ICT
Programme Title

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Software Development

Course Code

IT6-A02-23
Programme Includes:(Apprenticeship/ Placement or Internship)

Apprenticeship
MQF Level

Level 6
Type(refer to Appendix 1 for Parameters)

Qualification
Accreditation Status(Note: If the Type is Award or Qualification, therefore by default, the Accreditation Status should be Accredited)

Accredited via MCAST’s Self Accreditation Process (MCAST holds Self-Accrediting Status as per 1st schedule of Legal Notice 296/2012)
Mode of Delivery

Face to Face
Duration (hours or years)

3 Years
Total Number of Credits

180 ECTS
Total Learning Hours(25 Total Learning Hours for each ECTS)

4500 Hours
Target Audience

Ages 16 – 65
Target Group(the type of learners that the educational institution anticipates joining this programme)

( Qualified Professional Developers / Computer Specialists interested in a career shift or in upgrading their skillset within Software Development. ( Students that have completed an Advanced Diploma at MCAST ICT in iGaming / Software Development / Multimedia Software Development. ( Students or individuals from the general public in possession of Mathematical / Scientific / Programming qualifications at Advanced Level.
Programme Fees

€19,500.00 (Applicable for Non-EU and Non-EEA Countries) – the fee mentioned here is indicative.  Please refer to www.mcast.edu.mt, as well as to MCAST’s MG2I International Section for any updated fees as well as terms of payments.
Date of Next Student Intake

2024-10-01
Language of Instruction

The official language of instruction at MCAST is English. All notes and textbooks are in English (except for language courses, which will be in the respective language being instructed). International candidates will be requested to meet English language certification requirements for access to the course.
Application Method

Applications to full-time courses are received online via the College Management Information System. Applicants can log-in using Maltese Electronic ID (eID) in order to access the MCAST Admissions Portal directly and create one’s own student account with the identity being verified electronically via this secure service. Non-EID applicants need to request account creation though an online form after that they confirm that their local Identification Document does not come with an EID entitlement. . Once the identity is verified and the account is created on behalf of the applicant, one may proceed with the online application according to the same instructions applicable to all other applicants. For more information about how to apply online for a course at MCAST, please visit: https://mcast.edu.mt/how-to-apply-online-2/
Information for Non-EU Citizens

Non-EU candidates require a study visa in order to travel to Malta and join the course applied for. For further information re study-visa please access https://www.identitymalta.com/unit/central-visa-unit/.
Address where the Programme will be Delivered

MCAST has four campuses as follows: MCAST Main Campus Triq Kordin, Paola, Malta All courses except for courses delivered by the Institute for the Creative Arts, the Centre of Agriculture, Aquatics and Animal Sciences and the Gozo Campus are offered at the Main Campus address (above). Courses delivered by the Institute for the Creative Arts, the Centre of Agriculture, Aquatics and Animal Sciences, or the Gozo Campus, are offered in one of the following addresses as applicable:Institute for the Creative Arts Mosta Campus Misraħ Għonoq Tarġa Gap, Mosta Institute of Applied SciencesCentre of Agriculture, Aquatics and Animal Sciences, Luqa Road, Qormi Gozo CampusJ.F. De Chambray Street MCAST, Għajnsielem GozoIn the case of courses delivered via Online Learning, students will be following the programme from their preferred location/address. Programmes delivered via Blended Learning, and which therefore contain both an online and a face to face component shall be delivered as follows:Face to Face components – as per above address instructionsOnline components – from the student’s preferred address.
Course Description/Deskrizzjoni tal-Kors

English

The degree in Software Development is intended to prepare learners to work in the industry of application development and engineering and explores the skills required for designing IT enterprise solutions, building robust backend systems, and solving complex problems using the latest paradigms and modern technologies. The programme covers aspects related to software engineering, frontend and backend software technologies, data organisation, persistence and data analysis, software development of portable devices and software quality aspects such as security and testing. Modern trends such as Cloud, Devops, Blockchain, Machine Learning and Computer Vision are also explored. The degree includes work-placements that will allow students to gain experience within the industry and work in a professional environment. At the end of the degree, the students culminate their studies with a research dissertation in an area of their interest. The course is intended for individuals who are keen in solving problems through technology and would like to pursue an exciting career in one of the fundamental pillars of the economy.


