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Cyber Security (with Foundation Year)

Entry requirements


A level

E,E,E-D,D,D

Accepted alongside A-Levels as part of overall 48-72 UCAS Tariff requirement.

48-72 UCAS Tariff points

48-72 UCAS Tariff points

Accepted as part of overall 48-72 UCAS Tariff requirement.

48-72 UCAS Tariff points from International Baccalaureate Certificates

48-72 UCAS Tariff points

Accepted alongside Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Level as part of overall 48-72 UCAS Tariff requirement.

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

MP-MM

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

PPP-MPP

48-72 UCAS Tariff points

48-72 UCAS Tariff points

UCAS Tariff

48-72

Our general entry requirement for the foundation year is 48-72 UCAS tariff points but all applications are considered individually and we consider work experience, vocational training/qualifications as well as motivation and potential to succeed. The programme welcomes applications from anyone who can demonstrate a commitment to the subject and the potential to complete their chosen programme successfully. This can be established by showing appropriate academic achievements or by demonstrating that they possess the knowledge and ability equivalent to the academic qualifications.

Accepted as part of overall 48-72 UCAS Tariff point requirement.

About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Computer and information security

Why choose this course?

Threats to cyber security are increasing. Our Cyber Security degree focuses on you developing a broad and varied future skill set.

Our Cyber Security degree is industry-focused, ensuring you have the tools and techniques needed to meet the growing national skills gap in this sector. You will acquire the practical skillsets to counter emerging threats, and to maintain the overall security of a system whilst learning through immersive and gamified environments.

This course:
- provides you with the skills and knowledge across a range of security domains and skills including but not limited to design, policy, compliance and risk. All these aspects underpin the knowledge and skills to help protect us all from cyber threats.

- will help you gain experience by working with a variety of teams both within cyber security and across the wider computing subject area, all whilst having an opportunity to network with peers and following your chosen Learning pathway. Cyber security is an exciting and vibrant area with many opportunities to make a difference and assist in helping defend and manage the wide range of threats.

- *Is part of a subject area rated 3rd in the UK and 1st in Wales for satisfaction with teaching, and 2nd in the UK and 1st in Wales for satisfaction with the course in the Computer Science and Information Systems subject league tables, The Guardian University Guide 2022.

- *Is part of a subject area rated joint 2nd in Wales for teaching quality and 4th in the UK for student experience in the Computer Science subject league tables, Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.

Key course features:
- This course is accredited by the British Computer Society.

- Hands-on teaching of a range of cybersecurity skills, techniques and tools, such as cryptography, authentication, access control, viruses and malware, penetration testing, risk management and forensic investigation.

- Extensive PC and networked computer facilities with internet access.

- The course team have strong links to the North Wales Cyber Security Cluster, an industry-led forum for cybersecurity practitioners and employers, and students on the programme have opportunities to attend and be involved with their meetings and events.

- The University is home to ARCLab, which specialises in research in the field of computing and computer science.

- We offer a wide range of services to help you find the right placement, including work-based learning support and career advice and fairs. But it’s also up to you – the more proactive you are about applying for placements, the better.

- This degree will provide an opportunity to participate in the CISCO Academy Programmes and qualify for CISCO accreditation.

Modules

What you will study

YEAR 1 (FOUNDATION YEAR)
The foundation year provides students with the knowledge and confidence in the use of formula, data manipulation and representation. You will gain an understanding of the core hardware and software associated with the use of computer systems, as well as keeping up to date with current developments in technology. There will be numerous opportunities to work on practical activities, such as robots and CAD design, which will be further developed at degree level.

MODULES

Design & Technology
Computer Hardware & Software
The Skills You Need
Computing Mathematics
Development in Technology
Contextual Studies

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 4)
Level 4 contains essential fundamental material that is relevant in all of our computing programmes, and supports your studies in years two and three. You will learn both subject-specific skills along with transferable skills, which will increase your employability prospects.

With the support of your tutors, you will learn about some of the essential facts, concepts, techniques, design processes and context of computer science and security. You will also learn about hardware issues, including interfacing and data communications and their impact on the overall design and performance of computer-based systems.

MODULES

Computer Systems
Managing Data
Problem Solving with Programming
Information and Systems Engineering
Discrete Computational Methods
Fundamentals of Networks and Security

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 5)
Level 5 continues teaching you the fundamentals of the discipline as more specialist modules start to be introduced, such as the Cybersecurity and Forensics and Security in Context modules, which explore how computer systems can be configured to resist and identify cyber-attacks. You will enhance your computing and investigative skills by applying them in laboratory and practical work, to areas that are relevant to the discipline of cybersecurity.

MODULES

Server Technology
Networking: Scaling Networks
Data Structures and Algorithms
Responsible Computing
Cybersecurity and Forensics
Group Project

YEAR 4 (LEVEL 6)
Once you reach your final year, you will further develop your skills through taught modules and research, with a focus on the latest developments in cybersecurity, and study the specialist modules of Network Security and Ethical Hacking, both of which will prepare you to deal with a range of security threats and attacks. You will also undertake an individual final year project, which will help prepare you for the kind of tasks and situations you may encounter in the workplace. The final year practical and project work will further develop your in-depth specialist knowledge, understanding and practical skills within key areas of the discipline, as applied to the development of telecommunications systems and services using current and emerging technologies.

MODULES

IT Project Management
Network Security
Ethical Hacking
Future Technologies
Project

Part-time students will cover the same modules, but their diet will vary depending upon their availability to attend the scheduled classes.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Assessment methods

Teaching & Assessment

Assessment is seen as an integral part of learning, and assessment criteria are linked to individual module learning outcomes.

Assessment methods include practical assessments, reports and essays, analysis of case studies, oral presentations, seminar papers, project work, personal development portfolio, examinations and unseen class tests. Assessment will involve both individual and group/team-based assignments.

In the specialist security modules, students will be able to get hands-on experience of practical assessment that will see them configuring a range of computer systems and going through the processes of penetration testing and ethical hacking.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

Wrexham Glyndŵr University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.

In terms of particular needs, the University’s Inclusion Services can provide appropriate guidance and support should any students require reasonable adjustments to be made because of a recognised prevailing disability, medical condition, or specific learning difference.

Tuition fees

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

England
£9,000
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,000
per year
Scotland
£9,000
per year
Wales
£9,000
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Wrexham

Department:

School of Applied Science, Computing and Engineering

Read full university profile

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.

Software engineering

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?

78%
UK students
22%
International students
76%
Male students
24%
Female students
70%
2:1 or above
21%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

D
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.

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.

£19,000
low
Average annual salary
88%
low
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

52%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
10%
Other elementary services occupations
6%
Secretarial and related occupations

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.

£22k

£22k

£27k

£27k

£24k

£24k

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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