BSc in Cyber Security
Birmingham City University
Key Information
Campus location
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 - 4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 9,250 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* UK students: £9,250 per year | international students: TBC
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
The BSc Cyber Security course is designed to equip you with state-of-the-art technical knowledge, intellectual know-how, management capabilities and practical skills that will enable you to succeed in meeting the cyber security challenges facing modern organisations. In the 21st century, data has become a necessary commodity, which has value in isolation and more so when viewed as a larger data set for trends and habits.
Data is key to the functioning of modern business and the protection of this data is key to the ongoing success of the digital economy. As systems, such as IoT, both generate and consume data grow in capability and complexity, the need to protect the data created, stored and transited across public and private networks intensifies. Due to this, the need for suitably qualified cybersecurity practitioners has never been greater.
This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed by employers. Our strong links with the industry enable us to teach the most demanding and up-to-date topics. You will learn state-of-the-art technical knowledge, intellectual know-how, management capabilities and hands-on practical skills to succeed in meeting the cyber security challenges faced by modern organisations.
This course is supported by a vibrant research environment within the department of Networks and Cyber Security and by traditionally strong industrial links with CISCO, Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, UK Fast, Linux Professional Institute and BT.
What's covered in this course?
Secure information technologies form the bedrock of our modern connected mobile society. Our BSc Cyber Security course will equip you to enter this growing and important industry.
The course takes a practice-led approach, making use of equipment and tools found in the industry to give you the best preparation for a successful career. Our approach prioritises the practical skills sought by the industry, backing this up with a thorough understanding of theory.
The course delivers a well-rounded curriculum in the security of communication networks; the security of computer processing and storage equipment and the software that runs on it, both private and public, and both local and cloud-based; the security and accuracy of information and information systems; and the forensic analysis of threats and attacks, as well as management-level skills such as project and change management, maximising your career potential.
Studying computing with us puts you at the heart of an exciting, innovative community. Upon graduation, you could progress into a career as a cyber security engineer, network administrator, and cyber security analyst or network security architect.
Professional placement year
This course offers a professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, between the second and third years of your degree and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.
The University will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. If you do not find a suitable placement, you will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.
Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year (£1,850 for UK students).
Why choose us?
- Brand new facilities at STEAMhouse - This state-of-the-art building will become the new home for its School of Computing and Digital Technology from the start of the 2022 academic year. Based at our expanding City Centre Campus, this unique centre will give you access to outstanding facilities and teaching spaces, as well as opportunities to collaborate with people and businesses across multiple sectors and work on real industry-based projects
- Home to Cisco Systems and Microsoft Academy Centre - We are one of Microsoft’s top UK university-based academics and we are a member of the Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance. This means we are able to use various Microsoft software products and online resources for research
- Industry connections - We are also a Cisco ASC and one of only ten Cisco Instructor Training Centres in the UK
- State-of-the-art facilities - You will be based at Millennium Point, within our City Centre Campus that has recently received £6.5 million investment in IT facilities and software, allowing you to work with industry-standard software development and simulation tools
- Gain professional qualifications - From vendors such as Cisco, Microsoft and Linux Professional Institute. You will also have an opportunity to undertake an industry placement
Gallery
Curriculum
Year One
In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits).
- Computer Systems
- Computer Forensic Fundamentals
- Applied Operating Systems
- Computer Programming
- Mathematics for Computing
- Network Fundamentals
Year Two
In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits).
- Software Security
- System Security Attacks and Defences
- Computer Forensics Tools and Techniques
- Cyber Security Operations
- Networking Technologies
- Programming for Network Engineers
Professional Placement Year (Optional)
In order to qualify for the award of BSc (Hons) Cyber Security with Professional Placement Year a student must successfully complete the following module.
- Professional Placement Year
Final Year
In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits).
- Individual Honours Project
- Ethical Hacking
- Advanced Cyber Security Operations
- Network and Internet Forensics
- Cloud Computing
Career Opportunities
Enhancing your employability
Your studies here will equip you with practical and academic skills that will help you to stand out when you look for your first professional role.
Because we have strong links with companies such as SAS, Microsoft, Cisco and Capgemini, you have the chance to work with and understand the workings of real-life industry from early on in your degree studies.
You will have access to world-class facilities throughout your time here and these will help you to be a highly employable graduate.
The University has a Graduate+ programme, an extracurricular awards framework that is designed to augment the subject-based skills that you’ve developed throughout the programme with broader employability attributes, which will enhance your employability options upon graduating.
Placements
You have the option to undertake an assessed sandwich year between your second and third years, which will provide you with valuable work experience and give you the real-life skills you need.
Industry-recognised training
Our computing students have the opportunity to attend training for the PRINCE2 Foundation Level exam. This three-day course gives you the opportunity to achieve an industry-recognised qualification and add another desirable qualification to your CV.