Computer Networks and Security
University of Portsmouth
UCAS Code: I124 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
112-120 points from 2 or 3 A levels, including an A level in a relevant subject.
112-122 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject.
Cambridge Pre-U score of 54-56, to include a Principal Subject in a relevant subject.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
3 GCSEs at grade C or above to include English and Mathematics/3 GCSEs at grade 4 or above to include English and Mathematics.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
29 points from the IB Diploma. 655/754 at Higher Level, with one relevant subject at Higher Level - 29 points from the IB Diploma. 664 at Higher Level, with one relevant subject at Higher Level.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H3,H3,H3,H3,H4-H3,H3,H3,H3,H3
To include a Higher Level in a relevant subject.
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Must be in a relevant subject.
112-120 Tariff points, including an Advanced Higher in a relevant subject.
T Level
Acceptable T Level Subjects: T Level in Digital: Digital Production, Design and Development, T Level in Construction: Design, Surveying and Planning, T Level in Digital Business Services, T Level in Digital Support and Services, T Level in Science, T Level in Engineering and Manufacturing Design and Development, T Level in Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing, T Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control
UCAS Tariff
112-120 points from 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including an A level in a relevant subject.
112-120 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 2 A levels one of which must be a relevant subject, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
**This is a Connected Degree**
Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.
**Overview**
From the Internet to cloud computing, social networking, and multimedia streaming, computer networks play a vital role in all aspects of business, government and public services.
On this BSc (Hons) Computer Networks and Security degree course, you’ll learn to develop and manage sophisticated computer networks solutions and get hands on with the latest technologies, such as servers, mobile applications and security networks.
Not only will you develop skills that can make a mark on the future of the industry, you’ll also have the option to join our Cisco Networking Academy to add an industry-recognised Cisco certification to your degree, such as CCNA or CCNP.
**Course highlights**
- Configure, manage and experiment with different network technologies and web applications
- Specialise in topics such as security, big data, Internet of Things, management or business and innovation
- Take on practical network design projects, such as designing a real computer network for a bank
- Work with our private cloud environment to learn about virtualisation and cloud computing, and use network analysis tools such as OPNET and Wireshark
- Apply your skills through our work with charities and organisations such as Code Club, where you'll help 9-13-year-olds with their Scratch, HTML/CSS, and Python projects
- Benefit from our Student Union clubs and societies, such as the IT Society, AI and Robotics Club and Gaming Society
**Accreditation**
This course is accredited by the British Computer Society, partially meeting the educational requirement for CITP.
Our CISCO Networking Academy blends face-to-face teaching with web-based curriculum, hands-on lab exercises, and Internet-based assessment. Students can practice, experiment, learn and share their work using our bespoke networking labs equipped with the latest Cisco networking devices. The teaching is delivered by fully qualified Cisco Academy instructors.
**Careers and opportunities**
The current shortage of networking and IT professionals will only grow as the importance of computer networks in all areas of society increases. Your skill set will be in high demand across many sectors when you graduate, opening doors to careers in all roles related to computer networks and security.
In fact, 95% of graduates from this course are in work or further study 15 months after graduation, with 100% of those asked also saying they find their current work meaningful. What's more, once you have some experience in industry, you can expect an average salary from £35,000 to £55,000 as a network engineer.
Graduate destinations
Our graduates have worked for companies such as:
- CISCO
- VMWare
- Syamntec
- BAE Systems
- Morgan Stanley
- Lockheed Martin
- Deutsche Bank
What jobs can you do with a computer networks degree?
Our graduates now work in roles including:
- solutions architect
- network engineer
- presales technical consultant
- service desk engineer
- network and systems engineer
Our Employability and Careers service will be on hand throughout your studies and for up to 5 years after you graduate to give you help and support with finding a job and developing your career.
"One of the best things about the course is it’s very hands on. You learn by doing and not just theory." Katie Tuffrey, Computer Networks Student
Modules
Year 1
Core modules in this year include:
- Architecture and Operating Systems – 20 credits
- Core Computing Concepts for Cyber Security – 20 credits
- Networking Essentials – 20 credits
- Programming – 40 credits
- System Administration and Internetworking – 20 credits
There are no optional modules in this year.
Year 2
Core modules in this year include:
- Network Servers and Services – 20 credits
- Ethical Hacking – 20 credits
- Cloud Computing – 20 credits
- Enterprise Networking – 20 credits
- Security and Cryptography – 20 credits
Optional modules to choose from in this year currently include:
- Big Data – 20 credits
- Business Information Systems Security – 20 credits
- Computing Undergraduate Ambassador – 20 credits
- Web Programming – 20 credits
- Modern Foreign Language (Institution-wide Language Programme) – 20 credits
Exchange study abroad or placement year (optional)
On this course, you can do an optional study abroad or work placement year between your 2nd and 3rd years to get valuable experience working in industry.
We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.
Year 3
Core modules in this year include:
- Individual Project (Engineering) – 40 credits
- Network Design and ISP Solutions – 20 credits
- IT and Internetworking Security – 20 credits
Optional modules in this year currently include:
- Complex Problem Solving – 20 credits
- Malware Forensics – 20 credits
- Artificial Intelligence – 20 credits
- Distributed Systems and Security – 20 credits
- Internet of Things – 20 credits
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Assessment methods
How you're assessed
You’ll be assessed through:
- technical reports and logbooks
- written exams
- mini projects
- presentations
- case studies
- group assignments
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows:
- Year 1 students: 43% by written exams, 10% by practical exams and 47% by coursework
- Year 2 students: 40% by written exams and 60% by coursework
- Year 3 students: 25% by written exams, 10% by practical exams and 65% by coursework
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University of Portsmouth
Faculty of Technology
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.
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
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.
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.
Top job areas of graduates
There are a lot of computing courses out there, and they vary a lot in content, modules and the way they work with employers, so individual courses can have very different outcomes. This is a course where you really need to get a good grade — employers really pay attention to the class of your degree and a low grade will serious hit your prospects. But you can get a job on pretty much any industry in the country with a computing degree - and organisation with an IT system and a web site needs graduates in this discipline - and many employers report difficulty in finding graduates. So most students do get jobs, and starting salaries are good, particularly in London. If you want to find out more about the prospects for a computer science course at a particular institution, it's a good idea to go on open days and talk to tutors about what previous graduates went on to do.
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.
£22k
£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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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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