Software Engineering in the UK is a flagship program offered at both undergraduate and graduate levels. UK cities like London, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Oxford are major tech hubs, where tech giants offer great salaries, perks, and allowances to software engineers. The average annual salary of a UK graduate software engineer is £48,000 to £80,000. On this page, we will explore the top 7 undergraduate software engineering universities in the UK.
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is the 5th best university according to the QS World University 2025. The University has an acceptance rate of 21% only. It is known for its teaching excellence and is globally recognized for its quality education. Cambridge is ranked #1 when for its undergraduate and graduate engineering courses. Only the best of the best students are admitted to the software engineering courses at Cambridge.
Courses and Fees
The University of Cambridge offers a BA (Hons.) Computer Science for students with an exceptional academic record and commitment to the field. This course at Cambridge is a disciplinary blend of mathematics, engineering, psychology, natural science, and linguistics.
| Course | Annual Tuition Fee (Domestic) | Annual Tuition Fee (International) | Duration |
| BA (Hons.) Computer Science | £9,250 | £39,162 | 3 years |
Imperial College London (ICL)
Next on the list is Imperial College London (ICL). ICL is the 2nd best university in the world according to the QS World University Ranking 2025. ICL has an acceptance rate of 14.3% only, making the admission process very selective.
Courses and Fees
Software Engineering at ICL covers the entire computing field and offers specialization options in specific areas of interest or based on generic learning. ICL offers BEng in Mathematics and Computing, which is a firm foundation in mathematics with the essentials of computer science.
| Courses | Annual Tuition Fee (Domestic | Annual Tuition Fee (International) | Duration |
| BEng in Mathematics and Computing | £9,250 | £40,940 | 3 years |
Other undergraduate engineering courses at ICL are:
- Computing (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning)
- Electronics and Information Engineering
- Computing (International Program of Study)
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a leading center of research, teaching and learning. The university was ranked #3 in the QS World University Ranking 2025 and #2 by Times Higher Education (THE). It has an acceptance rate of only 17.5% for all undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
Courses and Fees
Software Engineering at Oxford includes a 3-year BA (Hons.) Computer Science course and a 4-year MA in Computer Science (MCompSci). Software engineering at Oxford is a flagship course with only 43 to 54 seats. These courses are among the most complex products ever created; designing and using them effectively presents immense challenges.
| Courses | Annual Tuition Fee (Domestic | Annual Tuition Fee (International) | Duration |
| BA Computer Science | £9,250
|
£35,260 and £59,260 | 3 years |
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh is the 15th best university in the UK and is located in the beautiful capital of Scotland, Edinburgh. This prestigious institution is known for its strong emphasis on research and innovation. It offers access to cutting-edge technologies like AI and data science along with practical experience.
Courses and Fees
The University of Edinburgh offers a 4-year BEng in Computer Science for domestic and international students. This flagship course is taught at the University’s College of Science and Engineering.
| Courses | Annual Tuition Fee (Domestic | Annual Tuition Fee (International) | Duration |
| BEng Software Engineering | £9,250
|
£36,800 | 4-year |
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is one of the UK’s top universities, consistently ranked among the top 20. It offers a highly regarded Software Engineering program that focuses on practical skills and innovation. Southampton offers hands-on experience with real-world projects and has strong connections with leading tech companies.
Courses and Fees
The University of Southampton offers a 3-year BEng in Software Engineering for domestic and international students. This course consists of hands-on software development with a core knowledge of software engineering. Its specialist modules include robotics systems, cyber security, cloud application development, and more.
| Courses | Annual Tuition Fee (Domestic | Annual Tuition Fee (International) | Duration |
| BEng Software Engineering | £9,250 | £27,400 | 3 years |
Software Engineering Career Opportunities
Software Engineers are among the highest-paid employees in the world. And just employees, a lot of them are owners of tech giants listed in Fortune 500. The demand for engineers, especially software engineers, is at an all-time high, especially with rapid growth in science and tech.
Here are some of the highest paid software engineering professions in the world.
| Software Engineering Roles | Annual Salary |
| Software Developer | INR 25 lac to 48 lacs |
| Systems Engineer | INR 32 lac to 55 lacs |
| Data Scientist | INR 43 lac to 70 lacs |
| Mobile App Developer | INR 30 lac to 64 lacs |
| AI/ ML Engineer | INR 48 lac to 85 lacs |
| Cybersecurity Engineer | INR 44 lac to 80 lacs |
| Game Developer | INR 30 lac to 65 lacs |
| Software Architect | INR 55 lac to 99 lacs |
Conclusion
Studying an undergraduate degree in software engineering in the UK has become a trend due to the increasing demand of qualified software engineers. The top 5 UK universities listed above offer some of the best software engineering programs in the world. Their teaching style and access to advanced research facilities sets them apart from other universities and their courses.
