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Computer Science with Cyber Security with Foundation Year

Entry requirements


64 UCAS points where qualifications include either mathematics or computing. 72 UCAS points from any subject combination without mathematics or computing.

Must be in a QAA-approved computer-related subject.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

MPP-MMP

MPP from computing or a numerate subject. MMP from other subjects.

64 UCAS points where qualifications include either mathematics or computing. 72 UCAS points from any subject combination without mathematics or computing.

UCAS Tariff

64-72

About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time including foundation year | 2024

Subject

Computer science

**With data breaches on the rise, the protection of our personal and financial information, and the systems that hold them, has never been more important. Our industry-designed BSc (Hons) Computer Science with Cyber Security with Foundation Year degree, provides specialist cyber security knowledge, and a hands-on ethos, so you're ready to fight cyber crime.**

Cyber criminals are using more sophisticated techniques to infiltrate I.T systems. Many organisations throughout the world urgently need talented people to reduce their risk and help to keep their systems secure. This industry-designed four-year course will provide you with essential computer science knowledge and specialist cyber security skills, delivered to professional standards and ready to prepare you for a rewarding and exciting career.

**Develop in-demand knowledge and skills**
The Foundation Year pathway aims to provide understanding of the key subjects in communication and study skills, basic programming, and essential mathematics. On successful completion, you will progress on to our BCS, Chartered Institute for I.T-accredited BSc (Hons) Computer Science with Cyber Security degree.

For three further years of study - or four, if you choose to include an industry placement, our course will help you to learn about the inner workings of programmes, operating systems and networks, so you can understand the mechanisms of cyber-attacks. During your studies, you’ll explore network security, data structures and network penetration testing. You’ll examine cyber investigation and malware and exploit analysis. You will cultivate independent technical judgement to establish security.

**Get closer to industry**
With our envious campus location, minutes from central Manchester, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get involved in the region’s thriving tech community. There will also be opportunities to take part in extra-curricular activities through our computing society.

We are a fast-growing centre for computer and data science. Our research and industry partnerships have influenced the development of commercial software products, and we work across multiple industries to unlock the potential of data and AI. We are also a co-founding member of both the Greater Manchester Cyber Foundry and the Greater Manchester AI Foundry. Through these initiatives, we support the city region’s ambitions to be a digital leader - and help it continue to be a great place for our computing graduates to build successful careers.

**Our new home for computing**
In Autumn 2022, we open our new £65 million hub for science, engineering and the environment - and our new home for computing. Sustainability-designed and 100% electric powered, the building offers unrivalled teaching, learning and research facilities and provides exciting new spaces for industry collaboration.

**Features**
• Initially study a foundation year to develop computing, maths and study skills to progress to study our BSc (Hons) Computer Science with Cyber Security degree
• Explore the inner workings of programmes, operating systems and networks to understand cyber attacks
• Study forensics so you can diagnose attacks and determine the extent of damage
• Develop an understanding of cryptography to address security concerns
• Learn about evidence preservation so you can work within an ethical framework
• Understand risk management so you to actively manage threats rather than just solve problems

This course is not open to international students.

Modules

Computer Programming; Computer Systems; Mathematics.

The Uni


Course location:

University of Salford

Department:

School of Science, Engineering and Environment

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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 science

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.

Computer science

Teaching and learning

63%
Staff make the subject interesting
75%
Staff are good at explaining things
76%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
81%
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

69%
Library resources
76%
IT resources
82%
Course specific equipment and facilities
51%
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?

88%
UK students
12%
International students
89%
Male students
11%
Female students
77%
2:1 or above
19%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
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.

Computer science

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.

£22,000
med
Average annual salary
90%
med
Employed or in further education
70%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

51%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
11%
Information technology technicians
6%
Science, engineering and production technicians

This is a newly-classified subject area for this kind of data, so we don’t currently have very much information to display or analyse yet. The subject is linked to important and growing computing industries, and over time we can expect more students to study them — there could be opportunities that open up for graduates in these subjects as the economy develops over the next few years.

What about your long term prospects?

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

Computer science

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

£23k

£23k

£25k

£25k

£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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Higher entry requirements
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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):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the 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

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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