Course Overview

About This Course

Adelaide University's Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) equips you with the specialist knowledge, technical skills and software development practices needed to practise professionally as a software engineer.
The degree blends theoretical knowledge with applied practical skills to build a deep understanding of how software solutions are designed and built. You develop the knowledge, principles and systematic practices of software requirements, design, development and testing needed to produce reliable, maintainable and scalable software.
First year establishes a strong foundation in essential IT fundamentals including programming, database development, networking, and IT systems and system requirements. From second year you move into the software engineering specialisation and modern industry-relevant practice, covering data structures, system design, agile development, DevOps, design patterns, secure software development, and cloud and concurrent programming.
Further courses extend into system architecture and software quality assurance, and you learn specialist principles and systematic practices for developing large, complex software systems using the industry tools and processes that manage software development.
In your final year you apply your knowledge in a real-world project, collaborating with industry professionals to gain practical experience.
Teaching draws on a contemporary curriculum delivered by experienced staff and researchers in the IT field.
The program totals 192 units — 78 units of core courses, 72 units of discipline courses, 30 units of work integrated learning and 12 units of electives — over four years across the Adelaide City and Mawson Lakes campuses.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Adelaide

Mawson Lakes Boulevard, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095

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Student Information

Fees & Entry by Student Type

Tuition Fee

Commonwealth supported

Duration

4 years full-time

Intakes

February, July

Study Mode

Full time or part time

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Domestic students
Prerequisite: None
Assumed knowledge: None
SATAC code: ABP217
Entry scores:
• 2026 cut-offs — Year 12 (ATAR-based): 72
• 2027 guaranteed entry — Guaranteed entry score (ATAR-based): 80
• 2027 guaranteed entry — Guaranteed entry score (Grades-based): A, A, B
To be eligible, an applicant must have achieved at least one of the following minimum entry requirements and demonstrate they fulfil any prerequisite and essential criteria for admission. In cases where there are more eligible applicants than available places, admission will be competitive with ranks based on the entry criteria.
• Secondary education (Year 12) — Completion of a secondary education qualification equivalent to the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).
• Vocational Education and Training (VET) — Completion of an award from a registered training organisation (RTO) at Certificate IV (AQF level 4) or higher.
• Higher education study — Successful completion of at least 6 months full-time study (or equivalent part-time) in a higher education award program.
• Work and life experience — Completion of an Adelaide University approved enabling, pathway or bridging program; OR A competitive result in the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT); OR Relevant professional certificates/qualifications including: Cisco CCNA, Cisco CCNP, Cisco CCIE, Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD), Microsoft Certified Solutions Master (MCSM); OR Qualify for special entry
ATAR profile (2026 Semester 1 intake, ATAR-based offers):
• Highest rank to receive an offer — ATAR 99.85, selection rank 99.95
• Median rank to receive an offer — ATAR 83.8, selection rank 88.05
• Lowest rank to receive an offer — ATAR 68.45, selection rank 72.95

International students
Prerequisite: None
Assumed knowledge: None
Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum entry requirements:
• Secondary education (Year 12) — Completion of a secondary education qualification equivalent to the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).
• Vocational Education and Training (VET) — Completion of an award from a registered training organisation (RTO) at Certificate IV (AQF level 4) or higher.
• Higher education study — Successful completion of at least 6 months full-time study (or equivalent part-time) in a higher education award program.
Indicative academic entry requirements by country:
• Australia — ATAR: 80
• Canada — Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD): 75%
• China — Gaokao: 70%
• Denmark — Studentereksamen (stx: Upper Secondary School Diploma): 4 (Fair)
• France — French Baccalaureate: 12.0
• Global — International Baccalaureate: 28
• Hong Kong — Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE): 18
• India — CBSE and CISCE: 75
• India — State Board Examinations: 85
• Indonesia — SMA III: 80%
• Kenya — Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE): B+
• Malaysia — Matrikulasi: 3.00
• Malaysia — Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM): 3.00
• Malaysia — United Entrance Certificate (UEC): 21
• Norway — Upper Secondary School Certificate (Vitnemal fra den Videregaende Skole) / Vitnemal For Videregaende Opplaering: 4.0
• Phillippines — High School Diploma (Grade 12) (Academic Track) K12: 88%
• Singapore — Singapore GCE Advanced Levels: 9
• South Korea — College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT): 325
• Sri Lanka — GCE A Levels: 10
• Sweden — Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate: 15.0
• Taiwan — GSAT %: 70%
• Taiwan GSAT — Score out of 60: 40
• Thailand — Matayom 6: 3.60
• UK / Global — GCE Advanced Levels: 9
• USA / Global — Advanced Placement (AP): 9
• USA / Global — America College Test (ACT): 24
• USA / Global — Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT): 1170
• Vietnam — Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Trung Học Phổ Thông (Vietnamese Year 12): 8.3
English language requirements (achieved within the two years before admission):
• IELTS Overall 6.5
• IELTS Reading 6
• IELTS Listening 6
• IELTS Speaking 6
• IELTS Writing 6

