Applied Cyber Security
Cyber Security crosses the boundaries of technology and industry, and you’ll master it all in this course, which develops your skills in solving real-world problems.
How to apply Apply Through UCAS Book an Open Day Chat to Us/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/03-courses/cyber-security/bsc-applied-cyber-security-1.png)
Key Course Details
-
UCAS Code
7B9P
-
Start Date
September
-
Location
Newport
-
Campus Code
C
Fees
Home students
£9,250*
International students
£16,200*
- Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.
The dynamic world of cyber security needs graduates who are ready for action. That’s why you will use cutting-edge tech in labs that mimic the real world on our Applied Cyber Security degree. Solve live problems alongside industry experts, and equip yourself for a range of cyber security roles.
Designed for
The diverse challenges within cyber security test your technical skills and your ability to analyse, investigate, and solve problems. If you want to develop these talents and work in cyber security roles across law enforcement, government and private sectors, Applied Cyber Security is for you.
Accredited by
- BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
Career paths
- Security analysis & auditing
- Ethical hacking
- Information Security governance, risk and compliance
- Penetration testing
- Intelligence officers
- Digital forensics
- Incident response
Skills taught
- Governance, risk and compliance, legislation
- Programming and critical systems
- Analytical skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Presentation & communication skills
Course Highlights
Module Overview
Learn how to combat cyber crime through our award-winning National Cyber Security Academy. Gain key skills solving real-world problems using cyber security tools, investigating crime scenes, securing networks, and using web applications, before specialising in Digital Forensics or System Security.
Year One
Professionalism and Employability
Cyber Security Tools and Practices
Computer Systems and Security
Network Configuration
Programming
Information Security and Governance
Year Two
Web Applications and Cloud Security
Digital Crime Scene Management
Secure Systems
Compliance and Risk Management
Cyber Crime Research Project
Critical Systems and Infrastructure
Year Three
Security Operations and Penetration Testing (optional)
Digital Forensic Techniques (optional)
Cyber Dissertation Project
Secure Operations and Incident Management
The Cyber Professional in Practice
Learn the fundamentals of the latest cyber security tools, systems, practices and legislation. Engage with industry partners in workshops and begin to apply your knowledge and skills to real-world problems. Develop your professional skills and employability.
Professionalism and Employability
Develop knowledge of legal, social, ethical and professional aspects of computing. Enhance employability skills and critical academic skills around self-reflection and research.
Cyber Security Tools and Practices
Become familiar with different aspects of cybersecurity and the tools and practices used within the industry, within the context of legal, social, ethical and professional issues.
Computer Systems and Security
Get to grips with the fundamental architecture and computer systems that underpin the practical aspects of cyber security and digital forensics.
Network Configuration
Practice the design, installation and configuration of a network, including networking protocols and services, in both existing and emerging network technologies and standards.
Programming
Learn the fundamentals of procedural programming and understand the factors associated with application development. Also, customise and build simple applications.
Information Security and Governance
Develop your knowledge of the key underlying principles of IT Governance and Information Security.
Undertake live briefs in dedicated labs, including our state-of-the-art Secure Operations Centre. As you deepen your knowledge of more specialised areas of cyber security and develop evaluative and strategic management skills, you’ll start to consider the roles you want to pursue.
Web Applications and Cloud Security
As you learn how to develop secure software, you’ll understand security vulnerabilities in programming practices of web-based applications and defend and account for possible exploitations.
Digital Crime Scene Management
As a ‘digital detective’, you’ll develop and demonstrate knowledge of the tools and techniques required in setting up and delivering a digital forensic investigation in our ‘crime-scene house’.
Secure Systems
Develop your theoretical and practical knowledge of computer security methods and practice. Increase your understanding of cybersecurity threats and their prevention, detection, and mitigation.
Compliance and Risk Management
Understand the tools, techniques, frameworks and legislation of cyber governance and compliance. Evaluate risk management, governance and compliance strategies to manage security infrastructure.
Cyber Crime Research Project
Explore the role of research and evaluation within cyber security and gain a grounding in formal research methods in preparation for your final year research project.
Critical Systems and Infrastructure
Study emerging systems in a range of non-standard domains, and associated threats. Learn about microcontrollers and embedded systems architecture, and data collection, storage and transfer protocols.
Specialise in either System Security, where you’ll study the EC Council certification in ethical hacking and penetration testing, or Digital Forensics, where you’ll prepare for court cross-examination and expert witness reports with training and certification from Bond Solon.
Security Operations and Penetration Testing (optional)
Equip yourself with the theory and detailed technical knowledge of red-team and blue-team penetration testing, and master the advanced tools and techniques involved.
