Cyber Security BSc (Hons)

Learn how to protect our society, economy, national security and infrastructure against cybercrime and prepare for a fulfilling career in the rapidly-growing cyber security industry. 

Technology and computer systems are becoming ever more integrated with our day-to-day lives and protection of the data and information they contain is paramount. With many organisations and businesses now considering the defence of online information a critical business issue, there’s an increased focus and demand on the role of cyber security.

On our Cyber Security BSc, you will learn about different types of cyber-attack, how to solve them and how to prevent them. Discover how to build ultra-secure software and systems, carry out rigorous penetration testing and study cryptography techniques. By putting yourself in the mind of a hacker, you will come to expect the unexpected and develop problem-solving skills that are highly-valued in the world of work.

A versatile range of core computing and cyber security skills are embedded throughout the course, giving you a solid understanding of the underlying principles of cyber security. This includes the mathematical foundation of computing, secure coding and computer ethics. Your Final Project in year three provides an opportunity to work innovatively and creatively to produce a quality solution that addresses a societal or organisational need.

By the time you graduate, you will have the skills required for an exciting career in the cyber security sector. Recent graduates have progressed into careers in industry, government and law enforcement, as security analysts, penetration testers, forensic investigators and cyber security engineers, at organisations such as Deloitte, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), Airbus, and Rolls-Royce.

Block teaching designed around you

• You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments – rather than lots of exams at the end of the year – and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

What you will study
Year 1

• Block 1: Foundation of Computing and Cyber Security
• Block 2: Secure Coding
• Block 3: Endpoint Security
• Block 4: Business Infrastructure and Security

Year 2

• Block 1: Secure Scripting and Business Applications
• Block 2: Incident Response and Cyber Threat Intelligence
• Block 3: Penetration Testing
• Block 4: Industrial Cryptography

Year 3 You may choose one of the block 4 options in the final year.

• Block 1: Cyber Physical Systems Security
• Block 2: Malware and Attacker Techniques
• Block 3/4: Final Project
• Block 3/4: Cyber Security and Social Responsibility (Optional)
• Block 3/4: Artificial Intelligence for Cyber Security (Optional)
• Block 3/4: Digital Forensics and Cyber Crime Investigation (Optional)

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

The course is part of DMU’s Cyber Security Centre, which influences the government and corporations in their approach to cyber security. This shapes the curriculum so that you learn what is important. It also grants you privileged access to career opportunities.

You may be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, group work, laboratory sessions, practical sessions and self-directed study. Assessment and how assessments are weighted is varied across modules. Our assessment practices reflect the best practices in teaching methods deployed by academic members of staff each year. Indicative assessment weighting and assessment type per module are shown as part of the module information. Again, these are based on the current academic session and are subject to change.

Teaching contact hours

• This is a full-time course. Each module is worth 30 credits. Outside of your normal timetabled hours you will be expected to conduct independent study each week to complete preparation tasks, assessments and research.

Self-directed study

• In order to prepare for, and assimilate, the work in lectures and seminars you will be expected to use our on-line resources, participate in flipped or virtual classroom discussions on our virtual learning environment (VLE) and engage in personal study and revision for approximately 25 hours per week.

Accreditation and Awards

• This course has been fully-certified by the British Computer Society (BCS). The BCS accreditation is a mark of quality assurance and means our course content and provision has been assessed by academics and employers to ensure it meets the rigorous standards set by the profession.
• Graduating from a BCS-accredited course will help you to stand out in the world of work, and also enable you to have your qualification recognised globally. Upon completing this course, you will meet the criteria (in part or in full) to become professionally registered with BCS as a Chartered IT Professional (CITP), Registered IT Technician (RITTech), Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng).

Cyber Security laboratories

• The Cyber Security laboratories are among the best equipped facilities of this type in the UK. Developed in consultation with leaders in the industry, they are designed to meet the highest forensics and security standards.
• The laboratories contain high-specification, specially customised PCs configured with multiple operating systems, virtualisation and removable hard drives, as well as specialised servers, wired and wireless networking equipment and a variety of other hardware and software components.
• The laboratories are also the base for the university's Cyber Security Centre, a multidisciplinary group of academics and industry experts who focus on a wide variety of cyber security and digital forensics issues. Their mission is to provide to all the benefits a safe, secure and resilient cyberspace.

What makes us special

Block Learning

• With block teaching, you’ll learn in a focused format, where you study one subject at a time instead of several at once. As a result, you will receive faster feedback through more regular assessment, have a more simplified timetable, and have a better study-life balance. That means more time to engage with your DMU community and other rewarding aspects of university life.

DMU Hackers

• Get hands-on experience and meet like-minded peers by joining DMU’s Hacking Society focussed on Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security. It has more than 150 members who meet weekly to share skills such as web application hacking, binary exploitation and reverse engineering and enter competitions. 

Where we could take you
Graduate Careers

• Computer Science graduates have gone on to work as associate software engineers, computer engineers, systems engineers, database managers, software developers and web developers for companies including HSBC Bank, Sainsbury’s, MMT Digital, RR Donnelley and Serck Controls.
• Graduates can also continue their academic careers by embarking on postgraduate study in either research or taught areas, which provides opportunities for further specialisation and the enhancement of existing skills.

Placements

• Explore professional opportunities with an optional placement year. Previous Computer Science students have spent their third year in industry working in roles such as Placement Developer, Cloud Reliability Developer, Solution Engineer and Business Analyst Intern for organisations including Next, Leicestershire Police, Oracle, IBM and The Walt Disney Company.

Additional costs

• There are no compulsory placements or trips associated with this programme, however, you will have the option of participating in DMUGlobal trips either as part of some of the modules or as an extra-curricular activity. These trips are subsidised by the university and the cost and the subsidy varies by location.

Find out more about DMUGlobal

• Students have the opportunity to take a paid or unpaid placement year in industry before their final year. Placements are full-time jobs and are available in a wide variety of sectors include private, public and not-for profit.
• If you wish to undertake a placement year facilitated by DMU fees are reduced to £650 (£750 for international students) for the year. This covers your access to all DMU services during your year away from the university, support from your academic supervisor and professional staff, as well as all the preparation support provided in advance.