Master of Science (MS) in Software Engineering

Program Description

A Master of Science (MS) in Software Engineering is an advanced degree program designed to equip students with in-depth knowledge and practical skills in software development and engineering principles. Through a blend of theory and hands-on practice, students learn to design, develop, and maintain complex software systems, emphasizing topics such as software architecture, programming languages, software testing, and project management. Graduates of this program are prepared for careers as software engineers, architects, team leaders, and technology consultants in various industries.

Why Study at PAF IAST?

Location and Ambience

PAF IAST is nestled in natural mountains that flank its campus from all sides. The institute offers one  ravishing view of snow-capped peaks of Nathiagali and natural winding trails. Furthermore, to its north-west is Tarbela Lake, a journey of only a few kilometers from the campus. Moreover, set in the middle of the campus is a natural lake, fed by the springs of surrounding mountains. The campus is just a 3-kilometer drive from the Hazara Motorway. This results in an ideal setting equally conducive to academic activity. Most importantly, major cities like Islamabad, Abbottabad, are just an hour’s drive, while small towns like Wah, Hasanabadal, Taxila, and Swabi can be reached in just half an hour. All these features make this the best opportunity to get  Computer Sciences admissions in KPK. 

Technology Advancement and Foreign Partnership

This institute is an emerging center of excellences, with its own technology park. Therefore, all faculty members hold PhD degrees in appropriate disciplines. By virtue of its wide array of facilities and the facilitation for its students to learn. Furthermore, they benefit both from classroom teaching and faculty trained at premier Austrian universities/institutions. The institution is ideally cut out for imparting state-of–the-art engineering and allied education in Pakistan. Moreover, the institute enjoys close linkages with top ranking universities in Austria and China. As a result, we have already concluded with them formal agreements regarding student and faculty exchange programs, provision of dual degrees in certain areas, and the training support from foreign faculty. 

Academia-Industry Relationship

There is a strong relationship between academia and industry. As a result, this paves the way for job opportunities for students even in the midst of their studies. PAF IAST will serve as a welcome platform for the industry to share their requirements for a skilled workforce. Therefore, this will enable the institute to incorporate their valuable inputs in practical vocational training and expose the students to industrial perspectives.

On-Spot Industry Internship

Firstly, it will be a mandatory requirement for every student to do an internship every semester in an appropriate industry. Secondly, this will garner them practical experience related to their respective degree programs. To crown it all, Technology Park will afford them rare opportunities to apply themselves innovatively and become promising entrepreneurs.

Need and Merit-based Scholarships

Different types of local and foreign scholarship opportunities are available on need and merit base.

Associated Careers

Software Engineer, Software Architect, Quality Assurance Engineer/Test Engineer, DevOps Engineer, Product Manager, Technical Lead/Engineering Manager, Data Engineer/Data Scientist, Cybersecurity Engineer, Consultant/Technology Consultant and Entrepreneur/Startup Founder

Entry Requirements

Entry Requirement for MS Software Engineering:

  1. Bachelor education (i.e., minimum 130 credit hours)/ Equivalent Sixteen-years education in the respective subject from HEC recognized institutions is a prerequisite for admission to all MS programs.
  2. Candidates with a foreign degree equivalent to Bachelor program are also eligible for admission in MS, however they need to obtain HEC equivalence certificate.
  3. Candidates must have passed GRE/GAT/PAF-IAST MET with minimum 50% marks.

Semester Wise Duration of Degree:

Minimum: 3 semesters

Maximum: 8 Semesters

Years wise Duration of Degree:

Minimum: 1 ½  Years

Maximum: 4 Years

Minimum Credit Hours requirement for the degree: 32 CHs                                   

MS Software Engineering Course Curriculum

Semester 1

 

Code

Course Title

Credit Hours

Labs

Total

1

SS-821

Research Methodology

2NG

 

 

2

COMP-XXX

Core Course I

3

 

3

3

COMP-XXX

Core Course II

3

 

3

4

COMP-XXX

Core Course III

3

 

3

 

 

·       Non-credit course (compulsory) with 2 contact hours

 

 

 

 

 

Total Credit Hours

9

 

9

Semester 2

 

Code

Course Title

Credit Hours

Labs

Total

1

COMP-XXX

Core Course IV

3

 

3

2

COMP-XXX

Elective I

3

 

3

3

COMP-XX

Elective II

3

 

3

 

 

Total Credit Hours

9

 

9

Semester 3

 

Code

Course Title

Credit Hours

Labs

Total

1

COMP-899

MS Research work

3

 

3

2

COMP-XXX

Elective-III

3

 

3

3

 

Total Credit Hours

6

 

6

Semester 4

 

Code

Course Title

Credit Hours

Labs

Total

1

COMP-XXX

Elective-IV

3

 

3

2

COMP-900

MS Thesis

3

 

3

 

 

Total Credit Hours

6

 

6

Specialized and Elective Courses

 

Code

Course Title

Credit Hours

Labs

Total

1

COMP-870

Advanced Requirement Engineering

3

 

3

2

COMP-871

Advanced Software System Architecture

 3

 

 3

3

COMP-880

Software Testing and Quality Assurance

 3

 

 3

4

COMP-882

Software Measurement and Metrics

 3

 

3

5

COMP-881

Software Configuration Management

3

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elective Courses

 

 

 

1

COMP-872

Component-Based Software Engineering

3

 

3

2

COMP-875

Advanced Software Project Management

3

 

3

3

COMP-876

Advanced Human-Computer Interaction

3

 

3

4

COMP-873

Agile Software Development Methods

3

 

3

5

COMP-874

Empirical Software Engineering

3

 

3

6

COMP-883

Advanced Formal Methods

3

 

3

7

COMP-884

Software Risk Management

3

 

3

8

COMP-885

Reliability Engineering

3

 

3

9

COMP-886

Complex Networks

3

 

3

10

COMP-945

Agent-Based Modelling

3

 

3

Salient Features of MS Software Engineering:

The salient features of a Master of Science (MS) in Software Engineering typically include:

Comprehensive Curriculum

Practical Experience

Specialization Options

Industry-Relevant Skills

Collaborative Learning Environment

Faculty Expertise

Internship Opportunities

Research Opportunities

Flexibility

Career Support