Software testing and quality assurance (5cr)

Objective

You know the most common software testing methods and tools.
You are able to work in testing, its planning or preparation individually or as part of organizations.
You know how software development and software testing are related.

Content

What are:
- testing methods and work phases
- test level
- testing tools
- the most common testing documentation
and testing work individually and as part of organizations?
How is testing researched and developed?
How do testing processes and conventions work?

Evaluation

Students can
a. use professional vocabulary and concepts in an expert way in different situations.
e. choose appropriate models, methods, software and techniques according to the purpose and justify these choices.

Course material

Learning materials include selected book chapters for core theory, curated online resources, and the instructor’s slide decks. Each lecture is paired with a guided exercise notebook so students can immediately apply the concepts to practical cases.

Study forms and methods

The course combines lectures, hands-on exercises, and project work with a real company. Lectures introduce key testing concepts, while practical sessions focus on applying methods such as test planning, execution, defect management, and automation. Students are expected to prepare through materials provided, then practice and deepen their understanding through exercises, group work, and the consultancy project.

Timing of exams and assignments

A mid-term exam is scheduled halfway through the course and a final exam at the end. After every lecture students receive a homework assignment, usually due before the next session.

Student workload

The course is worth 5 ECTS, which corresponds to about 135 hours of student work. Of this, 21 hours are contact teaching through 14 lectures of 1.5 hours each. The remaining workload is completed as independent study, including homework assignments after each lecture, and exam preparation

Course part description

The course is divided into three main parts. The first block focuses on manual testing, covering requirements, test planning, execution, defect management, and the core types of functional and non-functional testing. The second block introduces automated testing, with hands-on practice in test automation frameworks and their role in agile development and CI/CD pipelines. The final block broadens the scope, exploring prototyping and idea validation, accessibility testing, and A/B testing as tools for improving products and user experience.

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Assessment is based on exams, assignments, and the project work. The grading scale is 0–5.

0 (Fail): Student shows insufficient understanding of basic testing concepts; major errors in applying methods or describing processes.

1 (Sufficient): Basic concepts of software testing are recognised, but application is limited and reasoning contains gaps.

2 (Satisfactory): Student can apply standard testing methods (e.g., writing simple test cases, identifying obvious defects) with some accuracy but lacks deeper analysis.

3 (Good): Student applies testing techniques correctly, documents and interprets results appropriately, and shows understanding of both manual and automated approaches.

4 (Very Good): Student demonstrates strong mastery, connects different testing methods (manual, automated, functional, non-functional), and can justify choices in a given context.

5 (Excellent): Student shows comprehensive and critical understanding, applies testing flexibly to new contexts, and communicates findings clearly and professionally in project work.