Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security MSci/BSc (Hons)

Program Overview

Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security MSci/BSc (Hons)

Course Overview

The course is designed to help you develop skills in the following areas:

• understanding who ‘hackers’ typically are, the techniques they use to break into systems and the way we defend against them
• learning how to examine computers and networks for digital artefacts, and how these can be used in a legal case, or as part of incident response
• understanding how the network infrastructure connects systems, and the impact on security.

Why Study This Course?

• Practical, hands-on approach to teaching, where you have the chance to demonstrate the theoretical aspects of the course through real-world examples.
• Join a thriving community of ethical hackers with opportunities to participate in societies and live ‘hackathon’ type events.
• Dedicated specialised learning environment - the Ethical Hacking Lab.
• Previous graduates have gone on to become security consultants, security engineers, penetration testers and other sector-specific roles.

What You'll Study

Year One

• Cyber Security Fundamentals – 20 credits
• Introduction to Programming – 20 credits
• Networking and Computer Architectures – 20 credits
• Information Security Management – 20 credits
• Ethics and Legal Frameworks of Cyber Security professionals – 20 credits
• Foundations of Computer Science – 20 credits

Year Two

• Practical Penetration Testing – 20 credits
• Programming and Operating Systems – 20 credits
• Foundations of Networking – 20 credits
• Security Operations – 20 credits
• Digital Forensics – 20 credits
• The Internet and Web Technologies – 20 credits

Placement Year

• UK work placement – 0 credits
• International Study/Work Placement – 0 credits

Final Year

• Advanced Penetration Testing – 20 credits
• Digital Security Risk and Audit Management – 20 credits
• Applied Cryptography – 20 credits
• Research Project Preparation – 20 credits
• Research Project Delivery – 20 credits

Optional Modules

• Reverse Engineering and Exploit Development – 20 credits
• Secure Network Design and Management – 20 credits
• Advanced Digital and Network Forensics – 20 credits

Additional Year (MSci)

• Digital Security Risk and Audit Management – 15 credits
• Cryptography – 15 credits
• Security of Emerging Connected Systems – 15 credits
• Automotive Cyber Security – 15 credits
• Artificial Neural Networks – 15 credits
• Secure Network Design and Development – 15 credits
• Cyber Security Research Project – 30 credits

How You'll Learn

• Your course will be based on a series of lectures, with associated seminars and project-based practical classes.
• In addition, your personal tutor will review and discuss your progress with you and provide advice.
• You will be expected to engage in both class and online activities and discussions.
• Each module will also require you to participate in additional guided reading and self-directed study, to reinforce the learning gained from timetabled sessions.

Teaching Contact Hours

• As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year.
• A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study.
• Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection.
• During your first year you can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week.

Assessment

• This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module.
• Assessment methods may include:
  • Formal examinations
  • Phase tests
  • Essays
  • Group work
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • Projects
  • Coursework
  • Exams
  • Individual assignments
  • Laboratories.

Entry Requirements

• Typical entry requirements:
  • UK: 120 UCAS points (BSc), 128 UCAS points (MSci)
  • International: See country-specific requirements
• A level: BBB to include one from Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Further Mathematics, Computer Science, Computing or Design Technology (BSc), ABB to include one from Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Further Mathematics, Computer Science, Computing or Design Technology (MSci)
• GCSE: Maths and English at grade 4/C or Functional Skills Level 2
• BTEC: DDM in IT or a technical subject (BSc), DDD in IT or a technical subject (MSci)
• IB Diploma: 29 points to include one from Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Design Technology or IT at Higher level (BSc), 31 points to include one from Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Design Technology or IT at Higher level (MSci)

Fees and Funding

• UK students: £9,535 per year (2025/26 fees)
• EU students: £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary (2025/26 fees)
• International students: £19,850 per year (2025/26 fees)
• If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, you will need to pay a tuition fee to cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

Facilities

• Ethical Hacking Lab: a course-specific room with custom operating systems and software, which allows you to reconfigure the set-up in order to practice your hacking techniques.
• Networking Lab: which allows you to build and test the physical network.

Careers and Opportunities

• Upon successful completion of the course, you should be able to:
  • Understand, categorise and discuss threats to computer systems and services
  • Apply sound investigations and reporting procedures to identify and report issues in systems, or as part of a forensic investigation
  • Apply research and problem-solving skills to a security-related project.
• Past graduates of Coventry University have found work in penetration testing, digital forensics and network security.