cyber-security

Cyber Security BSc (Hons)

Learn how to protect our society, economy, national security and infrastructure against cybercrime and prepare for a fulfilling career in the rapidly-growing cyber security industry.

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Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

Gold-standard teaching

Named a gold standard ‘Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education’ by the leading authority on cyber security in the UK, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

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Find out more about Cyber Security BSc (Hons) at DMU from Dr Richard Smith, Director of the Cyber Technology Institute.

 

Technology and computer systems are becoming ever more integrated with our day-to-day lives and protection of the data and information they contain is paramount. With many organisations and businesses now considering the defence of online information a critical business issue, there’s an increased focus and demand on the role of cyber security.

On our Cyber Security BSc, you will learn about different types of cyber-attack, how to solve them and how to prevent them. Discover how to build ultra-secure software and systems, carry out rigorous penetration testing and study cryptography techniques. By putting yourself in the mind of a hacker, you will come to expect the unexpected and develop problem-solving skills that are highly-valued in the world of work.

A versatile range of core computing and cyber security skills are embedded throughout the course, giving you a solid understanding of the underlying principles of cyber security. This includes the mathematical foundation of computing, secure coding and computer ethics. Your Final Project in year three provides an opportunity to work innovatively and creatively to produce a quality solution that addresses a societal or organisational need.

By the time you graduate, you will have the skills required for an exciting career in the cyber security sector. Recent graduates have progressed into careers in industry, government and law enforcement, as security analysts, penetration testers, forensic investigators and cyber security engineers, at organisations such as Deloitte, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), Airbus, and Rolls-Royce.

Key features

  • Learn from experts from DMU’s Cyber Technology Institute (CTI), which has been named an ‘Airbus Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security’. Boasting an international reputation in computer security and digital forensics, its research influences the approach taken by the UK government and leading organisations. Computer Science research at DMU is among the most frequently cited in the world, so you can be sure you’re learning from the best.
  • Benefit from our specialist Cyber Security laboratories which are among the best equipped facilities of this type in the UK. Developed in consultation with leaders in the industry, they are designed to meet the highest forensics and security standards and are fitted with customised PCs configured with multiple operating systems, virtualisation and removable hard drives.
  • Get hands-on experience and meet like-minded peers by joining DMU’s Hacking Society. It has more than 150 members who meet weekly to share skills such as web application hacking, binary exploitation and reverse engineering and enter competitions. 
  • Gain valuable industry experience on a one-year placement with the support of our award-winning Careers Team. Previous Cyber Security students have undertaken placements with Boeing Defence, GCHQ, Jaguar Land Rover and Virgin Media in roles such as Cyber Security Analyst, Technology and Innovation Intern and Product Engineer.
  • Experience an unforgettable international experience with DMU Global as part of your studies. Cyber Security students recently gained insights into San Francisco’s tech industry, while others put their skills to the test at New York’s Spyscape museum.
  • Our new £6.5m Digital Tech Learning Hub, due for completion in 2024, will combine state-of-the-art facilities with a fresh approach to teaching and investment in industry-standard technology, placing DMU at the forefront of digital education.
  • This course has been fully-certified by the British Computer Society (BCS). BCS accreditation is a mark of quality assurance and means our course content and provision has been assessed by academics and employers to ensure it meets the rigorous standards set by the profession.
  • Benefit from Education 2030, where a simplified ‘block learning’ timetable means you will study one subject at a time and have more time to engage with your learning, receive faster feedback and enjoy a better study-life balance.

 

Accreditations

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Research

DMU researchers talk about working with businesses such as Airbus and Rolls-Royce to improve their cyber security.
  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: G550

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with a placement.

Fees and funding: 

2024/25 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

 

 

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: G550

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with a placement.

Three years full-time, four years with a placement.

Fees and funding: 

2024/25 tuition fees for international students: £16,250

Find out more about available funding for international students.

 

Cyber security news

I found a new beginning

The tutors that believed in Tennessee and shared their industry experience took her from foundation degree to software engineer – now she's helping the next generation.