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

Employment prospects are strong for software engineers. Potential careers include:
• Software engineer
• UX designer
• Full stack developer
• Software and applications programmer
• Agile developer
• Web developer
• Cloud developer
Further study may see you pursue roles as a:
• Software architect
• IT project lead
• Senior software engineer/analyst/developer
• Project manager

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Professional Body

Australian Computer Society (ACS)

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Skills Assessor

ACS

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units30 units

ENGI1005

Professional Engineering Practice

COMP1002

Problem Solving and Programming

COMP1003

Structured Data

INFO1012

Information Technology Systems

INFO1016

Security Foundations

COMP1005

Object-Oriented Programming

INFO1013

System Requirements

ENGI2003

Engineering Project Management

INFO2004

Cloud Platforms

INFO2005

System Design

COMP2021

Software Development Practice

INFO3003

Unstructured Data

INFO2006

Agile Development and User Experience

COMP2017

Data Structures and Algorithms

COMP2018

Web Technology

COMP3007

Secure Software Development

ENGI3006

Systems Engineering and Professional Practice

INFO3004

Design Patterns

ENGI3900

Professional Engineer Career Preparation

COMP3011

Cloud and Concurrent Programming

INFO2031

Introduction to DevOps

COMP3001

Computer Science Topics for Software Engineers

ENGI3901

Professional Engineer Engagement with Professional Practice

INFO4000

System Architecture

INFO4002

Software Quality Assurance

INFO4800

Research Skills

INFO4900

IT Project 1

INFO4001

Scalable Software Systems Design and Architecture

INFO4901

IT Project 2

INFO4902

IT Project 3

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) take to complete?

The Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) at Adelaide University has a duration of 208 weeks (approximately 4 years).

Does the course include a work placement component?

Yes, the course includes a mandatory work component of 420 hours spread over 12 weeks, giving students hands-on industry experience as part of their degree.

What is the estimated total cost of the course for international students?

Adelaide University publishes an indicative annual tuition fee of AU$57,100 for international students commencing in 2027, which is AU$228,400 across the four-year program. With the AU$1,631 non-tuition fee, the estimated total course cost is AU$230,031.

Where is the Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) delivered?

The course is delivered at two campuses: Adelaide University's Adelaide City Campus and the Mawson Lakes Campus, both located in South Australia.

Is this course eligible for extended Post-Study Work Rights?

This course may be eligible for extended Post-Study Work Rights as it is a Skills Level 1 qualification (Bachelor Honours Degree), has a duration greater than 92 weeks (208 weeks), and falls under the Information Technology broad field of education. Eligibility is reviewed yearly and requires at least one active enrolment at the time of review.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

Course Snapshot

Salary, careers & skills

Typical Salary

Entry-level (0-2 years)AUD $70,000 to $95,000 per year

Early Career (2-5 years)AUD $95,000 to $130,000 per year

Mid-Level (5-10 years)AUD $130,000 to $160,000 per year

Career Paths

Software EngineerSoftware DeveloperFull Stack DeveloperFront-End DeveloperBack-End Developer

Key Skills

Programming in multiple languages including Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, and SwiftSoftware design patterns and object-oriented programming principlesData structures and algorithm design and optimisationAgile and Scrum project management methodologiesCloud computing platforms including AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud

Full Course Overview

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