Malti

Il-kors fis-Software Development huwa maħsub biex jipprepara lill-istudenti biex jaħdmu fl-industrija tal-iżvilupp tal-applikazzjonijiet u l-inġinerija u jesplora l-ħiliet meħtieġa għattfassil ta ‘soluzzjonijiet tal-intrapriżi tal-IT, il-bini ta’ sistemi backend robusti, u s-soluzzjoni ta’ problemi kumplessi bl-użu tal-aħħar teknoloġiji moderni. Il-programm ikopri aspetti relatati mal-inġinerija tas-software, teknoloġiji tas-software frontend u backend, organizzazzjoni tad-data, persistenza u analiżi tad-data, l-żvilupp ta’ software ta’ apparati portabbli u aspetti tal-kwalità tas-software bħas-sigurtà u l-ittestjar. Xejriet moderni bħal Cloud, Devops, Blockchain, Machine Learning u Computer Vision huma esplorati wkoll. Il-programm jinkludi work-placements li se jippermettu lill-istudenti jiksbu esperjenza fl-industrija u jaħdmu f’ambjent professjonali. Fi tmiem tal-kors, l-istudenti jikkonkludu l-istudji tagħhom b’proġett ta’ riċerka f’qasam ta’ interess tagħhom. Il-kors huwa maħsub għal individwi li huma ħerqana li jsolvu problemi permezz tat-teknoloġija u li jixtiequ jsegwu karriera eċċitanti f’wieħed mill-pilastri fundamentali tal-ekonomija.
Career Opportunities

Web/Back-end/Full-stack developer, Software tester, Mobile applications developer
Entry requirements(Refer to Programme Specification)

MCAST Advanced Diploma in IT (Software Development, Multimedia Software Development, iGaming)orMCAST Advanced Diploma in Electronics (Computer Engineering)or2 A-Level passes and 2 I-Level passesCompulsory A-Level: ComputingandCompulsory A-Level or I-Level: Mathematics (Pure or Applied) or Physics
Programme Learning Outcomes(Refer to Programme Specification)

At the end of the programme the learner will be able to:1. Design, implement and document the underlying data infrastructure to supportsoftware applications;2. Design, implement and document the back-end of enterprise applications for agiven requirement;3. Revise a software design/implementation to optimise its use of resources;4. Test and secure the software application and its content to conform to industrystandards.
Teaching, Learning and Assessment Procedures

The programmes offered are vocational in nature and entail both theoretical lectures delivered in classes as well as practical elements that are delivered in laboratories, workshops, salons, simulators as the module requirements dictate. Each module or unit entails a number of in person and/or online contact learning hours that are delivered by the lecturer or tutor directly (See also section ‘Total Learning Hours). Access to all resources is provided to all registered students. These include study resources in paper or electronic format through the Library and Resource Centre as well as tools, software, equipment and machinery that are provided by the respective institutes depending on the requirements of the course or module. Students may however be required to provide consumable material for use during practical sessions and projects unless these are explicitly provided by the College. All Units of study are assessed throughout the academic year through continuous assessment using a variety of assessment tools. Coursework tasks are exclusively based on the Learning Outcomes and Grading Criteria as prescribed in the course specification. The Learning Outcomes and Grading Criteria are communicated to the Student via the coursework documentation. The method of assessment shall reflect the Level, credit points (ECTS) and the schedule of time-tabled/non-timetabled hours of learning of each study unit. A variety of assessment instruments, not solely Time Constrained Assignments/Exams, are used to gather and interpret evidence of Student competence toward pre-established grading criteria that are aligned to the learning outcomes of each unit of the programme of study. Grading criteria are assessed through a number of tasks, each task being assigned a number of marks. The number of grading criteria is included in the respective Programme Specification. The distribution of marks and assessment mode depends on the nature and objectives of the unit in question. Coursework shall normally be completed during the semester in which the Unit is delivered. Time-constrained assignments may be held between 8 am and 8 pm during the delivery period of a Unit, or at the end of the semester in which the Unit is completed. The dates are notified and published on the Institute notice boards or through other means of communication. Certain circumstances (such as but not limited to the Covid-19 pandemic) may lead Institutes and Centres to hold teaching and assessment remotely (online) as per MCAST QA Policy and Standard for Online Teaching, Learning and Assessment (Doc 020) available via link https://www.mcast.edu.mt/college-documents/The Programme Regulations pertaining to this Programme’s MQF/EQF level available at: link https://www.mcast.edu.mt/college-documents/, apply.
Grading System

All MCAST programmes adopt a Learner-centred approach through the focus on Learning Outcomes. The assessment of MCAST programmes is criterion-referenced and thus assessors are required to assess learners’ evidence against a pre-determined set of Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria. For a student to be deemed to have successfully passed a unit, a minimum of 50% (grade D) must be achieved. All full time units are individually graded as follows:A* (90-100)A (80-89)B (70-79)C (60-69)D (50-59)Unsatisfactory work is graded as ‘U’.Work-based learning units are graded on a Pass/Fail basis only.Detailed information regarding the grading system may be found in the Programme Regulations pertaining to this programme’s MQF/EQF Level available at: link https://www.mcast.edu.mt/college-documents/
Contact details for Further Learning Opportunities

MCAST Career Guidance Tel: 2398 7135/6 Email: career.guidance@mcast.edu.mt
Regulatory Body/ Competent Authority Contact Details (where applicable – in the case of a programme leading to Regulated Profession)

Last updated: 2024-07-02