Entry criteria

A typical offer is 104 UCAS points from at least two A-levels or equivalent or BTEC National Diploma/ Extended Diploma at DMM, plus:

  • Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and Mathematics or equivalent.

Alternative qualifications include:

  • Pass in the QAA accredited Access to HE. English and Mathematics GCSE required as a separate qualification as equivalency is not accepted within the Access qualification.

We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course or

  • International Baccalaureate: 26+ points or
  • T Levels Merit

Portfolio Required: No

Interview Required: No

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.

UCAS tariff information

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

Contextual offer 

To make sure you get fair and equal access to higher education, when looking at your application, we consider more than just your grades. So if you are eligible, you may receive a contextual offer. Find our more about contextual offers.

 

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

Teaching contact hours

 

Year one

  • Block 1: Foundation of Computing and Cyber Security
  • Block 2: Endpoint Security
  • Block 3: Secure Coding
  • Block 4: Business Infrastructure and Security
  • Additional: Expert Briefings in Cyber Security

Year two

  • Block 1: Secure Scripting and Business Applications
  • Block 2: Incident Response and Cyber Threat Intelligence
  • Block 3: Penetration Testing
  • Block 4: Industrial Cryptography

Year three

  • Block 1: Malware and Attacker Techniques
  • Block 2: Cyber Physical Systems Security
  • Block 3 / 4: Final Project

Optional Modules (choose one):

  • Block 3 / 4: Cyber Security and Social Responsibility
  • Block 3 / 4: Artificial Intelligence for Cyber Security
  • Block 3 / 4: Digital Forensics and Cyber Crime Investigation

Teaching and assessment

The course is part of DMU’s Cyber Security Centre, which influences the government and corporations in their approach to cyber security. This shapes the curriculum so that you learn what is important. It also grants you privileged access to career opportunities.

You may be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, group work, laboratory sessions, practical sessions and self-directed study. Assessment and how assessments are weighted is varied across modules. Our assessment practices reflect the best practices in teaching methods deployed by academic members of staff each year. Indicative assessment weighting and assessment type per module are shown as part of the module information. Again, these are based on the current academic session and are subject to change.

Teaching contact hours

This is a full-time course. Each module is worth 30 credits. Outside of your normal timetabled hours you will be expected to conduct independent study each week to complete preparation tasks, assessments and research.

Self-directed study: In order to prepare for, and assimilate, the work in lectures and seminars you will be expected to use our on-line resources, participate in flipped or virtual classroom discussions on our virtual learning environment (VLE) and engage in personal study and revision for approximately 25 hours per week.

 

 

Facilities and features

Cyber Security Laboratories

The Cyber Security laboratories are among the best equipped facilities of this type in the UK. Developed in consultation with leaders in the industry, they are designed to meet the highest forensics and security standards.

The laboratories contain high-specification, specially customised PCs configured with multiple operating systems, virtualisation and removable hard drives, as well as specialised servers, wired and wireless networking equipment and a variety of other hardware and software components.

The laboratories are also the base for the university's Cyber Security Centre, a multidisciplinary group of academics and industry experts who focus on a wide variety of cyber security and digital forensics issues. Their mission is to provide to all the benefits a safe, secure and resilient cyberspace.

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
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Graduate careers

This programme has been developed to help give students the skills needed for careers in the cyber security industry.

Graduates have excellent opportunities to pursue careers in industry, government, or law enforcement in roles such as a security analyst, penetration tester, forensic investigator, or cyber security engineer. Previous graduates from our cyber security programmes have gone on to work for organisations such as Deloitte, GCHQ, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce.

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DMU Global

Our innovative international experience programme aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world. Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Cyber Security students gained valuable insights into San Francisco’s tech industry, while others put their surveillance and espionage skills to the test at New York’s Spyscape museum.

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Placements

Work placements are offered as part of this course as one of the best ways to boost your skills and experience while studying, as well as improving your chances of gaining a graduate level job.

We have links with organisations both in the UK and internationally, and the placements team will help you find a placement to suit your interests and aspirations.

Students have taken part in placements at Airbus, GCHQ, and Vauxhall Motors to develop their skills and put their learning into practice.

Take your next steps