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“At the University of Bolton, we take great pride in providing a quality, supportive learning environment for our students.” Professor George E Holmes DL | President & Vice Chancellor
“...tutors are very supportive and you’re not just a student ID number, at this university you are an individual with a name.” Ellisse Vernon | BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing
BSc (Hons) Computer Networks and Security with foundation year
Organisations rely on talented and well-qualified professionals to keep their data safe from hacking, espionage, user error, and equipment malfunction. The University of Bolton's BSc (Hons) Computer Networks and Security with foundation year degree offers the applied skills and understanding needed for a career helping to keep the modern world running smoothly.
Key information
Award:
BSc (Hons)
Mode of Study:
Full-time
Duration:
4 years
Location:
University of Bolton
UCAS points:
48
UCAS code:
G481
Start date:
19/09/2022
Course Details
Recent news reports reveal data breaches at large corporations, and some people say the age of cyber-warfare has already begun. The need for talented, professional and ingenious computer network and security professionals has never been greater. Governments, organisations, and individuals need to store and access information securely and efficiently. Our BSc (Hons) Computer Networks and Security with foundation year offers an excellent preparation for a career in this field.
The foundation year is the first year of this degree, offering an excellent grounding in the fundamentals of computing, programming, logic and problem-solving. It’s designed to prepare you for degree-level study.
Our dedicated staff will support you to develop the strong understanding and practical know-how vital to protect data against all possible sources of disruption at all times. Focusing on the design, configuration, management and support of all types of computer networks, we’ll guide you as you gain valuable hands-on experience with a range of industry-standard hardware and software.
We’ll also support you to gain vital academic and lifelong learning skills so that you are well prepared to research new technologies, apply your knowledge in new ways, and keep abreast of innovations and enhancements in the computer networks and security industry throughout your career.
Highlights
Our Computer Science courses are top in the UK for student satisfaction, according to The Complete University Guide 2022.
Our Computer Science courses are also placed first in the UK for teaching quality and student experience by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021.
You’ll have the opportunity to gain Cisco certification to CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) standard. The Cisco CCNA examination is offered at external testing centres and incurs a separate charge. The course also includes training towards RedHat Linux qualifications.
Our dedicated staff team has a wide range of professional experience, industry knowledge, technical expertise and academic credentials, offering you a variety of perspectives and broadening your horizons.
We prefer to keep lecture and practical classes relatively small so that you have plenty of opportunities to us ask questions and get help, as well as benefit from the ideas and support offered by your classmates.
Our dedicated laboratories are firewalled so that you and your classmates can experiment and evaluate attack tools without worrying about disrupting the wider University network.
We’re committed to helping you develop your employability and career network. You’ll be encouraged to attend guest lectures that enhance your learning, help you make contacts in the industry, and contribute to your professional development.
By designing the course assignments and projects to mimic industry pipelines and standards, we aim to give you a real feel for a career in computer networks and security.
Key Features
We offer a warm and friendly environment for your studies, with relatively small class sizes, purpose-built teaching facilities, and excellent student support and library services.
We want to work with you as an individual, giving you access to the help and support you need to succeed.
Our dedicated networking laboratories have industry-standard hardware and software. You’ll have unrestricted access, so you’ll always be able to practice and develop your workplace skills.
As you’d expect, many of our computing facilities can be accessed across the internet, allowing you to work on your assignments whenever and wherever you choose.
Your final year project offers the chance to specialise in an area of interest. We’ll support you in developing it as a work portfolio that demonstrates your knowledge and skills, ready to impress potential employers.
By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.
Professional recognition
In years two and three of your BSc (Hons) Computer Networks and Security with foundation year studies, you’ll be registered with the Cisco Networking Academy to enrol for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) study programme. A Cisco certificate is awarded after you successfully complete each of the Cisco courses. Once you have completed the CCNA study programme, you can choose to sit the Cisco CCNA examination at an external testing centre. A separate charge is payable to Cisco for the external exam.
