BSc (Hons) Cyber Security

UCAS CODE: CYBS (Full-time) or CYSF (Foundation Year)
TARIFF: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)
  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Location: High Wycombe
  • Duration: Three or Four Years
  • Start Date: September 2024

Cyber security is an increasingly important area to build a rewarding career in. On our practical BSc (Hons) Cyber Security degree programme, we will help prepare you for a successful future in this field. Thanks to our close involvement with the sector, you can be sure we’ll help you develop the skills employers are looking for.

You will benefit from our industry links and experienced and supportive staff. To help you achieve your goals we have invested in well-equipped computer labs at our High Wycombe campus.

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Why study this subject?

Cyber-attacks are among the main security issues facing organisations in the information age. Today, all organisations operate with a potential information security risk and will need to implement strategies to protect their IT systems and data.

Although society has become increasingly reliant on information technology and internet-based services, cyber security skills and capability are not currently increasing at a comparable rate.

As the sector is growing, so will the demand for cyber security professionals who have achieved the requisite standards and certification.

This course is also offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme. 

 

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

If you are wishing to develop your career as a cyber security professional, or develop new skills sets that may enable you to consider alternative employment roles in IT services, our BSc (Hons) Cyber Security degree programme is for you.

This course has been designed to incorporate guidance from the Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG), a group within the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), as well as the Institute of Information Security Professionals’ (IISP) Information Security Skills framework.

The course reflects current issues and industry requirements, assisting the drive towards improved cyber security provision at a national level. It will help you improve your technical understanding of cyber security, IT services and risk management, and you will gain an understanding of how this relates to the wider business and customer-facing needs.

During the course you will develop specialist skills in cyber security, risk and information management, underpinned with software and networked systems. You will also learn to use a wide range of cyber security related tools and techniques, alongside technical skills in computer programming, software engineering, cloud and database development.

We’ll give you the fundamental skills and knowledge you’ll need to quickly adopt new emerging technologies and concepts in this fast-changing field. You’ll also leave with professional business skills, techniques and ways of thinking that you’ll need in order to align technical security requirements with business needs.

We’ll also help you to build a portfolio of work and seek opportunities to demonstrate your expertise by co-presenting at industry conferences and undertake internships or work experience.

Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers.

You will also get opportunities to expand your knowledge both inside and outside of the lecture theatre. Students have previously visited sites of historical importance, including Bletchley Park, to learn more about the history of computing and how it impacted the world.

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What facilities can I use?

We’ve invested in the best facilities for your next step into a computing career. The primary delivery of all modules within the course will take place within our specialist computing labs in our Gateway building at our High Wycombe Campus or in our specialist Cyber Resilience facility at our Aylesbury Campus. This will also include use of our networking lab for those modules involving any aspect of network or cloud-based development and/or security.

Our library is the perfect place to find the resources you need and a quiet place to study, filled with four floors of books, journals, computer suites and study rooms. Or, if you’d rather work off campus, e-Journals and resources are only a few clicks away using our Virtual Learning Environment.

You can also benefit from BucksAnywhere, a web service which provides access to many of the software applications we use for teaching and studying. BucksAnywhere can be used from your own Windows or Mac device or from a University owned PC or laptop, from any location.

What will I study?

Our BSc (Hons) Cyber Security programme is designed to reflect sector currency, employer and industry requirements and assist in the drive towards improved cyber security provision at a national level.

On this degree you will gain an understanding of how to protect those organisations, networks, IT systems and individuals against cyber-attacks and cyber threats.

You will study industry level approaches and professional techniques for cyber security, helping to prepare you for a successful career in this field. You will be exposed to a variety of computing discipline areas, so that you will then be able to select and apply appropriate principles, theories, best practices and appropriate technologies to address the needs of different computer security contexts, for a range of users, customers and stakeholders. You will study software design and development, programming languages, technologies and applications which may include Python, Java, HTML, PHP, UML, database technologies, machine learning, algorithms and data structures, web and mobile computing, and Agile software development.  Furthermore, specialist modules allow you to further explore the areas of artificial intelligence, media programming, real-time systems, computer science, cloud computing and security. 

There will be progression and development in your learning through the programme, from initially learning the fundamentals in areas such as risk and information management, security auditing and network security before going on to apply what you have learned to various individual and team assignments. Following on from this we will help you to develop your abilities to think strategically about dynamic real-world problems, whilst enhancing and extending your transferable skill set to include analysis, design, research and leadership.  

In the final year of the programme, you will be expected to integrate, apply and evaluate the knowledge you have gained through independent, work-relevant study as part of a major project or extended written piece of work. The course provides, through the choice of research topic and via selection of particular advanced option modules, for you to tailor your studies to suit your own individual interest areas and future career ambitions. 

 

How will I be taught and assessed?

You will be taught by a team of expert academics and specialist professionals. Together, they use their collective experience of academia, industry and commerce to give you the theoretical knowledge and practical skills you’ll need for your career.

The high level of industry experience on our teaching team means we can give you a real flavour of what it’s like to work in a professional environment. We encourage problem-based learning via case studies and classroom exercises throughout the modules. You’ll also benefit from small class sizes that give you a chance to develop close working relationships with other students and tutors.

Course assignments reflect real-life problems because we believe that’s the best way to learn – and it’s more fun! You’ll be taught through lectures, tutorials, practical sessions and seminars.

A variety of assessment methods will be used as appropriate to the module, including assignments carried out in the student’s own time, in-class assignment, workshops and presentations.

The wider Computing Department and our Careers service also offer development opportunities that may involve placements, internships or employment in local companies.

BSc (Hons) Cyber Security Programme Specification

What are the course entry requirements?

A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)

UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.

A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.

For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for the three-year undergraduate programme, or those who do not feel fully prepared for a degree course, can apply for a four-year programme including a Foundation Year; find out more.

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.

This course has Opportunity modules.

Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers. Find out more.

What are the tuition fees

Home

Home, Academic Year 2024 - 2025

£9,250 per year

International

Overseas/International, Academic Year 2024 - 2025

£15,150 per year

Additional course costs and financial support

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.
You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

Questions about fees?

If you have any questions about the fees above, contact our Enquiries team by calling 0330 123 2023 or emailing advice@bnu.ac.uk.

What are my career prospects?

Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.

Graduate cyber security specialists focus on understanding risks to the security of information or data. They analyse where security breaches may occur or have occurred, and repair or strengthen systems against such breaches.

There are many opportunities for cyber security professionals, including work within business, government and law enforcement agencies across the globe.

Potential job roles include:

  • Security Analyst
  • Security Engineer or Architect
  • Security or IT Director or Manager
  • Systems Administrator
  • Forensics Investigator or Auditor.

It is important to note that some roles may also require you to be security cleared.

You could also choose to be self-employed, setting up an independent information or cyber security company, or consultancy business. It is possible to embark on self-employment as a new graduate, however many graduates gain experience by working for an employer in the sector to embed and develop your knowledge and skills first.

On successful completion of the course, you will have gained the knowledge and skills needed to sit some leading industry exams and certifications. You may wish to continue on to industry-related qualifications such as Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) or CompTIA Security+.

You may also choose to stay on at Buckinghamshire New University and study one of our postgraduate programmes, such as our MSc Cyber Security.

Did you know?

We are one of the top 10 UK universities mostly likely to produce graduates who go on to own or manage a business (Capital on Tap, 2021), find out more about this excellent news.

Course leader

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Justin Luker
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Dr Carlo Lusuardi
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Justin Cross
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BSc (Hons) Cyber Security
BSc (Hons) Cyber Security with Foundation Year