Course overview
Accredited Foundation year Work placement
Computing and cyber security courses
Learn more about our courses in computing and cybersecurity.
You study a curriculum that meets the growing needs of industry and this course has been developed with input from leading international providers and local businesses. You can be part of the next generation of network and security graduates to support and enhance the world economy – whether that be through social developments, medical systems, education, financial institutions or heavy industry. You explore a range of different network platforms and learn about their applications, how different network architectures are used in industry, network convergence, how to deliver excellent server administration and enterprise server management, investigation of mobile services, implementing network virtualisation and virtual network security, and understanding the needs of specialist networks such as automotive, robotic and sensor networks.
The computer security element of this course starts with an investigation into data collection and the inherent security, ethical, legal, social and professional issues. You also study information security management principles including security for cloud-based systems, before studying advanced security techniques in your final year.
Top reasons to study this course at Teesside:
- Industry links: work on live industry briefs, competitions and hackathons with companies including Cisco, Cubic Transportation Systems, Sage, TUI, Atombank, HMRC and Waterstons.
- British Computer Society (BCS) academic membership: get free BCS membership to accelerate your career path with CV builder tools, e-learning courses, mentorships programmes, jobs boards and volunteering opportunities.
- Career-ready: our ExpoSeries of events allow you to showcase your skills to industry professionals who are seeking to recruit new and rising talent.
- State-of-the-art facilities: learn in industry-standard computing labs with specialist equipment used to undertake development projects and build innovative prototypes.
Course details
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
Year 2 core modules
Optional work placement year
You have the option to spend one year in industry learning and developing your skills. We encourage and support you with applying for a placement, job hunting and networking.
You gain experience favoured by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset. You also obtain the transferable skills required in any professional environment, including communication, negotiation, teamwork, leadership, organisation, confidence, self-reliance, problem-solving, being able to work under pressure, and commercial awareness.
Many employers view a placement as a year-long interview, therefore placements are increasingly becoming an essential part of an organisation's pre-selection strategy in their graduate recruitment process. Benefits include:
· improved job prospects
· enhanced employment skills and improved career progression opportunities
· a higher starting salary than your full-time counterparts
· a better degree classification
· a richer CV
· a year's salary before completing your degree
· experience of workplace culture
· the opportunity to design and base your final-year project within a working environment.
If you are unable to secure a work placement with an employer, then you simply continue on a course without the work placement.
Final-year core modules
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You attend a combination of lectures and practical sessions for each module. Lectures concentrate on teaching the principles while practical sessions allow you to put these principles into practice in purpose built labs. Throughout your practical sessions you receive feedback on your work and progress. You often work on a piece of work for several weeks building a deeper understanding of the subject as you work. The feedback you receive will help you to get the most out of your learning.
In your final year you also undertake a personal project which integrates much of the work you have studied in previous years.
How you are assessed
A variety of assessment methods are used. Your assessments are designed to build on the work you undertake in class, because your learning continues through the assessment period. An in-course assessment often consists of a practical exercise and an associated report helping you to develop both technical and business skills.
Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services
Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
96-112 points plus maths GCSE grade 4, Level 2 Key Skills (Application of Number) or Level 2 Functional Skills.
If you have Level 4 credits in a related subject from previous study, then credit transfer towards your new course may be possible.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth using the UCAS tariff calculator. If your qualifications are not listed, contact our admissions team as we may accept alternatives.
We may also be able to help you meet the entry requirements through our Summer and Winter University modules.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
Employability
Career opportunities
Our computing students go into a wide range of careers, both nationally and globally. Graduates have gone on to work in a range of industries including the power industry, avionics and the pharmaceutical industry. And for national and international companies including Cisco, HMRC, Accenture and Durham Police.
Professional placement
During your degree we advertise a variety of paid placement opportunities (subject to availability). You can apply for a year-long supervised work placement between your second and final year. A placement gives you a valuable opportunity to improve your employment prospects by developing new skills and deepening your understanding of your subject.
Student selection is carried out by the employers through competitive interviews and often skills tests. Placements are not compulsory but are assessed and contribute to your final degree award.
Our placements team gives you help and support throughout the placement process, including guidance on applications and interviews, to help you get a placement that suits you.
Our students have been placed in organisations such as IBM, Microsoft, SABIC Petrochemicals and Thomson Reuters.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
Select your country:
Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.
This degree has been accredited by BCS (British Computer Society), The Chartered Institute for IT. 
