Program Overview

Recent news reports reveal data breaches at large corporations and some people say the age of cyber-warfare has already begun. The need for talented, professional and ingenious computer network and security professionals has never been greater. Governments, organisations and individuals rely on being able to store and access information securely and efficiently, and our BSc (Hons) Computer Networks and Security with foundation year offers an excellent preparation for a career in this field.

The foundation year is the first year of this degree, offering an excellent grounding in the fundamentals of computing, programming, logic and problem solving. It’s designed to prepare you for degree level study.

Our dedicated staff will support you to develop the strong understanding and practical know-how vital to protect data against all possible sources of disruption, at all times. Focusing on the design, configuration, management and support of all types of computer networks, we’ll guide you as you gain valuable hands-on experience with a range of industry-standard hardware and software.

We’ll also support you to gain vital academic and lifelong learning skills so that you are well prepared to research new technologies, apply your knowledge in new ways, and keep abreast of innovations and enhancements in the computer networks and security industry throughout your career.

Highlights

• You’ll have the opportunity to gain Cisco certification to CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) standard. The Cisco CCNA examination is offered at external testing centres and incurs a separate charge. The course also includes training towards RedHat Linux qualifications.
• Our dedicated staff team have a wide range of professional experience, industry knowledge, technical expertise and academic credentials, offering you a variety of perspectives and broadening your horizons.
• We prefer to keep lecture and practical classes relatively small, so that you have plenty of opportunities to us ask questions and get help, as well as benefit from the ideas and support offered by your classmates.
• Our dedicated laboratories are firewalled so that you and your classmates can experiment and evaluate attack tools without worrying about disrupting the wider University network.
• We’re committed to helping you develop your employability and career network. You’ll be encouraged to attend guest lectures that enhance your learning, help you make contacts in the industry, and contribute to your professional development.
• By designing the course assignments and projects so that they mimic industry pipelines and standards, we aim to give you a real feel for a career in computer networks and security.

Key Features

• We offer a warm and friendly environment for your studies, with relatively small class sizes, purpose-built teaching facilities, and excellent student support and library services.
• We want to work with you as an individual, giving you access to the help and support you need to succeed.
• Our dedicated networking laboratories have industry-standard hardware and software and you’ll have unrestricted access, so you’ll always be able to practice and develop your workplace skills.
• As you’d expect, many of our computing facilities can be accessed across the internet, allowing you to work on your assignments whenever and wherever you choose.
• Your final year project offers the chance to specialise in an area of interest. We’ll support you to develop it as a portfolio of work that demonstrates your knowledge and skills, ready to impress potential employers.

Professional recognition

• In years two and three of your studies, you’ll register with the Cisco Networking Academy to enrol for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) study programme. A Cisco certificate is awarded after you successfully complete each of the four parts. Once you have completed the CCNA study programme, you can choose to sit the Cisco CCNA examination at an external testing centre. A separate charge is payable to Cisco for the external exam.