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Cyber Security with Foundation Year

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

UCAS Tariff

80

This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC qualifications. For example: CDD at A Level MMP in BTEC Extended Diploma Pass overall from a T level qualification with C from core 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

4years

Full-time including foundation year | 2024

Other options

5 years | Sandwich including foundation year | 2024

Subject

Computer and information security

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

**Course summary**

- Prepare for the degree with an extra foundation year at the start.

- Learn about aspects of cyber security including penetration testing, systems and network vulnerability assessment and mitigation, ethical hacking, network intrusion detection analysis and prevention.

- Develop your knowledge in web security, mobile device security and management of security policies.

- Prepare for the degree with an extra foundation year at the start

Upon completing the foundation year, you progress to a degree that is accredited by the British Computer Society and accordingly includes a number of topics fundamental to all computing studies, including principles of security, computing, architecture and networking, databases and programming.

**How you learn**

The course is suitable if you don’t meet the entry requirements for our BSc (Hons) Cyber Security course. You share the first year with other computing foundation year students, then move on to the degree. During the first year of study, you will enhance your skills to maximise your academic potential ready to start your learning against the content of the main degree.

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 will develop a range of skills through problem solving activities, practical implementations and teamwork, allowing you to take an active approach to learning and encouraging self-development.

Assessments are varied, including reports, presentations, demonstrations, discussions and online activities.

You learn through

- lectures

- seminars

- practical tutorial sessions

In the foundation year, you’ll build on your existing knowledge and experience — developing useful academic, computing and IT skills in preparation for undergraduate study. You’ll benefit from innovative course content that allows you to access and use cutting-edge technology. Throughout, you’ll reflect on your progress, and build valuable communication and interpersonal skills.

**Applied learning**

**Work placements**

In your fourth year, you can take a one-year paid work placement. Work placements offer you valuable experience, and an enjoyable opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills.

Organisations need experienced staff, and a placement will give you the experience you need to add to your CV to secure a desirable security-related position in a competitive job market. We help you to gain a placement and support you through the application process.

During the placement, you will be mentored by a member of academic staff, who will visit you at your place of work. Previous students have worked at organisations including

- Cisco

- Citrix

- 3Squared

- Next

- Servelec Group

- Hewlett-Packard Ltd

- IBM Ltd

**Networking opportunities**

You will have the opportunity to talk with a number of exciting companies, both those that specialise in the area of cyber security, and others that understand that keeping their system secure is vital to a thriving industry.

In the past we have invited Citrix, Cisco, PwC, Sec-1 and other individual consultants in the cyber security industry to talk.

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**

Foundations In Computing 1

Foundations In Computing 2

Maths For Foundation Computing

Study Skills For Computing Students

**Year 2**

**Compulsory modules**

Computer Systems And Networks

Introduction To Cyber Security, Maths And Cryptography

Professionalism And Employability

Software Development

**Year 3**

**Compulsory modules **

Database Administration And Security

Ethical Hacking And Intrusion Detection

Project Based Learning

Secure Network Services And Administration

**Year 4**

**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
Exams
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.

Explore these similar courses...

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UCAS Points: 120-128
Lower entry requirements
Teesside University, Middlesbrough | Middlesbrough
Cyber Security with Foundation Year
BSc (Hons) 4 Years Full-time including foundation year 2024
UCAS Points: 64-80
Nearby University
Staffordshire University | Stoke-on-Trent
Cyber Security (with a Placement Year)
BSc (Hons) 4 Years Full-time including foundation year 2024
UCAS Points: 112-120
Same University
Sheffield Hallam University | Sheffield
Cyber Security
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time including foundation year 2024
UCAS Points: 112

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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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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.

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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

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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