The software engineering major in Malaysia is one of the most attractive majors for international students, due to the excellence of Malaysian universities and their great interest in the software engineering major. Many universities, whether private or public, provide distinguished programs in this field at various academic levels, from bachelor’s to master’s and doctoral degrees.
We will shed more light on the software engineering major and the prices related to studying in this major in Malaysian universities.
What is software engineering?
Software engineering represents the comprehensive study of design, development and maintenance of software, and was introduced to solve problems of low-quality software projects. Challenges arise when the program generally exceeds limited timelines, budgets, and quality levels. Software engineering aims to ensure that the application is built consistently and correctly, on time and according to the specified budget and user needs. It also meets the growing demand for rapid changes in user requirements and the environment in which the application is supposed to operate.
The most important Arab and international universities for studying software engineering
International universities:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – United States
- Stanford University - United States
- Carnegie Mellon University – United States
- University of California, Berkeley – United States
- ETH Zurich – Switzerland
Arab universities:
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals) - Saudi Arabia
- American University of Beirut (American University of Beirut) - Lebanon
- Qatar University (Qatar University) – Qatar
- Alexandria University - Egypt
Programs, fees and costs at each university in Malaysia
University Name | Class | Annual tuition fees | more details |
Monash University, Australia (Malaysia branch) | Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) | $12,500 | more details |
University of Nottingham, UK | Software Engineering | $11,136 | more details |
Taylor's University | Bachelor of software engineering (hons) | $9,798 | more details |
APU University | BSc (Hons) / BSC (HONS) IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING | $7,370 | more details |
Multimedia University MMU | Bachelor of Computer Science (Software Engineering) | $5,535 | more details |
UTM SPACE UNIVERSITY | Bachelor of Computer Science (Software Engineering) | $5,120 | more details |
UTM University Malaysia | Bachelor of Computer Science (Software Engineering) | $4,430 | more details |
Limkokwing University | Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Software Engineering with Multimedia | $3,830 | more details |
City University | Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons) Software Engineering | $3,470 | more details |
University of Melaka UTeM | Bachelor of Computer Science (Software Development) | $2,000 | more details |
UTHM University | Bachelor of Computer Science (Software Engineering) with Honors | $1,919 | more details |
What skills does a software engineer need?
- Learn programming languages
1- Java language: Learners of this language can produce software on several platforms and systems without the need to convert software or use other programming languages as an intermediary to process codes. 2- JavaScript: The JavaScript programming language allows users to perform complex tasks and is integrated into most web pages. This language also enables users to update content, move images, play multimedia, and store variables, and is considered one of the three main technologies on the Internet. 3- SQL Databases: It is a standard programming language for database management, and is used to query, insert, update, and modify data. 4- C++ language: It is considered a general-purpose programming language, as it uses both low-level and high-level language, and based on the presence of C++ on most computers, software engineers must understand this language.5- C# (C#): Initially developed by Microsoft, this programming language is considered very easy to express compared to other languages, and provides additional security and increased performance.
6- Python language: It is characterized by dynamic semantics, structures and typing, which makes syntax easy to learn with no compilation phase, which reduces program maintenance and enhances productivity. Python also supports modules and packages, allowing engineers to use the language for different projects.
- Soft skills
Software engineers must have effective communication skills, whether communicating progress to a supervisor, explaining the product to a customer, or coordinating with team members to work on the same product, whether via email, phone, or personal meetings. Software development also requires engineers to Ability to multitask, as they need to divide attention across different units of the same project, or easily switch between projects when working to a deadline or team needs. Given that engineers deal with multiple projects during their different phases, they must demonstrate a high level of organization , as they need to track details and access information efficiently, especially under time pressures and customer needs. Of course, attention to detail is key, as software engineers must remain focused and troubleshoot code issues and errors as they arise, and fix them accurately and effectively.
How are software engineers hired:
Typically, employers look for software engineers with a bachelor's degree in software engineering, computer engineering, or computer science. Employers seek software engineers with practical knowledge and experience in programming.
Aspiring software engineers take courses in programming languages, database administration, programming concepts, data structures and algorithms, software architecture, and discrete mathematics. Some programs may include a final project in software engineering, where students are given practical tasks such as designing a full program, which may be completed as part of a team during their university studies.