Cyber Security with Foundation Year
Southampton, Solent University
UCAS Code: CYS3 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Southampton, Solent University
UCAS Code: CYS3 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
From a minimum of two A levels
AQA Level 3 (Foundation) Technical Level (360 glh)
AQA Level 3 Technical Level (1080 glh)
AQA Level 3 Technical Level (540 glh)
AQA Level 3 Technical Level (720 glh)
In combination with other qualifications.
In combination with other qualifications.
In combination with other qualifications.
OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma
OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma
OCR Cambridge Technical Subsidiary Diploma
In combination with other qualifications.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
T Level
Pass grade (D or E)
UCAS Tariff
A minimum of two completed A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at PPP or BTEC Diploma at MP or equivalent. We will consider mature students who haven't recently undertaken a formalised course of study at A-level or equivalent, but who can demonstrate relevant workplace or voluntary experience, indicating their ability to complete the course successfully. We will also consider overseas applicants in an equivalent situation to UK students (as outlined above) and who have been taught in English or have IELTS 5.5 or equivalent. We welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds. Applicants who are not in possession of the minimum entry requirements but are able to demonstrate aptitude, enthusiasm and motivation will be considered on an individual basis and may be admitted subject to satisfactory interview and/or portfolio. Please contact us for further details.
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
About this course
Passionate about computing careers, but not quite ready to undertake a full honours degree? Coming to computing with no formal background in the subject? This one-year computing foundation is the ideal way to learn essential programming, web design, networking and security skills before starting a specialist three-year course.
Our computing courses are part of the Department of Science and Engineering, where there are courses covering every aspect of computing and media technology. On completion of the Foundation Year you will be able to join the first year of a course within the computing area.
You’ll get to grips with the basics of computer programming by taking part in creative and fun practical projects. These will be carried out under the guidance of a teaching team with a wide portfolio of experience and skills.
Personal development is crucial - you will be supported in improving your academic confidence and start on the road to becoming an independent learner. We encourage teamwork and cross-discipline collaboration, both of which are highly valued by employers.
Solent’s computing team maintain a strong network of industry and employer contacts. You will be encouraged to utilise these networks to seek work experience placements, attend industry events and learn from specialist guest speakers.
Our talented and supportive team – many of whom have direct and current industry experience - teach on this computing degree course, so they’ll know exactly what skills you need to move successfully forward.
**What does this course lead to?**
Upon successful completion of this one-year foundation course, students will progress onto the BSc (Hons) Cyber Security Management course.
**Who is this course for?**
This foundation course is ideally suited to students who want to earn a specialist degree in an area of computing, but don’t yet hold the qualifications or experience required to start on the first year of an undergraduate course.
Modules
FOUNDATION MODULES
Digital Media Technologies
Foundation Computing
Foundation Mathematics
Group Technology Project
Individual Degree Related Project
Problem Solving
If you successfully complete the foundation year, you will automatically progress onto the BSc (Hons) Cyber Security Management degree course. Please note that some of the modules below may change.
YEAR 1 - CORE MODULES
Problem Solving Through Programming
Introduction to Networks and Security
Network Applications
Introduction to Databases
Routing & Switching
Cyber Security Essentials
YEAR 2 - CORE MODULES
Network Systems Automation
Ethical Hacking and Pen Testing
Network Implementation
Research Methods Project
Threat Intelligence Analysis
Network Security
YEAR 3 - CORE MODULES
Dissertation Project
Industrial Consulting Project
CyberOps
YEAR 3 - OPTIONS (please note that not all options are guaranteed to run each academic year)
Choose two of the below:
Cybercrime and Digital Forensics
Internet of Things
Cloud Computing and Virtualisation
Network Management
Assessment methods
The computing foundation year is assessed entirely through coursework. Coursework projects will required you to bring together and demonstrate your overall understanding of the topics covered.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
Extra funding
Solent University offers a number of bursaries, grants and scholarships. For more information, please visit https://www.solent.ac.uk/finance/grants-bursaries-scholarships/bursaries
The Uni
Southampton, Solent University
Department of Science and Engineering
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
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
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
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.
Top job areas of graduates
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.
£20k
£27k
£31k
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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Post-six month graduation stats:
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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:
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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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