Cyber Security - BSc (Hons) drafted

Program Overview

---

Why you should study a degree in Cyber Security

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 cyber security practitioners has never been greater.

This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed by the employers. Our strong links with 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.

Introducing STEAMhouse

STEAMhouse is a centre for technology, innovation, creative thinking

Our brand new £70 million pound building, STEAMhouse, will become the new home for the School of Computing and Digital Technology from the start of the 2022 academic year.

Find out more

This course is

open

to

International

students.

---

---

---

---

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 industry, backing this up with a thorough understanding of theory.

The course delivers a well-rounded curriculum in the security of the 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).

---

---

---

---

Accredited By

This course is accredited by:

---

---

---

---

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 Centre’s 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

---

---

---

---

Studying with us during the Covid-19 pandemic

The University has put in place

measures in response to Covid-19

to allow us to safely deliver our courses. Should the impact of the pandemic continue in future years, any additional or alternative arrangements put in place by the University will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the

student contract

.

Program Outline

Year One

Year Two

Professional Placement Year (Optional)

Final Year

Year One

In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).

Computer Systems 20 credits

Within the Computer Systems Module, you will gain knowledge and experience of computers and computer hardware.

This module presents a holistic view of how computer systems work and it also provides the underpinning knowledge required:

for the design of computer architecture

to show how software interacts with hardware

to apply electronics principles

to use number systems for computer technology

Computer Forensic Fundamentals 20 credits

This module provides an introduction to the core principles of a typical computer forensic investigation. It aims to develop a firm grounding in the underpinning knowledge and skills required to analyse and evaluate data from a computer and related data storage devices in a forensically sound manner.

This module emphasises a “hands-on” approach to learning forensic computing techniques using opensource and commercial forensic tools. The module will teach you the fundamental data structures applicable to computer forensics and how various tools can be exploited to analyse these structures in a variety of case types.

Applied Operating Systems 20 credits

In this module, you learn how modern operating systems are the glue that bind computer hardware and networks together and how they manage the user experience for individual computers and wider networks. We will focus on the function and purpose of operating systems, with a focus on hands-on practical skills.

We will build on learning from your networking, programming and computer systems modules, enhancing and extending skills in all these areas. You will make heavy use of Open Source Software, demonstrating what can be achieved with this huge publicly shareable resource on a very limited budget.

Computer Programming 20 credits

Within the module of Computer Programming you will learn the key skills of Programming and how this relates to technology and communications. Programming is an engineering tool that plays a vital role to drive most of the modern technologies surrounding us, including the technological devices for communication, transportation and entertainment.

In other words, it can be said that our modern lifestyles are heavily dependent on programming. Moreover, businesses increasingly rely on computers and the software run on them. Programming skills and a broader and deeper understanding of programming are therefore becoming increasingly important to the jobs market.

Mathematics for Computing 20 credits

The module gives you the opportunity to learn mathematical concepts and methods and critically reflect on how they relate to computing and communication systems. You will develop core mathematical and statistical skills which are fundamental in computing and technical work in general. You will be expected to solve mathematical and statistical problems on paper and on a computer

Network Fundamentals 20 credits

The module provides the opportunity to learn and critically reflect the skills required in building and designing basic networks and their requirements within a network infrastructure. This module builds on the underpinning knowledge and theory of networking systems.

Year Two

In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).

Software Security 20 credits

Software is ubiquitous. Not only is it deployed on traditional computing platforms (such as workstations and servers) but it is also embedded in network equipment (such as routers and firewalls) and consumer devices (such as hearing aids and smartphones). This module introduces you to a system programming language and the edit-compile-link-execute process. It continues the software theme that you began at Level 4 when you studied Computer Programming and Applied Operating Systems

System Security Attacks and Defences 20 credits

The module has been designed to provide you with the necessary theoretical framework, foundations and practical support for understanding security solutions with reference to the application of cryptography, access control and a wider range of security attack categories and defensive approaches and systems.

Computer Forensics Tools and Technique 20 credits

This module develops comprehensive practical skills and theoretical knowledge for the forensic examination of personal computer systems using proprietary and open-source software tools. You will acquire the keys skills necessary in conducting and auditing a systematic forensic investigation of a computer system for user activity, operating system operation and configuration and connectivity.

