Program Overview

A recent report estimates that the cyber security industry requires an extra 3.4 million professionals worldwide (1). Qualified cyber security professionals have access to excellent career opportunities and competitive salaries. The University of Bolton's BSc (Hons) Cyber Security course is an ideal route into this dynamic and evolving industry. By studying with us, you can learn how to protect data and information systems from cyber breaches while experiencing life at our supportive, student-focused, multicultural campus.

Covering how to design secure computer systems, this forward-thinking degree emphasises secure software development and promotes a deep understanding of the structure of computing systems. Throughout the course, you'll develop technical knowledge and applied skills in security defence techniques and counter-measures, ready to protect computer systems and electronic infrastructures from attack. In particular, we'll focus on helping you learn to design and develop your own security tools for probing, analysing and defending computer systems against attack.

Our expert and dedicated team will cover how to analyse and evaluate security threats and vulnerabilities to information systems, perform security risk assessments and develop security controls, processes and software. We'll support you as you learn how to respond to security incidents and implement resolution activities. The department's strong links with business mean you'll have the chance to work on ‘live briefs’ in your coursework assignments, so you'll have the opportunity to enjoy real-world context and application for the skills and knowledge we'll help you develop.

With class sizes no greater than 30, we can offer you meaningful, personalised learning plans. Our dedicated and enthusiastic lecturers, many of whom are active researchers with extensive industry insights and experience, will help you develop both the theoretical knowledge and the practical, hands-on skills required by the security sector that will put you one step ahead of attackers from day one. Meanwhile, guest speakers and lecturers give you access to highly relevant and up-to-date input from industry settings.

All of this is backed by our well-equipped IT suites, where you'll get to apply and develop your learning individually and in groups with expert guidance and support.

Highlights

• Our Computer Science courses are 5th in the UK for student satisfaction, according to The Complete University Guide 2024.
• The department, and the wider University, provide a warm and friendly environment for your studies, with relatively small class sizes, purpose-built teaching facilities, and excellent student support and library services.
• Your teaching and tutorial team brings an impressive range of professional experience and technical prowess to the course, so you'll have the chance to explore and evaluate a range of perspectives relating to your studies.
• A big part of our commitment to your progress is helping you develop your employability and industry networks. Our teaching team works collaboratively with industrial partners to ensure you have access to the latest and relevant industrial skills. So, we'll encourage you to attend guest lectures that give your learning context, offer access to industry contacts, and contribute to your underlying professional development.
• By underpinning our content and assignments with a strong industrial focus, we foster a keen understanding of the professional IT environment and help you develop essential skills such as team-working, communication and problem-solving.
• This degree offers a comprehensive overview of key cyber security principles, methods, and activities, such as types of security, common attack techniques, risk assessment, penetration testing, managing risk, and assessing an organisation's 'cyber security culture'.
• We'll focus on your individual needs and provide personalised learning support to help you find the learning strategies that best support you as you begin your journey towards an exciting and challenging career as a cyber security professional.

Key Features

• Our dedicated laboratories, servers and end-hosts feature high-specification hardware and the latest software, so you’ll have industry-equivalent hands-on experience.
• We've invested in a suite of security and forensics tools. We operate these in a 'dirty lab' where you have full administrator access to the computers to practice skills and develop knowledge through testing and experiment.
• As you'd expect, many of our computing facilities are accessible online, so you can work on your assignments wherever you are and whenever inspiration kicks in.
• We'll support you in developing sought-after skills such as background research, critical reasoning and problem-solving, as well as professional communication, time management, teamwork, and lifelong learning.
• We'll also encourage you to build a portfolio of evidence representing the projects and tasks you've completed during your studies, ready to impress potential employers.
• We continually monitor and update the course to reflect current and ever-changing computing issues and keep your learning in line with technological advances and innovations.
• By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.