University of Bradford · BEng (Hons) Software Engineering
What 22 pieces of student feedback say the course is missing.
Students rate each module for how well it prepares them for the jobs they want, and say what it missed. Grouped by theme; every comment is shown exactly as the student wrote it.
Across 7 modules with at least 3 each.
How well modules prepare students for the jobs they want.
Internet Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Software Design and Development
Skills students say their modules missed
From the same skills list the students' plans match against employers' adverts. Open one to read what students wrote.
Databases and SQL3 studentsAverage rating 4.0 · Database Systems
“Good on SQL. Nothing on cloud databases like AWS or Azure.”
What it missed · Database Systems · rated 4/5 · Anonymous“A lab on deploying a database to a cloud platform.”
Suggestion · Database Systems · rated 4/5 · Anonymous“Keep the practical SQL labs, they were the best part of second year.”
Suggestion · Database Systems · rated 5/5 · Anonymous“The exam was all theory. Employers test SQL in practical assessments.”
What it missed · Database Systems · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“Make part of the assessment a practical SQL task.”
Suggestion · Database Systems · rated 3/5 · Anonymous
Machine learning and AI2 studentsAverage rating 3.0 · Artificial Intelligence
“Lots of theory but no Python or machine learning libraries.”
What it missed · Artificial Intelligence · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“Labs in Python with scikit-learn instead of pen and paper.”
Suggestion · Artificial Intelligence · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“More practical examples of AI used in industry.”
Suggestion · Artificial Intelligence · rated 3/5 · Anonymous
Java2 studentsAverage rating 3.5 · Software Design and Development, Data Structures and Algorithms
“One lab on writing tests with JUnit would help.”
Suggestion · Software Design and Development · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“We used Java only, and many adverts want Python.”
What it missed · Data Structures and Algorithms · rated 4/5 · Anonymous
Python2 studentsAverage rating 3.5 · Artificial Intelligence, Data Structures and Algorithms
“Lots of theory but no Python or machine learning libraries.”
What it missed · Artificial Intelligence · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“Labs in Python with scikit-learn instead of pen and paper.”
Suggestion · Artificial Intelligence · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“We used Java only, and many adverts want Python.”
What it missed · Data Structures and Algorithms · rated 4/5 · Anonymous
Cyber security2 studentsAverage rating 3.5 · System Security Management
“No hands-on penetration testing or security tools.”
What it missed · System Security Management · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“A lab with real security tools in a safe environment.”
Suggestion · System Security Management · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“Bring in someone from industry to talk about security jobs.”
Suggestion · System Security Management · rated 4/5 · Anonymous
Git, CI/CD and Linux1 studentAverage rating 2.0 · Software Design and Development
“We never used Git or any version control, and every graduate advert I look at asks for it.”
What it missed · Software Design and Development · rated 2/5 · Anonymous“Make us submit coursework through a Git repository with a pull request.”
Suggestion · Software Design and Development · rated 2/5 · Anonymous
JavaScript / TypeScript1 studentAverage rating 2.0 · Internet Technologies
“We learned HTML but not React or any modern framework that employers use.”
What it missed · Internet Technologies · rated 2/5 · Anonymous“Swap the old PHP lab for a React or TypeScript one.”
Suggestion · Internet Technologies · rated 2/5 · Anonymous
Front-end web (HTML, CSS, React)1 studentAverage rating 2.0 · Internet Technologies
“We learned HTML but not React or any modern framework that employers use.”
What it missed · Internet Technologies · rated 2/5 · Anonymous“Swap the old PHP lab for a React or TypeScript one.”
Suggestion · Internet Technologies · rated 2/5 · Anonymous
PHP1 studentAverage rating 2.0 · Internet Technologies
“Swap the old PHP lab for a React or TypeScript one.”
Suggestion · Internet Technologies · rated 2/5 · Anonymous
Software testing and QA1 studentAverage rating 3.0 · Software Design and Development
“No unit testing at all. Interviewers asked me how I test my code.”
What it missed · Software Design and Development · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“One lab on writing tests with JUnit would help.”
Suggestion · Software Design and Development · rated 3/5 · Anonymous
Back-end and APIs1 studentAverage rating 3.0 · Internet Technologies
“Nothing on REST APIs, which came up in two interviews.”
What it missed · Internet Technologies · rated 3/5 · Anonymous
Cloud platforms1 studentAverage rating 4.0 · Database Systems
“Good on SQL. Nothing on cloud databases like AWS or Azure.”
What it missed · Database Systems · rated 4/5 · Anonymous“A lab on deploying a database to a cloud platform.”
Suggestion · Database Systems · rated 4/5 · Anonymous
Agile ways of working1 studentAverage rating 4.0 · Enterprise Pro
“Good teamwork practice, but no agile sprints or stand-ups like real teams use.”
What it missed · Enterprise Pro · rated 4/5 · Anonymous“Run the group project in sprints with a Scrum board.”
Suggestion · Enterprise Pro · rated 4/5 · Anonymous
Communication and presenting1 studentAverage rating 4.0 · Enterprise Pro
“Nothing on presenting to a client, which assessment centres ask for.”
What it missed · Enterprise Pro · rated 4/5 · Anonymous
How the course is run
Teaching, assessment, workload and the rest, grouped by the words students used.
More practical, hands-on work8 studentsAverage rating 3.1 · Software Design and Development, Internet Technologies, Database Systems, Enterprise Pro, Artificial Intelligence, System Security Management
“A small team project where we build and deploy a real app.”
