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Cyber Security (Integrated Masters)

Entry requirements


UCAS Tariff

80-104

About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Computing and information technology

Cyber security is an increasingly important area to build a rewarding career in. We’ll support you from day one, ensuring you leave BNU as a 'work-ready' graduate. To help you achieve your goals we have invested in well-equipped computer labs on our High Wycombe Campus, which will allow you to evolve your understanding in various areas of cyber security, IT services and risk management, including; network security, intelligent systems, cloud computing and security auditing.

An integrated master's degree allows you to gain the same funding as undergraduate students and stand out in a competitive jobs market. Employers are increasingly looking for employees with the advanced technical skills and expert understanding provided by an integrated master's degree course.

**Why study this subject?**
Now is an exciting time to join the cyber security field, as more businesses turn to digital and information technology systems. With unprecedented access to information, there has been a significant increase in system breaching and attacks, meaning there is a high demand for qualified specialists with cyber security skills to help implement the strategies needed to protect IT systems and data.

Our MSci (Hons) in Cyber Security has been specifically designed by our industry expert academics to reflect current sector currency, employer and industry requirements. It explores highly demanded technical and management security technologies, trends and polices to prepare you for employment in this fastmoving sector.

**Why study at BNU?**
All modules have been designed with input from key industry governing bodies and experts such as the Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG), a group within the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), as well as Institute of Information Security Professionals (IISP) Information Security Skills Framework.

Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers.

**What will I study?**
The course addresses the professional and customer-facing skills that are essential for employment in computing industries. Modules also provide opportunities to prepare for the professional certification programmes of global industries such as Amazon AWS, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and Cisco. You will be able to practice the technology provided by the world cloud leader Amazon AWS and get the option to gain their official certification exam (optional for students). For further information, please contact Dr Rafid Al-Khannak.

In your first year you will study a broad range of topics including computer architectures, programming, digital technologies, networking and cyber threat and risk management to solidify your understanding of the foundations of computing and security.

During your second year, you will further your understanding and develop your skills through topics, including, database design, information security, open source systems, software engineering, network systems (Cisco), and intelligent systems.

In your third year, you will study a number of topics, ranging from knowledge-based systems in AI to quality assurance and testing, security auditing and learning machines.

Your final year will allow you to explore topics based on what you are passionate about, options include risk management, cloud security, business continuity and disaster recovery. You will also work on a major project or extended piece of written work of your choice, giving you the opportunity to explore a subject of interest at a more in-depth detail.

Modules

**Year one**
**Core**
Programming Concepts
Computer Architecture
Networking
Cyber Systems and Threats
Computational Fundamentals

**Year two**
**Core**
Information Security
Malware and Cyber Security Management
Research Methods
**Optional**
Digital Forensics Investigation and Penetration Testing
Data Essentials
Network Systems

**Year three**
**Core**
Secure Business Management
**Optional**
Security Auditing and Response
Network Security
Cloud Computing
Software Testing and QA
Digital Innovation
Knowledge-Based Systems in Artificial Intelligence
Learning Machines & Intelligent Agents

**Year four**
**Core**
Cyber Security Assurance and Risk Management
Extended Independent Work
**Optional**
Mobile and Information Systems Security Management
Cyber Security in Network Systems
Cloud Security
Business Continuity and Cyber Resilience
AI Based Security Systems

Assessment methods

At Buckinghamshire New University we like to foster an interactive and student-focused teaching style where we have a combination of formal lectures, tutorials, practical lab sessions, seminars and guest speakers to enhance the learning experience.

We are proud of our industry connections and welcome various guest speakers, who share their real-life experiences, inform on current practices, career opportunities, and help prepare you for working life as a cyber security professional.

A major benefit of integrated master’s degree courses is the final year project which will help you to develop advanced technical and professional skills that are required for research or other practically-based careers.

Assessments are, where possible, tied to real-world contexts and constraints, to allow you to practically demonstrate the skills you have developed. A variety of assessment methods will be used, including written work, in-class assignments, workshops, presentations and formal written and practical exams.

You are more than a number at BNU, and we are here to support you through your education journey. We have in place regular contact hours with our tutors and provide you with feedback throughout the programme of study.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£15,000
per year
International
£15,000
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

Extra funding

Buckinghamshire New University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships. For more information, please visit https://www.bucks.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/financial-support-bursaries-and-scholarships

The Uni


Course location:

Buckinghamshire New University

Department:

School of Creative And Digital Industries

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What students say


How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Information technology

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.


Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

72%
UK students
28%
International students
82%
Male students
18%
Female students
60%
2:1 or above
29%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
C
D

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Information technology

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£20,000
low
Average annual salary
83%
low
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

22%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
11%
Artistic, literary and media occupations
11%
Design occupations

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Information technology

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£22k

£22k

£21k

£21k

£26k

£26k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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