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BSc (Hons) Computing (Cyber Security)
Our BSc (Hons) Computing (Cyber Security) is ideal if you're fascinated by computers, enjoy problem solving and want a fast-paced, challenging job. We offer the knowledge and skills needed to anticipate and combat threats to computer software and data, including hacking, theft, viruses and other forms of cyber-attack.
Key information
Award:
BSc (Hons)
Mode of Study:
Full-time
Duration:
3 years
Location:
The University of Bolton
UCAS points:
96
UCAS code:
G310
Start date:
20/09/2021
Course Details
It’s predicted that by 2022, there will be a worldwide shortage of 1.8 million information security workers , meaning that the future offers qualified cybersecurity professionals access to excellent career opportunities and competitive salaries. Our BSc (Hons) Computing (Cyber Security) course is an ideal route into this dynamic and evolving industry.
Cyber security focuses on protecting data and information systems from cyber breaches. Covering how to design secure computer systems, this unique degree emphasises secure software development and promotes a deep understanding of the structure of computing systems. Throughout the course, you’ll develop technical knowledge and applied skills in security defence techniques and counter-measures, ready to protect computer systems and electronic infrastructures from attack. In particular, we’ll focus on helping you learn to design and develop your own security tools for probing, analysing and defending computer systems against attack.
Our expert and dedicated team will cover how to analyse and evaluate security threats and vulnerabilities to information systems, perform security risk assessments and develop security controls, processes and software. We’ll support you as you learn how to respond to security incidents and implement resolution activities. The department’s strong links with business mean you’ll have the chance to work on ‘live briefs’ in your coursework assignments, so you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy real-world context and application for the skills and knowledge we’ll help you develop.
With class sizes no greater than 30, we can offer you meaningful, personalised learning plans. Our dedicated and enthusiastic lecturers – many of whom are active researchers with extensive industry insights and experience – will help you develop both the theoretical knowledge and the practical, hands-on skills required by the security sector that will put you one-step ahead of attackers from day one. Meanwhile, guest speakers and lecturers give you access to highly relevant and up-to-date input from industry settings.
All of this is backed by our well-equipped IT suites, where you’ll get to apply and develop your learning individually and in groups, with expert guidance and support.
Highlights
- The department – and the wider University – provides a warm and friendly environment for your studies, with relatively small class sizes, purpose-built teaching facilities, and excellent student support and library services.
- Your teaching and tutorial team brings an impressive range of professional experience and technical prowess to the course, so you’ll have the chance to explore and evaluate a range of perspectives relating to your studies.
- A big part of our commitment to your progress is helping you develop your employability and industry networks. The teaching team work collaboratively with industrial partners to ensure that you have access to the latest and relevant industrial skills. So, we’ll encourage you to attend guest lectures that give your learning context, offer access to industry contacts, and contribute to your underlying professional development.
- By underpinning our content and assignments with a strong industrial focus, we foster a keen understanding of the professional IT environment, and help you develop essential skills such as team-working, communication and problem solving.
- This degree offers a comprehensive overview of key cyber security principles, methods and activities, such as types of security, common attack techniques, performing a risk assessment, penetration testing, managing risk and assessing the ‘cyber security culture’ of an organisation.
- We’ll focus on your individual needs, and provide personalised learning support in order to help you find the learning strategies that best support you as you begin your journey towards an exciting and challenging career as a cyber-security professional.
Key Features
- Our dedicated laboratories, servers and end-hosts feature high-specification hardware and the latest software, so you’ll have industry-equivalent hands-on experience.
- You’ll also get to experience the latest technologies, such as OpenStack – developed by Rackspace and NASA.
- As you’d expect, many of our computing facilities are accessible online, so you can work on your assignments wherever you are, and whenever inspiration kicks in.
- We’ll support you to develop sought-after skills such as background research, critical reasoning and problem solving, as well as professional communication, time management, teamwork, and lifelong learning.
- We’ll also encourage you to build a portfolio of evidence representing the projects and tasks you’ve completed during your studies, ready to impress potential employers.
- We continually monitor and update the course to reflect current and ever-changing issues in computing, and to keep your learning in line with technological advances and innovations.
Professional recognition
The University of Bolton’s BSc (Hons) Computing (Cyber Security) programme offers you the opportunity to develop the skills to be recognised as a RedHat certified practitioner in systems administration, and gain a number of other industry-relevant professional accreditations. We were the first UK university to become a RedHat academy and offer you access to the accreditation examinations at a significantly reduced cost.
- 96 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 Mathematics 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 English and Mathematics.