Suggestion · Software Design and Development · rated 2/5 · Anonymous“Update the materials and add a project we can put in a portfolio.”
Suggestion · Internet Technologies · rated 2/5 · Anonymous“Keep the practical SQL labs, they were the best part of second year.”
Suggestion · Database Systems · rated 5/5 · Anonymous“The exam was all theory. Employers test SQL in practical assessments.”
What it missed · Database Systems · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“Make part of the assessment a practical SQL task.”
Suggestion · Database Systems · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“Run the group project in sprints with a Scrum board.”
Suggestion · Enterprise Pro · rated 4/5 · Anonymous“Peer marking for group projects.”
Suggestion · Enterprise Pro · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“More practical examples of AI used in industry.”
Suggestion · Artificial Intelligence · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“No hands-on penetration testing or security tools.”
What it missed · System Security Management · rated 3/5 · Anonymous
Assessment and marking5 studentsAverage rating 2.8 · Software Design and Development, Database Systems, Enterprise Pro, Artificial Intelligence
“Make us submit coursework through a Git repository with a pull request.”
Suggestion · Software Design and Development · rated 2/5 · Anonymous“The exam was all theory. Employers test SQL in practical assessments.”
What it missed · Database Systems · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“Make part of the assessment a practical SQL task.”
Suggestion · Database Systems · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“Peer marking for group projects.”
Suggestion · Enterprise Pro · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“Nothing on presenting to a client, which assessment centres ask for.”
What it missed · Enterprise Pro · rated 4/5 · Anonymous“Spread the coursework deadlines out.”
Suggestion · Artificial Intelligence · rated 2/5 · Anonymous
Industry tools and current practice5 studentsAverage rating 2.8 · Internet Technologies, Database Systems, Artificial Intelligence, System Security Management
“We learned HTML but not React or any modern framework that employers use.”
What it missed · Internet Technologies · rated 2/5 · Anonymous“The slides are out of date and some links are broken.”
What it missed · Internet Technologies · rated 2/5 · Anonymous“The exam was all theory. Employers test SQL in practical assessments.”
What it missed · Database Systems · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“More practical examples of AI used in industry.”
Suggestion · Artificial Intelligence · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“Bring in someone from industry to talk about security jobs.”
Suggestion · System Security Management · rated 4/5 · Anonymous
Teamwork and group projects3 studentsAverage rating 3.0 · Software Design and Development, Enterprise Pro
“A small team project where we build and deploy a real app.”
Suggestion · Software Design and Development · rated 2/5 · Anonymous“Good teamwork practice, but no agile sprints or stand-ups like real teams use.”
What it missed · Enterprise Pro · rated 4/5 · Anonymous“Run the group project in sprints with a Scrum board.”
Suggestion · Enterprise Pro · rated 4/5 · Anonymous“Group work was unfair when some people did nothing.”
What it missed · Enterprise Pro · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“Peer marking for group projects.”
Suggestion · Enterprise Pro · rated 3/5 · Anonymous
Careers, placements and applications3 studentsAverage rating 3.7 · Internet Technologies, Enterprise Pro, Data Structures and Algorithms
“Nothing on REST APIs, which came up in two interviews.”
What it missed · Internet Technologies · rated 3/5 · Anonymous“Nothing on presenting to a client, which assessment centres ask for.”
What it missed · Enterprise Pro · rated 4/5 · Anonymous“Very useful for technical interviews.”
What it missed · Data Structures and Algorithms · rated 4/5 · Anonymous“More practice questions like the ones in coding interviews.”
Suggestion · Data Structures and Algorithms · rated 4/5 · Anonymous
Teaching and materials2 studentsAverage rating 2.0 · Internet Technologies, System Security Management
“The slides are out of date and some links are broken.”
What it missed · Internet Technologies · rated 2/5 · Anonymous“Update the materials and add a project we can put in a portfolio.”
Suggestion · Internet Technologies · rated 2/5 · Anonymous“The lectures just read the slides.”
What it missed · System Security Management · rated 2/5 · Anonymous
Workload and pace1 studentAverage rating 2.0 · Artificial Intelligence
“The pace was too fast in the second half and the deadlines all landed together.”
What it missed · Artificial Intelligence · rated 2/5 · Anonymous“Spread the coursework deadlines out.”
Suggestion · Artificial Intelligence · rated 2/5 · Anonymous
Other comments2 studentsAverage rating 3.0 · Software Design and Development
“The design patterns were useful but we never built anything real with them.”
What it missed · Software Design and Development · rated 2/5 · Anonymous“More feedback on our code, not just the report.”
Suggestion · Software Design and Development · rated 4/5 · Anonymous
By module
Lowest rated first.
| Module | Responses | Average | Spread, 1 to 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Technologies2 rated it 1 or 2 | 3 | 2.3 | |
| Artificial Intelligence1 rated it 1 or 2 | 3 | 2.7 | |
| Software Design and Development2 rated it 1 or 2 | 4 | 2.8 | |
| System Security Management1 rated it 1 or 2 | 3 | 3.0 | |
| Enterprise Pro | 3 | 3.7 | |
| Database Systems | 3 | 4.0 | |
| Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 | 4.3 |
Feedback is anonymous unless a student chose to send their name. A module appears only once 3 students have rated it, and dates are shown by month, so a single comment can't be traced to who sent it. Themes sort comments into groups; they never change or summarise what was written. Back to the course view.