African Leadership University

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BSc. (Hons)
Software
Engineering

Bachelor in Software Engineering (BSE) Program

Nurturing graduates with a deep understanding of technology, the skills to lead ethical digital transformations, and a global and Pan-African consciousness to solve complex problems

Duration

Years
0

Award

BSc (Hons)
Software Engineering

Tuition

USD per annum
0

Accreditation

Higher Education
Council of Rwanda

About the Bachelor of
Software Engineering Program

Embark on a mission to become a software engineer and drive technological change on the Continent by acquiring industry-relevant software engineering knowledge and skills throughout your learning journey at ALU. The BSE program will challenge you to innovate and learn by doing right from day one at ALU, empowering you to become a software developer who can significantly impact Africa.

Students of the BSE program are equipped with a deep understanding of complex problems on the continent, how technology and innovation are defined in Africa, and the role they will play as entrepreneurial technology leaders in solving Africa’s grand challenges. During their learning journey, BSE students gain a strong foundation in computer programming courses, covering essential aspects like coding and software design, application development programs, and system architecture fundamentals. They also learn to embrace agile software methodologies to collaborate and deliver high-quality software effectively.

Furthermore, the curriculum emphasizes practical skills in web development and software tools, preparing students to thrive in the dynamic world of modern software engineering.

Graduates of the Software Engineering programme stand out from the crowd with a strong portfolio of hands-on technical skills in mobile and web development, cloud computing, user experience design, and artificial intelligence and machine learning, bolstered by a plethora of in-demand skills like critical thinking, ethics in software engineering, leadership, quantitative reasoning, and entrepreneurial thinking.

Admissions
Requirement

Each student’s journey is unique.  We believe that good grades alone are not the mark of a true leader. Leaders come in all shapes and sizes. As such, we are not only looking for those who are at the top of their class, but also those who have stories of impact and tackle problems without waiting for someone else to solve them.

Any prospective student must meet our general entry requirements and the programme specific requirements to be admitted into ALU.

start your journey

Eligibility requirements for admission to ALU BSE program

Applicants supply evidence of :

  • Candidates must hold an Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education from Rwanda with a minimum overall pass of 50% or an equivalent NESA certificate with a minimum overall pass of 50%. In addition, candidates must have a minimum pass of 60% in Mathematics or Computer-related subjects.
  • Evidence of attaining B2-level or equivalent English language proficiency through standardised tests (see Section 5). Proficiency testing is available for those who cannot provide evidence.

Indirect Route

  • Candidates must hold an Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education from Rwanda with a minimum overall pass of 50% or an equivalent NESA certificate with a minimum overall pass of 50%. In addition, candidates must have a minimum of 65% in Biology, Physics, or Chemistry, and a 60% PASS in ALU’s internal Mathematics test.

Please note: 

  • Language of Instruction: The language of instruction at the African Leadership University is English. Applicants must supply evidence of B2 (or equivalent) proficiency. Those who cannot will be tested for proficiency in English at a period to be determined by ALU before the commencement of their degree studies. Those not meeting the B2 threshold will need to complete English proficiency bridging programme(s) offered by ALU or other 3rd-party providers.
Applicant age requirement
The applicant age requirement is in place to ensure that applicants are qualified and ready for a university education.
  • Minimum Age: 16 years old.
  • Applicants aged 16: Must undergo an interview to assess their readiness for university-level studies.
  • Applicants aged 17 who will turn 18 during their first year of study: No interview is required.
Please note: The applicant age requirement applies to the commencement of your studies, not the time of application.

Plan of Study

ALU’s Bachelor in Software Engineering program cultivates graduates who are not only proficient in software development but also deeply understand the broader implications of their work.

Students master best practices in software development, encompassing the entire software lifecycle while also developing a strong ethical foundation and a professional understanding of engineering design principles. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking and real-world impact. You will learn to analyze data, make evidence-based decisions, and consider their solutions’ social and ethical implications. You will also cultivate systems thinking and social innovation skills, enabling you to address complex challenges holistically.

