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Undergraduate study
cyber security degree, bsc cyber security, cyber security bsc

Cyber Security (with Foundation Year) BSc (Hons)

Network technologies are constantly evolving and underpin almost everything we do. This degree provides a hands-on approach and strong emphasis on network infrastructure, particularly how you can create and manage secure networks.

 

I122 BSc/CYSFY

Course routes:

 

Course overview

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.

This course includes a foundation year - ideal if you need additional preparation or if you don't have sufficient grades to join Year 1 of a degree.

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.
  • Quality teaching: 92% of BSc (Hons) Cyber Security students agreed that their course challenged them to achieve their best work (National Student Survey 2023, tees.ac.uk/source).

Download pdf Order prospectus

 

Course details

Course structure

Foundation year core modules

Computational Thinking and Mathematics

Study the fundamental concepts of problem-solving, algorithms and data structure, and how they can be integrated to create solutions to complex computational tasks.

You use classic puzzles and recreational games to demonstrate the fundamental building blocks of algorithms. Develop your knowledge of design principles and your proficiency in creating algorithmic procedures by learning to think computationally when solving puzzles, and creating routines for playing simple computer-enabled games.

This is a 30-credit module.

Development Project

Working in small teams, you design, develop and demonstrate a software solution that relates to an agreed specification following an agile development methodology.

This is a 30-credit module.

Information Systems

Learn the tools, techniques and methods you need to develop information systems such as gathering requirements, requirements modelling, designing data models and implementing a solution.

This is a 30-credit module.

Programming Fundamentals

Gain an introduction to programming if you have little or no experience of it. You use tools that are easily available, easy to use and familiar to anyone who's used a computer. Learn how programming language constructs are applied to increasing complex problems.

This is a 30-credit module.

 

Year 1 core modules

Campus Network Design and Security

Study network design solutions and current trends in network design including the increased demand for bandwidth and wireless solutions. Get hands-on experience using key network simulation software. You also cover security threats, their solutions, assessing and managing security risk, legal requirements, and social and ethical issues.

This is a 30-credit module.

Programming for Cyber Security

Study the fundamental concepts of programming and software development using Python. You also develop your knowledge of multiple open-source computing environments, open-source implementation basics for the Linux operating systems and its applications.

This is a 30-credit module.

Secure Computers and Networks

Cover a full range of computer and network security issues. Study systematic approaches to managing security risks, identification and authentication, elementary cryptography, network technology and relevant security issues. Learn about the basic network technology including deploying routers, switches, firewalls, cabling and servers as well as communication protocols and topologies. And understand how they're used and how they function in the real world.

This is a 30-credit module.

Systems Design and Databases

To produce a successful, robust, user-friendly system or application, you need to start by analysing your stakeholders’ requirements and developing a detailed design.

Study the concepts and techniques of analysing and designing systems. Then you can break down and simplify complex systems, and represent them visually using industry-standard approaches. In industry, these visual models are used to communicate designs to developers and stakeholders before implementation.

You study other techniques to design and implement relational databases as part of an information system. Using data-modelling techniques, you learn to define how the system stores data and interacts with it.

This module has a strong emphasis on professional practice and transferrable practical skills, such as communicating design, structuring workflows with process models and gathering requirements - this provides you with some of the essential skills you need in industry.

This is a 30-credit module.

 

Year 2 core modules

Data Centre Network Infrastructure

Progress your knowledge of advanced networks. You develop your understanding of how switches are interconnected and configured to provide network access to local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) users, including integrating wireless devices.

You design and configure a virtual local area network (VLAN) before considering the WAN technologies used to connect small- to medium-sized business networks. Investigate how a virtual private network (VPN) allows a computer to pass data across shared networks while still benefiting from the functionality of a private network.

This is a 30-credit module.

Enterprise Project

You develop a solution, proposal, product or service in response to an enterprise challenge set by industry partners or business clients.

Working in small teams, you determine the project aims, objectives, roles, tasks, deliverables, schedules and documentation. You take a professional approach, informed by innovative industry practice, to deliver a successful project that meets the set challenge.

You develop a solution, proposal, product or service, pitching it to academics and industry experts. You reflect on the project process as a whole and review sustainability, diversity, ethical and legal issues, and evaluate team members’ performance.

This is a 30-credit module.

Ethical Hacking

Ethical hackers are skilled in finding and exploiting technical vulnerabilities in networked devices while behaving in a professional and responsible manner. They act lawfully to help organisations identify and resolve security weaknesses and vulnerabilities within their networks.

You learn how to perform and document ethical hacks. You explore the key concepts of ethical hacking including penetration testing, attack vectors and models, and vulnerability analysis. And you consider industry-standard hacking tools, learning how to use them in an ethical way.

This is a 30-credit module.

IT Systems and Information Security

You explore IT systems and computer information security concepts and practices, as well as their risks, and legal and ethical considerations. You learn how to install, manage and secure network servers and their associated applications.

You also learn how to monitor and troubleshoot servers, and develop your understanding of essential services, how systems fail and physical security.

This is a 30-credit module.

 

Optional work placement year

Work placement

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

Computing Project

Produce a substantial artefact related to the computing field, and write a report and commented walk-through video, with supervision from our academic staff.

You are guided to develop your work-discipline and your professional outlook. Taking full responsibility for your project, carry out an in-depth exploration of a chosen subject area that demonstrates your ability to scope the project, plan, research, analyse, synthesise, and creatively apply and execute what you've already studied. Consider its risks, security and sustainability as well as the legal, social, ethical, equality, diversity and inclusion issues.

You develop your professional skills in time management, communication, problem solving and critical thinking.

This is a 60-credit module.

Security Analysis

Get a detailed knowledge of the security techniques you need for internet-connected systems, understanding attackers' strategies and how they apply tools and techniques to compromise online systems.

Rview the latest tools and techniques for attacking and defending computer systems. And cover system, web and application security - understanding how various attacks and defence mechanisms work.

This is a 30-credit module.

Service Management and Information Governance

The close relationship between business and IT infrastructure has led to a rise in service-led approaches to management. Consider industry best practice, along with the frameworks and legislation to meet the needs of business, while thinking about strategy and business continuity.

This is a 30-credit module.

 

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

Any combination of level 3 qualifications. Each application is considered on a case-by-case basis.

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.

Talk to us

Talk to an international student enrolment adviser

 
 

Other course routes

Work placement

Study this course with an optional work placement year, at no extra cost. Alongside this, you can gain valuable experience and engagement with the sector through our shorter work placements, internships and work experience opportunities.

Work placements

Full-time

Entry to 2024/25 academic year

Fee for UK applicants
£9,250 a year

More details about our fees

Fee for international applicants
£17,000 a year

More details about our fees for international applicants


What is included in your tuition fee?

  • Length: 4 years (or 5 with a work placement)
  • UCAS code: I122 BSc/CYSFY
  • Start date: September
  • Semester dates
  • Typical offer: Offers tailored to individual circumstances

Apply online (full-time) through UCAS

 

Part-time

  • Not available part-time
 

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ExpoTalent 2020

See highlights from Teesside University’s ExpoTalent 2020 – showcasing the next generation of talent from our School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies.

 

Get in touch

UK students

Email: scedtadmissions@tees.ac.uk

Telephone: 01642 738801


Online chat (general enquiries)

International students

Email: internationalenquiries@tees.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 (0) 1642 738900


More international contacts

 

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