Program Overview

Cyber Security Technical Professional Apprenticeship BSc (Hons)

Course Summary

The UK faces a potentially crippling shortage of cyber security professionals, threatening businesses in the UK. More than two thirds of companies are already struggling to recruit the levels of staff necessary to defend against major attacks.

The global shortfall of security experts is expected to increase 20 per cent to 1.8m by 2022, according to industry association ISC Squared. Almost half of British businesses say that the skills shortage has a "significant impact" on their customers and has caused breaches of their computer systems.

The UK Government has warned that cyber criminals are increasingly targeting the country and its critical infrastructure. (source: The Telegraph Technology section, 14 Feb 2017)

This course seeks to address the chronic shortage of suitably qualified cyber security specialists and, at the same, prepare you for a fulfilling and varied career in the field of cyber security.

What You Will Study

In your first year, you will cover the fundamentals of computing and information systems including programming, computer systems and networks and web technologies.

In your second year, you will study a range of specialised modules including database systems, operating systems, cyber security and network engineering. You will also complete a short placement. In the final year, your time will be divided between advanced level security and networking modules.

You will also undertake a project, the contents of which will focus on cyber security issues. On completion of your degree, you will have the opportunity to continue your studies in the area of cyber security by enrolling on our MSc Information Security and Digital Forensics course.

What Makes This Course Different

Highly Practical

We offer a highly practical work based course that will prepare you for a career in computing.

Academy Status

We have Academy status with industry leaders Microsoft and CompTIA, so your UEL qualification has added credibility.

Approved Apprenticeship Standard

Digital and Technology Solutions apprenticeship degrees are based upon the Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions Professional apprenticeship standard, approved by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The apprenticeship standard was developed by a group of major companies including Fujitsu, Hewlett Packard, IBM, BT, Ford, Network Rail and Lloyds Banking Group.

How You Will Learn

An essential part of all apprenticeship degrees such as the BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions is learning on the job. Typically you will spend 80 per cent of your time working and the remaining 20 per cent studying at UEL but this course is delivered in such a way that enables students to directly apply and develop the skills and knowledge gained on-campus in their working environment.

Learning on the job is however a two-way process and hence the experiences gained in the work place can be related to the academic content of the degree, producing a synergistic approach to learning.

As a UEL student, you will have access to a wide range of teaching and learning facilities including lecture and seminar rooms, a well-resourced library and a number of specialist labs.

These labs support a wide range of subjects including networking, network security and digital forensics, operating systems, programming, database and web development.

We also make extensive use of Moodle, a virtual learning environment, to give extra support to students and enable easy communication between students and staff.

Your Future Career

This course is specifically designed for students who are already in or will shortly begin employment within the IT sector.

Students will be selected for this apprenticeship degree by their (prospective) employer and will be given, as part of the course, the opportunity to specialise in one of six areas; software engineering, IT consultancy, business analysis, data analysis, cyber security analysis or network engineering.

Upon completion of this course, you will continue to develop your specialist knowledge and skills within your employer's organisation.

This qualification also lends itself to postgraduate study and research if you so desire.