Ultimately, BSE graduates will be equipped to identify and address critical challenges within a broader societal context, considering the needs of all stakeholders and the ethical dimensions of their work.

Learning Modalities

Students enrolling at African Leadership University (ALU) are required to attend their first term in person. After this foundational period, they have the flexibility to choose between in-person and online modalities for select modules, tailoring their education to their needs for the remainder of their studies (term 2-9)

Year 1

Trimester 1

  • Learning Processes
  • Reflective Thinking

Trimester 2

  • Self Leadership & Team Dynamics
  • Introduction to Linux & IT tools
  • Introduction to Programming & Databases

Trimester 3

  • Frontend Web Development
  • Web Infrastructure
  • Responsible Enterprise

Year 2

Trimester 1

  • Communicating for Impact
  • Enterprise Web Development
  • Foundations Project

Trimester 2

  • Introduction to Software Engineering
  • Skills immersion

Trimester 3

Software Engineering
Specialisation 1 
(students select their track)

  • Mobile Application Development
  • Advanced Frontend Web Development (Full Stack Web Development Track) OR
  • Programming in C (Low-level Programming Track)

    Mathematics for Machine Learning (Machine Learning Track) OR
  • Programming in C# (AR/VR Track)

Year 3

Trimester 1

Software Engineering
Specialisation 2

  • Linux Programming (Low-level Programming Track) OR
  • Advanced Backend Web Development (Full Stack Web Development) OR
  • Machine Learning Pipeline (Machine Learning Track) OR
  • Advanced C# Programming (AR/VR Track)
  • Advanced Python Programming (Full Stack Web Development Track) OR
  • Introduction to Machine L:earning (Machine Learning Track) OR
  • Introduction to Unity (AR/VR Track) OR
  • Data Structures & Algorithms in C (Low-level Programming Track)

Trimester 2

Software Engineering
Specialisation 3

  • React Development (Full Stack Web Development Track) OR
  • Machine Learning Techniques II (Machine Learning Track) OR
  • Introduction to BlockChain Development (Low-level Programming Track) OR
  • AR/VR Development with Unity I (AR/VR Track) OR
  • Machine Learning Techniques I (Machine Learning Track) OR
  • BlockChain & Applications (Low-level Programming Track) OR
  • AR/VR Development with Unity II (AR/VR Track) OR
  • Advanced DevOps (Full Stack Web Development)

Trimester 3

  • Ethics on Software Engineering
  • Mission Capstone

Application
timelines

Begin your application to ALU through any of the following intakes.

September 2026

Applications open and ongoing.

Applications close
July 1, 2026

January 2027

Applications open and ongoing.

Applications close
Nov 1, 2026

Key elements of the
Bachelor of Software Engineering

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The Professional Skill Development, Skills Immersion,  and the Mission Capstone together make up the Skills immersion element of the programme. The Skills Immersion module is envisioned as a work-based placement where students will be able to contextualise and integrate their knowledge and skills in the workplace environment preparing them for future employment. The Mission Capstone is the global challenge(s) the students intend to tackle and will culminate in the Mission Capstone which serves as Honors Project for the programme.

Graduates of the BSE programme can pursue professional
careers in any of the following areas:

Augmented Reality/
Virtual Reality

Game Developer, Mobile Game Developer, Systems Engineer, AR/VR Content Developer, Interactive Designer, Immersive Experience Designer, Gameplay Developer, and post-graduate studies in AR/VR.

Low-Level
Programming

Junior Software Engineer, Software Engineer, Embedded Systems Programmer, SRE, Junior Blockchain Engineer, Unix Developer, Distributed Systems Developer, C Developer, and post-graduate studies.

Full-Stack
Development

Full-Stack Developer, Frontend Developer, React Developer, NodeJS Developer, Python Developer, JavaScript Developer, Backend Developer, UI/UX Developer, QA Developer, and post-graduate studies.

Machine
Learning

Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Data Engineer, Data Scientist, Data Analyst, Big Data Developer, Machine Learning Infrastructure Developer, Python Developer, Tensorflow Developer, and post-graduate studies in Machine Learning.