BSc (Hons) Cyber Security

The skills you’ll gain on this course will be in high demand in tomorrow’s world. The cyber security sector is facing a significant skills gap at a time when threats and the legal and commercial consequences of inadequate security are increasing. 

• Security is now an essential part of business and the demand for highly skilled and knowledgeable professionals is increasing. On this rewarding course we’ll provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to build secure and compliant systems that meet the needs of employers, preparing you for an exciting career.
• Combine your interest in programming, computer networks and security to become the cyber security professional of the future. Cyber security is about understanding attack methods and learning how to protect individuals and organisations against them. We’ll teach you all about identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities in computer networks and systems, as well as learning how to protect them against hacker attacks.

Why study with us

• Take part in our ‘Computing Challenge’, where our first year Cyber Security BSc students work as teams to design and develop a new app in a competitive and supportive environment.
• You’ll get to use the specialist software utilised by the Police and other forensic investigators. This includes a range of investigative software and multi-processor password cracking software.
• Learn from our Laboratory of Security and Forensic Research in Computing, which carries out internationally recognised security and forensic research.

What you’ll do

• Cyber security professionals are in huge demand, particularly since the General data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018 came into force, so there are fantastic job opportunities out there for you.
• This demand for cyber security professionals will only increase as the digital revolution takes shape. The Internet of Things and smart environments (e.g. smart homes, roads and cities) will pose new risks that will need to be tackled.
• The UK Government has invested £1.9 billion in a cyber security strategy and identified a 20 year skills gap. This will create new opportunities for the next generation of cyber security graduates.

Modules

Year 1
Compulsory modules

These modules are set and you have to study these as part of your course.

• Compulsory modules accordion items
• The Computing Challenge
• Introduction to Networking
• Programming
• Computer Systems and Security
• Systems Analysis and Database Design
• Web Technologies

Year2
Compulsory modules
These modules are set and you have to study these as part of your course.

• Compulsory modules accordion items
• The Agile Professional
• Information Security Management
• Advanced Programming with C++
• Network Management
• Digital Evidence and Incident Response
• Cyber Security

Year 3
Compulsory modules
These modules are set and you have to study these as part of your course.

• Compulsory modules accordion items
• Honours Degree Project
• Secure Software and Malware Analysis
• Penetration Testing
• Advanced Cyber Security

Optional modules

• Depending on how many compulsory modules you take, you may be able to choose optional modules to make up your course.

Optional modules accordion items

• Wireless and Mobile Networks
• Cloud Computing

Future careers

• Cyber security is a highly competitive industry which calls for people with advanced technical and personal skills. There is a varied range of career opportunities in this growing field.

As a Cyber Security BSc graduate, you’ll be ready to take on professional cyber security roles such as:

• Data recovery expert
• Ethical hacker/penetration tester
• Forensic investigator and consultant, including careers in the Police
• Network administrator
• Secure system architect
• Security consultant
• Security engineer
• Security research assistant
• T system management

Your advanced skills and knowledge will open doors to many other graduate-level careers.