BSc (Hons) Applied Software Development Bachelor's degree at UHI
BSc (Hons) Applied Software Development at UHI was founded in 2011 and leads to a nationally recognised Bachelor's degree. You'll study in English and can specialise in areas such as Software Engineering, Data Science, AI & Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Web & Mobile…
About this course
Course type: BSc (Hons) International: Available to study online Study at: Argyll; Inverness; Moray; North, West and Hebrides; Orkney; Perth; Shetland Start in: September Learning mode: Online You access classes and/or materials digitally. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Applied Software Development is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at UHI, based in UHI Argyll,UHI Inverness,UHI Moray,UHI North West Hebrides,UHI Orkney,UHI Perth,UHI Shetland. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Computing graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £30,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Computer Science, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 40% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
- Principles of programming
- Applied algorithms and data structures
- Creativity through design patterns
- Continuous development and integration
- Databases
- Data languages
- Multiplatform development
- Software services
- Software architecture
- Software quality assurance
- Data transformation
- Data as a service
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course is delivered entirely online, accessible across UHI's network of campuses. You'll normally progress from programming fundamentals and computer systems in Year 1 through algorithms, databases and software engineering in Year 2. In Year 3, you'll pursue specialist options in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, software engineering, systems and networks, or human-computer interaction, and complete an individual supervised software project. Throughout, a typical Computer Science degree builds from foundational theory, discrete mathematics, logic and data structures, to practical design of efficient solutions and secure, maintainable systems, culminating in substantial independent work.
Who it's for
This course suits those with A-levels or equivalent qualifications, around half of recent entrants held these. It's designed for people interested in practical software development and want to build expertise in a specific technical area. The course is available full-time across UHI Argyll, Inverness, Moray, North West Hebrides, Orkney, Perth, and Shetland, making it accessible across the Highlands and Islands region.
Careers & job market
Nationally, 85% of Computer Science graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 75% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. Graduate earnings across the field vary: starting salaries typically fall between £25,000 and £35,000 at 15 months; after three years, £23,375 to £33,000; and after five years, £29,750 to £42,000. These are national figures based on Graduate Outcomes and Longitudinal Educational Outcomes data, not university-specific guarantees. First-year retention stands at 85% across the cohort.
University & format
This is a 4-year full-time BSc (Hons) degree awarded by the University of the Highlands and Islands, a UK degree-awarding body offering nationally recognised qualifications. The course is studied entirely online and taught in English. It is available across multiple UHI locations: Argyll, Inverness, Moray, North, West and Hebrides, Orkney, Perth, and Shetland.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 67%.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 50% |
| a previous degree | 20% |
| another higher-education qualification | 20% |
| Other | 10% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Published UHI fee framework
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Computer Science graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £30,000 | £25,000 – £37,500 | 1125 |
| 3 years after | £23,500 | £16,500 – £27,500 | 40 |
| 5 years after | £29,000 | £23,500 – £36,000 | 35 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 1,125. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate / Junior DeveloperFirst engineering role · 0–2 yrs
- 2Software EngineerShipping features end-to-end · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / Lead EngineerOwning systems and mentoring · 5–9 yrs
- 4Principal / Engineering ManagerArchitecture or leading teams · 9+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Computer Science nationally
National figures for Computer Science graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 1,125. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Computer Science courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,820 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Job market & outlook
How Computer Science graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Boilerplate and scaffolding code
- First-pass tests and docs
- Routine debugging and refactors
- Standard data wrangling
More human than ever
- System design and architecture trade-offs
- Reviewing and owning correctness & security
- Translating fuzzy problems into software
- Leading delivery and mentoring
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Computer Science graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Tech companies
- Banks & fintech
- Consultancies
- Government (GDS) & startups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Computer Science graduates.
Software Developer Placement Programme No experience neededIT Online LearningSoftware Developer - .NET & Azure for Green Energy ProjectsOfgemSoftware Developer Backend (SFIA5)ZaiziSoftware Developer (Mobile Apps) in Guildford - ECM Selection (Holdings) LimitedJava Script WorksSoftware Developer (Contract) – Higher Education Projects (UK)Burman RecruitmentSoftware Developer – Distributed Scheduling & Workload OrchestrationCGG Services (UK) LimitedIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Fees and funding
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Where graduates go
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £30,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 5.6 out of 10: NSS 72.7% · continued 40%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of the Highlands and Islands
Computing across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Computer Science right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International eligibility
The provider publishes this course-specific status:
Available to study online
Eligibility depends on the programme, study mode, delivery and approved study location. No visa or online-study eligibility is inferred beyond the provider statement.
Related courses
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Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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