From hacking to espionage, user error to equipment malfunction – organisations rely on talented and well-qualified professionals to keep their data safe. Our Computer Networks and Security 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:

Part-time

Duration:

6 years

Location:

The University of Bolton

UCAS points:

104

Start date:

20/09/2021

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 rely on being able to store and access information securely and efficiently, and our BSc (Hons) Computer Networks and Security degree offers an excellent preparation for a career in this field.

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. Areas of study include network architecture and management, network design and integration, routing, computer security, network operating systems, programming, wide area networks and wireless networks and security.

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

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 have 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 ask us 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 so that they 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 and 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 to develop it as a portfolio of work that demonstrates your knowledge and skills, ready to impress potential employers.

Professional recognition

In the first two years of study, you’ll register 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 four parts. Once you’ve 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.

104 UCAS points. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points.
Your Level 3 subjects must include a technology related subject; for instance, A-level Computing or BTEC Extended Diploma in Computing.
You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent) including Mathematics, English and technology/computing subjects.
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’ll need to achieve a minimum mark in a diagnostic mathematics test and attend an interview.
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).

Want some reassurance or advice? Speak to one of our advisors. Email us at admissions@bolton.ac.uk or call us on +44 (0)1204 903 394.

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 and one in which more and more companies are becoming increasingly liable for the security and confidentiality of their customer and business data. Graduates of this degree will understand how to evaluate the security needs of an organisation, and put in place plans to protect against possible cyber-attacks and security breaches. This course not only covers how to design and implement new systems but also to lead and manage them effectively.

As a graduate, some of the key transferable skills you’ll have developed include teamwork, leadership, communication, time management, commercial awareness, problem solving and negotiation. Continuing professional development is especially important for people working in computing as 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. A BSc (Hons) Computer Networks and Security graduate can 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 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 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 students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Home fee of £4,500 for the academic year 2021/22.

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.

The university is currently awaiting government guidelines as to EU fee charges for students commencing study in 2022-2023.

For 2022-2023 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 2022-2023 and its current rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

Bursaries

Click here for more information about the scholarships and bursaries available to University of Bolton undergraduate students.

For details of how to apply for this course, please choose your status from the options below:

You may apply directly to the University using the University's online application form. Please select your chosen start date from the list below:

You should have 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 input.

If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions@bolton.ac.uk

Apply online: University of Bolton BSc(Hons) Computer Networks and Security - 20 September 2021

International applications are not possible for this course

As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.

We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.

University of Bolton Group Partners

Bolton College
University Technical College
University of Bolton

The University welcomes applications from our group partners and progressing students so we try to make our application process as simple and as fast as possible. By selecting the link for your chosen course 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.

Please ensure when you are asked to add a contact email address 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 you will be referred to apply via UCAS, which incurs a cost.

Apply online: University of Bolton BSc(Hons) Computer Networks and Security - 20 September 2021

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 to consolidate your learning. Tutorials allow you to ask any questions you have, 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 practical scenarios, 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 further develop your knowledge and understanding.

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 have 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.

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 94%, Practical exams 6%
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.