graduation.
Bachelor’s Degree in Software Engineering
For degree courses, you will need to have 5 credits in SPM/O-Level or 3 Bs in UEC, including Mathematics, and the following pre-university course:
- STPM: min. 2Cs including Mathematics
- A-Level: min. 2EEs
- UEC: min. 5Bs including Additional Mathematics
- AUSMAT/SACE: min. ATAR of 55
- International Baccalaureate (IB): Min. 24 points
- Relevant Foundation: min. CGPA 2.00
- Relevant Diploma: min. CGPA 2.00
A pre-university course can take up to 2 years to complete and cost from RM 16,000.
Once you’ve completed your pre-university course, you can then move on to the degree course.
Degree courses take 3 years to complete and cost from RM 30,000.
Diploma students can continue their studies with a degree course and they begin in Year 2.
While getting a Master’s is not a necessity to become a software engineer, it is still an option you can take after your Bachelor’s degree.
Note that these are simply general guides for Software Engineering course fees and entry requirements.
What Are the Skills Required in Software Engineering?
Logical Thinking: In Software Engineering, you must have the skills to pinpoint the exact problems and figure out the best solution to remedy the issue.
Programming: There are many different computer programming languages and you will continue to learn new languages as you advance in this field.
Teamwork: Being a team player is crucial for the success of a project and the upkeep of existing software.
Top Software Engineering Universities in Malaysia
Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)
APU is recognised as one of the Highest Rated Emerging Universities in Malaysia by the Ministry of Higher Education and has received 5 Stars by QS for Teaching, Employability, Facilities, and Inclusiveness.
APU partners with innovative accelerators such as GrowthX academy and Supercharger to expose students to real-life case studies
Software engineering courses offered:
- Foundation Programme (Computing & Technology Pathway) – Computer Science
- Diploma in Information & Communication Technology with Specialism in Software Engineering
- BSc (Hons) in Software Engineering
- M.Sc. in Software Engineering
Multimedia University (MMU)
MMU received the Premier Digital Tech University status by the Ministry of Higher Education.
Its faculty members have Cisco Certifications, Microsoft Certification, Java and many more academic and professional certifications.
- Foundation in Information Technology (Computer Science)
- Foundation in Information Technology (Computer Science)
- Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons.)
- Master of Computer Science (Software Engineering and Software Architecture) (By Coursework)
Curtin University Malaysia
Curtin University is ranked in the Top 1% of universities worldwide in the Academic Ranking of the World Universities (ARWU) 2020.
Students will have options to transfer to another Curtin campus in Perth, Dubai, Singapore, or Mauritius on student exchange or transfer to complete a degree.
- Foundation in Engineering & Science (Science)
- Bachelor of Computing (Software Engineering)
Things You Need to Know About Software Engineering Career
Technology is always expanding and evolving.
With a degree in Software Engineering, you can explore different options in the computing field with the foundational knowledge you gained from your course.
According to Payscale, the average base monthly salary of a software engineer in Malaysia starts from RM 7,000.
Here are some Software Engineering related job postings on JobStreet for further examples:
If you have further questions about Computer Science courses, feel free to reach out to us on WhatsApp or message us on our social media sites.
We’ll be happy to assist you.