Why study this course?
Our four-year Computer Networking and Cyber Security BSc (including foundation year) (Hons) degree provides an alternative route into higher education if you don’t have the necessary qualifications to start an undergraduate degree in computer networking or cyber security.
You will be taught within the Cyber Security Research Centre, which is a dedicated collaborative facility launched in 2018 to bring our industry partners into the University. You will be exposed to live projects from a variety of industries from within the fintech, cyber security and digital forensic businesses.
This course will equip you with the theoretical and practical skills necessary to protect computer systems, physical environments and technologies, as well as find solutions to real security challenges. These skills will help you to succeed in the cyber security industry.
Our Computer Networking and Cyber Security BSc degree has been accredited with full CITP status by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. This accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by BCS. As a graduate of this course, accreditation will also entitle you to professional membership of BCS, which is an important part of the criteria for achieving Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status through the Institute. Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.
More about this course
This course will help you to specialise in the network and application security of modern hardware and software systems. In the foundation year you’ll focus on learning the core principles of cyber security, robotics and internet of things, mathematics and programming.
The skills you gain with this foundation year will fully prepare you for the practical and theoretical study in the following three years of the course.
The foundation year of this course is shared with a number of other cyber security-related degrees, so in Year 0 you’ll have classmates who are interested in a variety of different specialisms.
This four-year degree is designed around the Cisco curriculum, so you’ll study a complete set of CCNA modules to gain additional Cisco certification training throughout the course.
Our tutors have strong links with the industry as well as potential employers within cyber security. Our dedicated teaching staff will be there to support you throughout the course. You’ll gain confidence in your academic abilities and be pushed to succeed as you progress through the course, graduating with the technical skills needed to protect online data from attacks and unauthorised access.
Following the foundation year, you’ll study the same course content and modules as those who study our Computer Networking and Cyber Security BSc (Hons) degree.
Should you decide during your foundation year that you’d like to specialise in a different area of study, there is some flexibility to allow you to do this.
You’ll graduate with a full undergraduate degree with the same title and award as those who study the traditional three-year degree.
You can get a taste for life at our School of Computing and Digital Media by taking a look at our showcase of recent student work.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed through case studies, reports, coursework, individual and group research assignments, lab-based tests and a final engineering project or dissertation. Throughout the course you’ll also receive feedback on a regular basis.
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited as fully meeting the educational requirement for Chartered IT Professional (CITP) registration.
On graduating, you’ll be eligible to apply for Membership of the British Computer Society (MBCS).
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 0 modules include:
Cyber Security Fundamentals (core, 30 credits)
Introduction to Robotics and Internet of Things (core, 30 credits)
Mathematics (core, 30 credits)
Programming (core, 30 credits)
Year 1 modules include:
Communications Engineering (core, 30 credits)
Fundamentals of Computing (core, 15 credits)
Introduction to Information Systems (core, 15 credits)
Networking Concepts (CCNA1 and 2) (core, 30 credits)
Programming (core, 30 credits)
Year 2 modules include:
Cloud Computing and the Internet of Things (core, 15 credits)
Enterprise Networks and Security (core, 30 credits)
Professional Issues, Ethics and Computer Law (core, 15 credits)
Risk, Crisis and Security Management (core, 15 credits)
Security in Computing (core, 30 credits)
Smart Data Discovery (core, 15 credits)
Year 3 modules include:
Ethical Hacking (core, 15 credits)
Network Security 1 (Cisco) (core, 15 credits)
Network Security 2 (Cisco) (core, 15 credits)
Network and Cloud Security (core, 30 credits)
Project (core, 30 credits)
Work Related Learning II (core, 15 credits)
Where this course can take you
Graduating from this degree will give you the technological knowledge needed to work as a cyber security engineer, software security officer, ethical hacker, web developer or security consultant.
What is a degree with foundation year?
This is a four-year degree course with a built-in foundation year (Year 0). It’s the perfect route into university if you can’t meet the necessary entry requirements or don’t have the traditional qualifications required to start a standard undergraduate degree. You’ll graduate with a full undergraduate degree with the same title and award as those who studied the traditional three-year course.
