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Cyber Security with industrial placement

Entry requirements


UCAS Tariff

96

Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. Relevant science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) and computing-related subjects are preferred.

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About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Subjects

Computing and information technology

Computer and information security

Our BSc (Hons) Cyber Security with industrial placement is ideal if you're fascinated by computers, enjoy problem-solving and want a fast-paced, challenging job. We offer the knowledge and skills needed to anticipate and combat computer software and data threats, including hacking, theft, viruses, and other forms of cyber attack.

A recent report estimates that the cyber security industry requires an extra 3.4 million professionals worldwide (1). Qualified cyber security professionals have access to excellent career opportunities and competitive salaries. The University of Bolton's BSc (Hons) Cyber Security with industrial placement course is an ideal route into this dynamic and evolving industry. By studying with us, you can learn how to protect data and information systems from cyber breaches while experiencing life at our supportive, student-focused, multicultural campus.

Covering how to design secure computer systems, this forward-thinking degree emphasises secure software development and promotes a deep understanding of the structure of computing systems. Throughout the course, you'll develop technical knowledge and applied skills in security defence techniques and counter-measures, ready to protect computer systems and electronic infrastructures from attack. In particular, we'll focus on helping you learn to design and develop your own security tools for probing, analysing and defending computer systems against attack.

Our expert and dedicated team will cover how to analyse and evaluate security threats and vulnerabilities to information systems, perform security risk assessments and develop security controls, processes and software. We'll support you as you learn how to respond to security incidents and implement resolution activities. The department's strong links with business mean you'll have the chance to work on ‘live briefs’ in your coursework assignments, so you'll have the opportunity to enjoy real-world context and application for the skills and knowledge we'll help you develop.

With class sizes no greater than 30, we can offer you meaningful, personalised learning plans. Our dedicated and enthusiastic lecturers, many of whom are active researchers with extensive industry insights and experience, will help you develop both the theoretical knowledge and the practical, hands-on skills required by the security sector that will put you one step ahead of attackers from day one. Meanwhile, guest speakers and lecturers give you access to highly relevant and up-to-date input from industry settings.

All of this is backed by our well-equipped IT suites, where you'll get to apply and develop your learning individually and in groups with expert guidance and support.

The University will offer lots of support to help you find a placement with a relevant company in preparation for your year in industry (the industrial placement takes place between the second and final years of your course). Through our relationships with employers, we'll share placement adverts as they become available, and you can also seek your own placement. Our placement team will help with applications and interview skills. Your placement does not have to be in the Bolton area – it could be elsewhere in the UK. Completing a year in industry will give you invaluable skills and experience that will help you in your final year of study with us and boost your CV to help you find an enhanced career afterwards. If you're unsuccessful in securing a placement, you'll be able to transfer directly to the final year of study and complete your degree in three years.

(1) https://www.isc2.org/Research/Workforce-Study accessed on 11 July 2023

Modules

Information about the modules offered as part of this course is available on the University of Bolton’s website.

Assessment methods

Details of the learning activities and assessment methods for this course are available on the University of Bolton’s website.

Tuition fees

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

Channel Islands
£29,600
for the whole course
England
£29,600
for the whole course
EU
£50,800
for the whole course
International
£50,800
for the whole course
Northern Ireland
£29,600
for the whole course
Republic of Ireland
£29,600
for the whole course
Scotland
£29,600
for the whole course
Wales
£29,600
for the whole course

The Uni


Course location:

University of Bolton Main Site, Greater Manchester

Department:

Computing

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.

87%
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.

Information technology

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?

96%
UK students
4%
International students
86%
Male students
14%
Female students
62%
2:1 or above
28%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
D
C

Software engineering

Teaching and learning

70%
Staff make the subject interesting
70%
Staff are good at explaining things
68%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
83%
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

75%
Library resources
70%
IT resources
73%
Course specific equipment and facilities
70%
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?

93%
UK students
7%
International students
89%
Male students
11%
Female students
59%
2:1 or above
29%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
C

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.

Information technology

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.

£20,000
low
Average annual salary
75%
low
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

59%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
13%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
3%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals

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.

£20,000
low
Average annual salary
75%
low
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

59%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
13%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
3%
Sales, marketing and related associate 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.

Information technology

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

£19k

£19k

£20k

£20k

£27k

£27k

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.

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.

£19k

£19k

£20k

£20k

£27k

£27k

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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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.

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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