Cyber Security BSc (Hons)

We offer a style of education which is flexible and designed to fit around your life, allowing you to benefit from a modern, forward-thinking higher education institution, reinforced by the quality and reputation of coventry university. We aim to provide career-focused courses, wherever possible, coupled with placement opportunities to help prepare you for the world of work. 

We are dedicated to making higher education accessible and enjoyable to everyone, so we keep our fees low and made it a policy to cover one module at a time, allowing you to become a specialist in each topic before moving onto the next.

As the number of mobile users, digital applications, and data networks increase, so has the number of potential risks and threats, resulting in the need for talented professionals to secure and protect systems and data.

Our Cyber Security BSc (Hons) course is designed to produce high quality graduates who can contribute effectively in one of the highest growing sectors in the UK. The course offers real-life tools and challenges, giving you the opportunity to become an independent learner through practical projects and advanced teaching methods. 

What you'll study

• This degree examines the principles and threats which underpin computer systems, networks and the software development process. Throughout the course, you will become competent and confident in a range of prevalent topics, such as operating systems, network security, programming language, penetration testing, ethical hacking and more.

Year 1

• This year introduces students to laws, principles and complexities of Computing Science. Starting with an understanding of how systems are breached, you will explore relevant technologies such as wireless and optical networking, software solutions and high-level programming language. In addition, students this year will have the opportunity to work with industry-standard operating systems such as Mac OSX and Microsoft Windows in relation to security issues, setting the foundational blocks for a successful route into years two and three. Students who complete year one are eligible for a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Computer Science.

Year 2

• Building on knowledge gained in year one, this year is aimed at building your skillset to an advanced standard. You’ll develop object-orientated analysis, design and implementation skills as you explore complex subjects such as cryptography, digital forensic science and algorithms. Towards the end of the year our skilled lecturers work with you to refine transferable employability skills, as you prepare for a career in cyber security. Students who complete year two are eligible for a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Cyber Security.

Placement Year

• There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur before your final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.
• If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee3 of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time, you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Final Year

• In the final year of study, you look at complex subjects such as the Internet of Things and the underlying principles. You will analyse and evaluate potential risk and exploitation in secure programming, and assess a range of issues such as buffer overflows and how to mitigate a number of security risks. Finally, you’ll get the chance to demonstrate your skills in a number of independent projects, taking charge of processes from inception to delivery. Students who complete the final year are awarded a BSc (Hons) degree in Cyber Security.

How you'll learn

• This course is available as a full-time three year or optional four-year sandwich course, the latter incorporating a work placement or study year in a related field2.
• Our teaching methods are varied, offering a number of teaching styles to suit the needs of our students, so in addition to lectures, we also utilise a blended learning approach, including online aspects, workshops and group work. Additional support is available via email and our online learning platform.
• Progression through the modules develops knowledge and skills, including communication (written and oral), study skills, research methods, project management, presentation and career development. We will also encourage you to consider your employability and/or entrepreneurial development.
• Unlike traditional institutions, there are no end of year exams. Instead, learning is assessed through coursework and phase tests, which is more reflective of our learning model.

Teaching contact hours

• The number of full-time contact hours may vary from module to module, however, on average, you can expect up to 20 hours of learning activities per week, made up of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes. Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 30 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.
• As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
• Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

• The learning outcomes of modules, assignments and projects will be clearly stated. Your work will be marked according to how well you achieve these learning outcomes and your feedback will refer to each outcome and your academic skills as well as providing an overall percentage grade.
• Assessment methods vary and may include, practical class and project performance, written practical reports, project thesis, laboratory experiments, tutorial tasks and assessments, which take place during each six-week block.
• The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Facilities

• You’ll be based in the spacious Civic Centre building, which provides an outstanding learning environment.
• You will have access to our Library & Learning Services, which hosts multiple study areas and loanable laptops, fully-equipped seminar rooms and impressive IT suites. Our laboratories are home to industry-standard equipment, so that you learn using the same equipment as many industry professionals.

Careers and opportunities

• An important vocation in the modern digital age, cyber security professionals work with creativity and analytical thinking to understand how systems can be broken, protected and used.
• A career in cyber security is challenging, dynamic and highly transferable, meaning graduates may have the opportunity to work internationally throughout their careers as there is a recognised global demand for trained specialists.
• Cyber security is a rapidly growing market, with plenty of scope to develop a very lucrative career. Graduates from this course can enter a number of specialisms, such as Cyber Security Consultancy, Software Developer/Programming, Cyber-Crime Investigation or Digital Forensics Analysis.