Cyber Security with a Foundation Year - BSc (Hons)

Program Overview

Overview

The Cyber Security with a Foundation Year course ensures you will develop a range of academic and technical skills relevant to cyber security. The Foundation Year course option enables you to study for our BSc (Hons) degree over an extended full-time duration of four years by including a Foundation Certificate (year one of four). The Foundation Certificate provides a broad study programme that underpins the follow-on degree.

Entry Requirements

Essential Requirements

• 80 UCAS Tariff points.
• A Level: 80 UCAS Tariff points / CDD (or equivalent).
• AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels.
• A maximum of four subjects will be considered.
• Pearson BTEC (Diploma / Extended Diploma/ Extended Certificate): 80 UCAS Tariff points.
• Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications.
• Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.
• T Level: Pass overall (C or above on the core). All subjects considered.
• Access to HE Diploma: Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3.
• OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications: 80 UCAS Tariff points.
• NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications: 80 UCAS Tariff points.
• WJEC Level 3 qualifications: 80 UCAS Tariff points. Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s).
• Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers): Minimum of 80 UCAS Tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects.
• Scottish Higher / Advanced Higher: 80 UCAS Tariff points from three Advanced Highers (DDD) or two Advanced Highers (DD) plus two Highers (DD).
• Welsh Baccalaureate: 80 UCAS Tariff points. Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.

International Qualifications

• International Baccalaureate Diploma: Obtain a minimum of 24 points overall.
• EU / International students: Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept.

Mature Students

Applications from mature students (21+) with alternative qualifications and/or considerable work experience will be considered on their merits.

Fees & How to Apply

UK Students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study.
• The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: BSc (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2025
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 4 years
• Fees: £9,535 in 2025/26

International Students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study.
• The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: BSc (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2025
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 4 years
• Fees: £17,690 in 2025/26

Course in Depth

Foundation Year

• Fundamental Mathematics: 20 credits
• Fundamentals of Digital Technology: 20 credits
• Web Application Design: 20 credits
• Emerging Technologies: 20 credits
• Independent Practice: 20 credits
• Foundations of Programming: 20 credits

Year One

• Computer Systems: 20 credits
• Cyber Security Fundamentals: 20 credits
• Applied Operating Systems: 20 credits
• Computer Programming: 20 credits
• Mathematics for Computing: 20 credits
• Network Fundamentals: 20 credits

Year Two

• Software Security: 20 credits
• System Security Attacks and Defences: 20 credits
• Applied Cyber Forensics: 20 credits
• Cyber Security Operations: 20 credits
• Networking Technologies: 20 credits
• Applied Cryptography: 20 credits

Professional Placement Year (Optional)

• Professional Placement: 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.

Final Year

• Individual Honours Project: 40 credits
• Ethical Hacking: 20 credits
• Applied AI for Cyber Security: 20 credits
• Network and Internetwork Forensics: 20 credits
• Cloud Computing: 20 credits

Employability

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.

Facilities & Staff

The course is supported with a wide range of cutting-edge facilities in the City Centre Campus. We have a state-of-the-art computer games technology lab which contains high-performance PCs, Sony PlayStation development kits and a range of industry standard software including Unity, Unreal and a suite of professional Microsoft development tools.

Our Staff

• Dr Yussuf Ahmed: Senior Lecturer in Cyber Security
• Ron Austin: Associate Professor
• Dr Muhammad Ajmal Azad: Senior Lecturer in Cyber Security

Research

Our researchers and research centres aim to make an original contribution to knowledge and the world. View our research centres.

Areas of Research

• Art, Architecture and Design
• Business
• Built Environment
• Computing and Digital Technology
• Education and Social Work
• Engineering
• Life and Sport Sciences
• English
• Health and Social Care
• Law
• Media and Cultural Studies
• Music and Performance
• Psychology
• Social Sciences