Cyber Security Operations 20 credits

The module provides you with an opportunity to build on the learning and to develop knowledge of cyber security and how it relates to information and network security. This module builds on Hardware and Security Fundamentals module and will allow you to protect a network system from issues of cyber-crime, based on security principles and the principles of how to defend networks from attack

Networking Technologies 20 credits

In this module you will have the opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills required for Network Technologies. This module builds your knowledge and underpinning theory for the networking modules and you will review the requirements from a small to medium scale network deployment engineering context.

Programming for Network Engineers 20 credits

This module builds on your foundational programming knowledge and skills developed during the Level 4 Computer Programming module to extend and focus these towards the area of network engineering. It provides an essential skillset for network engineers to manage and develop networks
etworking applications. This aids the management of complex networks by allowing the automation of regular tasks and the potential reduction of human error when configuring multiple devices.

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 120 credits

This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 40- week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Undergraduate Degree.

The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.

Final Year

In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).

Individual Honours Project 40 credits

The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and research-informed project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. In agreement with your supervisor, you will decide upon your topic which will take the form of a practical outcome (artefact) with accompanying contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your topic is that it must be aligned to the programme you are studying, and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.

Ethical Hacking 20 credits

The module provides you with an opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills of Ethical Hacking and information security within a global context. This module builds on the knowledge and underpinning theory from the networking modules and reviews the requirements for a secure network communication system.

Advanced Cyber Security Operations 20 credits

The module provides you with an opportunity to build on the learning and to develop knowledge of Cybersecurity and how it relates to information and data communication security. This module builds upon Cyber Security Operations Module.

Network and Internet Forensics 20 credits

This module provides students with knowledge and practical skills essential for the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of evidence obtained from wired and wireless networked computers and storage systems. Emphasis is also placed on the evidence harboured by network hardware devices, such as routers and switches.

You will learn how to effectively retrieve valuable information from the Microsoft Windows Server operating systems and analyse the Active Directory for evidence pertaining to user policies, privileges and violations. You will also learn how to formulate and implement a strategy to acquire drive images as evidence files over networked computers.

Cloud Computing 20 credits

One of the major objective of the computer science program is to introduce the theory, principles and technologies underlying the construction of modern computing systems. This module introduces, Cloud Computing which is the technology that enables on-demand computing resources (everything from applications to data centres) over the internet.

Download course specification

Download now

We think it’s important that you are assessed in a number of different ways during your Cyber Security BSc (Hons) course. These will include including continuous assessment, in-class tests, examinations, laboratory exercises and project work.

---

Attendance requirements

For more information on attendance requirements, course contact time and suggested self-study hours, download the course specification.

---

International Opportunities

You are able to apply to undertake part of your studies abroad, allowing you to experience life and studying in another country at one of our exchange partner universities.

This offers a unique opportunity to enhance your CV and experience new cultures.

---

Student stories

---

Can Wang

The course I am studying is part of a four-year joint programme of studies with Nanjing University of Science and Technology (NUST). The first two years were at NUST and the final two years are at Birmingham City University, providing me with a unique opportunity to gain a Bachelor’s degree.

The HOST UK scheme arranges visits for international students to British families’ homes. Birmingham City University will pay the cost for you to apply for a visit. It is a good way to experience British culture. I have really enjoyed it.

Apart from gaining a UK degree and expanding my knowledge, the Computer Networks and Security course has embedded in it the latest vendor-specific curriculum, which offers the opportunity to attain the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) professional qualification.

---

Austin Moses

Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification

There’s no disputing Austin Moses’ determination to succeed. The tenacious student put himself through university by working full-time in an off-licence – and still found the energy to achieve a first class honours degree, a sought-after prize and a position with Cisco.

Although he has dyslexia, Austin clearly didn’t let it stand in his way. He is full of praise for the University’s support systems. “I received extra tuition and proof reading that not only helped me polish up the work I was handing in but also taught me ‘survival’ skills that I can use to not be so disadvantaged,” he says. He also has great respect for the teaching staff and enjoyed ”learning from people with a passion and experience in the field in which they are teaching”.

To succeed in the current climate, it’s not enough to purely go through university and get a 2:1. Go the extra mile, find something that interests you passionately and throw everything you have at it ….. People will respect your passion and commitment as well as the extra study and in turn will work harder themselves to help you out

---

Athena Swan Bronze Award

We have successfully secured the Athena SWAN Departmental Bronze Award recognising a commitment to gender equality.

The Athena Swan Charter is a framework which is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within higher education (HE) and research.