Cyber Security with a Foundation Year - BSc (Hons)
Program start date | Application deadline |
2025-09-01 | - |
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