You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
If you don’t meet the standard entry requirements but have non-traditional qualifications and/or relevant experience, we’ll be happy to consider your application. You may be asked to undertake additional assessment(s) to determine your suitability for the course.
You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
If English is your second language and you feel you need extra help with your language skills, you have the option of studying specialist language modules during the foundation year. Please contact the English for Academic Purposes team for further information and advice.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
This is a growing sector as more and more companies are becoming increasingly liable for their customer and business data security and confidentiality. As a graduate of our BSc (Hons) Computer Networks and Security with foundation year degree, you'll understand how to evaluate an organisation's security needs and put in place plans to protect against possible cyber-attacks and security breaches. This course covers how to design and implement new systems and lead and manage them effectively.
As a graduate, some of the key transferable skills you’ll possess include teamwork, leadership, communication, time management, commercial awareness, problem-solving, and negotiation. You'll also be well prepared for lifelong learning, as continuing professional development is significant for people working in computing because technology and software develop at such a rapid pace.
What can I do with this qualification?
Every company has some form of digital infrastructure that supports the day-to-day running of the business. As a computer networks and security graduate, you'll be able to explore opportunities in a range of businesses, including large corporates and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), government agencies, local authorities, health authorities, financial services, retail and e-commerce, network providers and internet service providers.
Completing this degree will also prepare you for a variety of related careers, such as computer and information systems management, technical support engineering, computer systems analysis, network and computer systems administration, network analysis and network security, digital forensics and computer network architecture.
Alternative career options
Graduates can use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. For some of these roles, relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required. Roles include:
Teaching
Research and development
Social media management
Technical writing
Product management
ICT Training
ICT sales
Digital copywriting
Telecommunications
Network engineering
Course fees
Home Fees
Year of study
Total
Entry year
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
2025/26
2026/27
2022
£9,250
£9,250
£9,250
£9,250
-
£37,000
International
Year of study
Total
Entry year
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
2025/26
2026/27
2022
£9,750
£12,950
£12,950
£12,950
-
£48,600
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2021-2022 academic year:
EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for ‘Home’ fee status.
If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for ‘Home’ fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement.
Please read the
student finance eligibility 2021-2022 policy on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student’s course of study will be set for the
normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in
March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
For 2021-2022 entry, the maximum government approved undergraduate tuition fee for UK students is £9,250 per year.
The University is able to charge this fee subject to an approved Access and Participation Plan for 2021-2022 and its current rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
For details of how to apply for this course, please choose your status from the options below:
If you wish to apply for multiple institutions or multiple courses at Bolton for September entry, then appy through UCAS
You can apply for up to 5 courses through UCAS (at the same or different institutions) for a fee of £26.50.
Alternatively, if you only wish to apply for a single course at a single institution then a reduced applicant's
fee of £22 is applicable.
The online application form and guidance notes are available on the
UCAS website.
You will need the following information to complete your UCAS application form:
If you wish to apply for a single course offered by the University of Bolton for any intake, you can apply directly
If you have carefully considered your course and institution choices and decided that this course is the best option for
you, you may apply directly to the University using our online application form shown below.
A direct application to Bolton provides the following features:
Free of charge to apply
Secure, simple and streamlined
Contact us directly for any admissions queries
Regular updates on your application directly from the University
Invites to offer holder events and taster sessions where you can meet your future tutors and get a flavour of university life
NOTE: You cannot apply both through UCAS and directly to Bolton. Submitting an application to any university through UCAS during
the same academic year will void any direct application you make to Bolton.
For courses starting in September, please be aware that we are required to share your information with UCAS if we accept you on this course.
We will create a simplified UCAS acceptance record on your behalf and return this to UCAS. By submitting your application directly to the
University of Bolton, you agree to these terms.
If you are ready to apply directly, please select your chosen start date from the list below.
Before applying, please read the entry requirements section of this page.
If your course runs at multiple locations or has various start dates, please be sure to select
the correct application link from the list below.
Before beginning your application, you should have the following information to hand:
Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
Details of any employment history, including name, address, dates and role
Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format.
Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page.
If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already inputted.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Undergraduate Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or
UGadmissions@bolton.ac.uk
The University welcomes applications from international students from all over the world.
We try to make the application process as simple and as fast as possible for our international applicants.
How you apply is determined by your current location and what you are choosing to study:
Apply direct to the University. Links for the next available intakes of this course are shown below.
Please click the link which will direct you to the online application form. Please read the user
guidance before completing this.
Apply via one of our approved in-country referral partners. A list of our partners may be found on the
International pages of this website.
Apply via UCAS for courses starting in September only – visit
www.ucas.com.
Should you have any queries please contact the International Team on +44 (0) 1204 903110 or email
international@bolton.ac.uk
Bolton College
University Collegiate School
Alliance Learning
University of Bolton
For valued members of the University of Bolton Group and progressing students, we try to make our application
process as simple and as fast as possible.
If you have carefully considered your course and institution choices and decided that this course is the best
option for you, you may apply free of charge to the University. By selecting the appropriate link from the
list shown below, you will be taken directly to our online application form. Please read the user guidance
before completing this, and ensure you upload all supporting documents such as certificates and your
personal statement when you apply.
When you are asked to add a contact email address, please ensure you add your college/university email
account address as well as your personal address. If you do not add your college address as your contact
address, we will be unable to identify you as a partner and offer you the benefits of being part of our group.
NOTE: You cannot apply both through UCAS and directly to Bolton. Submitting an application to any university through UCAS during
the same academic year will void any direct application you make to Bolton.
For courses starting in September, please be aware that we are required to share your information with UCAS
if we accept you on this course. We will create a simplified UCAS acceptance record on your behalf and return
this to UCAS. By submitting your application directly to the University of Bolton, you agree to these terms.
If you are ready to apply directly, please select your chosen start date from the list below.
Before applying, please read the entry requirements section of this page.
If your course runs at multiple locations or has various start dates, please be sure to select
the correct application link from the list below.
Before beginning your application, you should have the following information to hand:
Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
Details of any employment history, including name, address, dates and role
Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
Details including email addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format.
Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page.
If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already inputted.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Undergraduate Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or
UGadmissions@bolton.ac.uk
We look forward to receiving your application and you continuing your academic journey with us!
Lectures introduce the core course content, while practical laboratory sessions give you practical experience and help consolidate your learning. Tutorials offer you space to ask questions, ensuring you understand the topics covered in lectures and laboratory sessions. We use case studies and practical scenarios to help you learn to apply academic theory to real-life problems, allowing you to gain insights into computer networks and security in commercial environments.
Guest lectures/presentations by a variety of visiting speakers from relevant employment areas offer you the chance to develop your knowledge and understanding further.
In terms of assessment, you can expect time-constrained exams and coursework, such as essays, reports, presentations, portfolios, and others. These contribute to your final marks and allow you to demonstrate that you’ve met the learning outcomes for the course.
We also use other forms of assessment to help you learn, provide you with feedback and inform your development, though these don’t count towards your final marks. For instance, you might be asked to complete quizzes or undertake practical exercises. You’ll also receive feedback on assessment drafts. This helps to identify any areas that would benefit from extra attention on your part or where you need extra support from your tutor.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
Fundamentals of Programming
Logical Analysis and Problem Solving
Computer Systems
Foundation Project
Programming and Scripting
Security Fundamentals
Networking Principles
Modern Operating Systems
Secure Systems
Scaling Networks
Advanced Operating Systems
Modern Infrastructure
Undergraduate Project
Ethical Hacking and Digital Forensics
Operations Management
Network Management
Assessment methods
Level
Assesment method
Level one
Coursework 100%
Level two
Coursework 88%, Practical exams 12%
Level three
Coursework 75%, Written exams 25%
Learning activities
Level
Learning activity
Level one
Guided independent study 66%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 34%
Level two
Guided independent study 77%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 23%
Level three
Guided independent study 77%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 23%
Disclaimer
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