- We're more than happy to have an informal chat with you about this course, either over the phone or in person. If you wish to meet in person, please contact the Programme Leader to arrange a mutually convenient time. (While we reserve the right to interview it's not our usual practice for this course.)
- 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.
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.
Our BSc (Hons) Computing (Cyber Security) degree offers the knowledge and skills needed to implement, maintain and support the security controls that protect an organisation’s computer systems and data assets from threats and hazards.
As a graduate, you’ll possess a deep understanding of computer systems and how underlying infrastructure, software and data contribute to a modern computing infrastructure. You’ll also have the skills and knowledge that are required to identify where threats and hazards can occur in modern infrastructure, along with the skills to develop, implement, maintain and support security tools and controls that analyse, prevent and protect against attacks.
During the course, you can also expect to develop a wide range of technical, professional and interpersonal skills, such as attention to detail, team working, communication and analytical skills, time management, problem solving and lifelong learning.
What can I do with this qualification?
Graduates from this programme should prove valuable to private, public and third sector organisations of all sizes and across the full spectrum of industries. Given the worldwide shortage of cyber security professionals, you should be able to choose an interesting, challenging and rewarding environment to work in.
On successful completion of the course, you’ll be well prepared for a career in cyber security and might seek a technical role in an area such as penetration testing, security design or malware analysis, or choose a broader role, such as security planning, risk assessment or security planning. Opportunities in areas such as defence, forensics, commerce, technical security and system administration should be open to you. As you progress through your career and gain experience, you’ll be able to work your way up to positions of greater responsibility, such as chief information security officer, IT security director or security architect.
After graduation, you’ll also be ready to progress to postgraduate-level study or additional IT certification in order to develop your expertise further. Studying for a PhD or professional doctorate is another option.
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:
- Consultancy
- Digital copywriting
- IT sales
- IT training
- Teaching
- Research and development
- Network engineering
- Product management
- Technical writing
- Social media management
- Data analysis
- Information systems management
- Games development
Course fees
| Home EU Fees | Year of study | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry year | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | |
| 2020 | £9,250 | £9,250 | £9,250 | - | £27,750 |
| 2021 | - | £9,250 | £9,250 | £9,250 | £27,750 |
| International | Year of study | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry year | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | |
| 2020 | £12,450 | £12,450 | £12,450 | - | £37,350 |
| 2021 | - | £12,450 | £12,450 | £12,450 | £37,350 |
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 2021-2022.
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.
Bursaries
For details of how to apply for this course, please choose your status from the options below:
September start
Please apply through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) for September entry.
The online application form and guidance notes are available on the UCAS website.
You can apply for up to 5 courses through UCAS (at the same or different institutions) for a fee of £24. Alternatively, if you only wish to apply for a single course at a single institution then a reduced applicant's fee of £13 is applicable.
You will need the following information to complete your UCAS application form:
Institution Code Name: BOLTN
Institution Code Number: B44
Tel: 0870 1122211
Web: www.ucas.com
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
-
Apply online: University of Bolton BSc (Hons) Computing (Cyber Security) - 20 September 2021
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) Computing (Cyber Security) - 20 September 2021
We look forward to receiving your application and you continuing your academic journey with us!
Learning and teaching methods use a blended style, which means you’ll have face-to-face sessions as well as taking part in online learning. You can expect a mixture of seminars, lectures and tutorials, practical laboratory/workshop sessions, a visiting speaker programme, critiques, self-directed study and e-learning, as well as online sessions and support. We’ll help you gain practical skills through technical introduction and support, workshop sessions, demonstrations and activity-based assignments. Throughout the course, a strong practical theme promotes active learning.
In terms of assessment, we aim to provide creative and industry-relevant ways for you to demonstrate your theoretical and practical knowledge. You can expect assessments to involve assignments, projects, in-class tests, portfolios and presentations. Some assessments will contribute to your final module mark and allow you to demonstrate that you’ve met the learning outcomes, while others are designed to help you identify areas that need extra attention on your part, or where you need extra support from your tutors.
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
- Programming for Cyber Security
- Secure Systems
- Scaling Networks
- Advanced Operating Systems
- Undergraduate Project
- Ethical Hacking and Digital Forensics
- Information Security 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.
Meet the team
The academic staff detailed above teach across a range of courses in this subject area and may not teach on this course specifically.
Programme Contacts
Adam Isherwood
Programme Leader
A.Isherwood@bolton.ac.uk
+44 (0)1204 903075
Andrew Parker
Admissions Tutor
A.Parker@bolton.ac.uk
+44 (0)1204 903467
Enquiry Team
University of Bolton
enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
+44 (0)1204 903903
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