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Cyber Security

Entry requirements


Access to HE Diploma

M:15

Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 Maths at grade C or 4

UCAS Tariff

112-120

This must include at least 64 points from two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example: BBC-BBB at A Level DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma Merit overall from a T-level qualification A combination of qualifications, which may include AS Levels, EPQ and general studies.

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

4 years | Sandwich | 2024

Subject

Computer and information security

**Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information.**

**Course summary**

- Learn how to provide in-depth cyber defences.

- Develop your knowledge of network and application cyber security.

- Understand the principles behind the tools and techniques used to secure data.

- Create complex technical solutions to real-world security problems.

On this course, you’ll develop a deep understanding of practical cyber security – including key concepts of networks, applications and systems. You’ll become a cyber security practitioner who understands and can build upon the fundamental principles – providing complex cyber defences to solve real-world problems.

**How you learn**

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

You’ll start by developing practical skills in cyber security through lectures and hands-on tutorial sessions. Here you’ll build the knowledge, experience, understanding and critical thinking you need to solve cyber security problems. These sessions will build your insight of how and when to use appropriate processes, tools, technologies and management practices in areas including network fundamentals, cryptography, and information security.

You’ll develop these skills further on real-world projects – collaborating in small teams to produce deliverables inspired by industry. Previous students have worked with the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Cyber Crime Unit to develop security demos. Tackling real projects like these will help prepare you for a career in cyber security, all within a supportive learning environment.

During your final year, you’ll create a significant cyber security deliverable, guided by a dedicated project supervisor. As part of this individual project, you’ll undertake research and apply new skills while you create a solution to a complex cyber security problem. The course team offers guidance and support throughout this process.

The course encourages you to take an active approach to learning and self-development to develop highly sought-after cyber security skills through problem-solving activities, practical implementation and teamwork. 

You learn through
- lectures

- hands-on lab sessions and tutorials

- regular feedback

- teamwork and group-based learning

- practice-based applied learning

- discussions

- self-study

You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate level employment through several key areas. These include:

- access to our unique student support triangle to help with your personal, academic and career development

- access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments

- industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities

**Applied learning**

*Work placements *

You’ll have the opportunity to complete a year-long work placement between your second and third year. A placement is widely recognised as the gold standard opportunity to gain personal and professional development through real-world experience.

You will be encouraged to take up this opportunity, as it will benefit your long-term career prospects and salary level, as well as your academic achievements and degree classification. Your course will prepare you to succeed in your placement and you will be supported throughout it.

Your placement will allow you to apply the knowledge and skills gained on your course, in areas such as information security, network intrusion, and cyber analysis.

Modules

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

**Year 1**
**Compulsory modules**
Computer Systems And Networks
Introduction To Cyber Security, Maths And Cryptography
Professionalism And Employability
Software Development

**Year 2**
**Compulsory modules**
Database Administration And Security
Ethical Hacking And Intrusion Detection
Project Based Learning
Secure Network Services And Administration

**Year 3**
**Optional modules**
Placement Year

**Final year**
**Compulsory modules **
Advanced Penetration Testing And Information Security Management
Enterprise Applications Management
Project (Cyber Security And Networks)

**Elective modules**
Blockchain And Iot Security
Data Storage
Offensive Forensics

Assessment methods

Coursework
Exam
Practical

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
£16,655
per year
International
£16,655
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

Scholarships, discounts and bursaries may be available to students who study this course.

The Uni


Course location:

Sheffield Hallam University

Department:

College of Business Technology and Engineering

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

64%
Computer and information security

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.

Software engineering

Teaching and learning

67%
Staff make the subject interesting
75%
Staff are good at explaining things
73%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
73%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

74%
Library resources
81%
IT resources
79%
Course specific equipment and facilities
49%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

97%
UK students
3%
International students
89%
Male students
11%
Female students
73%
2:1 or above
8%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

D
C
B

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.

Software engineering

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.

£22,500
med
Average annual salary
89%
med
Employed or in further education
68%
low
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

81%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
4%
Customer service occupations
3%
Business, research and administrative professionals

A specialist subject, and not surprisingly graduates tend to go into software engineering roles or related. The degree classification students achieved made a particular difference last year — computing graduates with the best grades were much less likely to be out of work after six months and employers can even rate a good grade as important as work experience. Most students do get jobs, though, and starting salaries are good — particularly in London, where average starting salaries for good graduates were getting towards £38k last year. Be aware that at the moment, recruitment agencies are much the most common way for graduates from this degree to get their first job, so it may be worth getting in touch with a few specialist agencies in advance of graduation if you take this degree to get a foot in the door.

What about your long term prospects?

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

Software engineering

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

£25k

£25k

£27k

£27k

£30k

£30k

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 is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here