Digital Forensic Techniques (optional)
Master advanced practical and theoretical principles of Digital Forensics on a variety of devices and sources, evaluating, analysing, and applying investigative solutions.
Cyber Dissertation Project
Research, design, develop and evaluate a solution to a critical problem pertinent to your specialised programme of study.
Secure Operations and Incident Management
Acquire technical knowledge of the concepts associated with cyber security monitoring, and incident detection, analysis, and recovery.
The Cyber Professional in Practice
Consolidate your employability, professional practices, and graduate attributes in line with the 2030 strategy. Show critical awareness of workplace conduct, equality and diversity, and legislation.
Course Highlights
How you'll learn
Our course ensures you’re not only work-ready and equipped to handle the industry’s most pressing challenges, but also primed to continue your journey of professional development. Around half your assignments are ‘live briefs’ set by cyber security experts based on current problems within the sector. This means much of your 12-16 hours of weekly study time is hands-on ‘at the keyboard’, and you get a real taste of life working as a cyber security professional. Given the dynamic nature of cyber security, formal exams are minimal. You’ll be assessed through a mixture of academic evidence-based research and practical project-based evaluations.
/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/08-subjects/cyber-security/subject-cyber-security-classroom-44857-1.jpg)
Teaching staff
Our teaching staff includes specialists in the various strands of cyber security you’ll study here. They bring a wealth of real-world experience and their close contacts with the industry ensure the tools, techniques, practices and frameworks you learn are constantly updated in line with current standards. This means the training you receive here gives you unparalleled preparation to hit the ground running in your cyber security role after graduation.
/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/04-profiles/45-university-staff/profile-academic-staff-andrew-bellamy-digital-forensics-40526.jpg)
Placements and work experience
Our connections with key organisations mean you’ll gain crucial work experience and build contacts throughout the entire course. You’ll work with industry leaders and have opportunities for placements from the likes of Bridewell, Gwent Police, Airbus, The Royal Mint, Thales and more. Their experts deliver workshops and lead you in live briefs, where you’ll work in our state-of-the-art cyber environments that replicate real-world centres. In the Digital Forensics strand, you’ll learn how to gather evidence from our ‘crime scene house’ and present it in court under examination in our mock courtroom, with an opportunity for additional training from Bond Solon legal consultancy.
/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/08-subjects/cyber-security/subject-cyber-security-case-study-the-royal-mint-51972-1.jpg)
Facilities
Most of your studies take place at the Newport campus, home of the National Cyber Security Academy in the heart of Wales’s vibrant tech capital. You’re perfectly situated close to major industry players, such as Airbus. With two entire floors dedicated to cyber security, this hive of activity is the perfect place to develop your digital skills. Our Secure Operations Centre (SOC) reflects current industry centres and contains all the high-spec infrastructure and technology you’ll need to fight cyber crime. Our Digital Investigation Lab mirrors those used by law enforcement and corporate analysts during investigations.
/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/01-campus-and-facilities/15-newport-facilities/campus-facilities-newport-national-cyber-security-academy-44705.jpg)
Cyber University of the Year for four years running at the National Cyber Awards.
-
Awarded by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre as Gold Standard Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education.
-
Course delivered in partnership with Cisco.
92%
Of BSc (Hons) Applied Cyber Security students at USW were satisfied with their course
National Student Survey 2024Awarded by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre as Gold Standard Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education.
Course delivered in partnership with Cisco.
/prod01/channel_2/media/event-graduation-cardiff-28660-857X857-1.jpg)
/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/08-subjects/cyber-security/Cyber-Security-photoshoot---April-2024_55039.jpg)
/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/01-campus-and-facilities/12-campus-spaces/campus-spaces-newport-library-27717-3-857X857.jpg)
/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/01-campus-and-facilities/12-campus-spaces/campus-spaces-newport-library-27766-3-785X785.jpg)
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
UCAS Points: 104 (or above)
Typical qualification requirements:
- A Level: BCC
- Welsh BACC: Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales Grade C/B and BC - CC at A Level
- BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit
- Access to HE: Pass the Access to HE Diploma and obtain a minimum of 104 UCAS tariff points
- T Level: Pass (C and above)
Additional requirements include:
The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
International applications welcomed:
We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence please view our dedicated country pages.
English language requirements
International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing or equivalent.
Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.
If you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.
If you do not meet the English entry criteria please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.
USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.
We're here to help
Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch and we'd to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.
Fees and Funding
£9,250
per year*£16,200
per year*Additional Costs
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
*Obligatory
A number of events, such as careers talks, guest lectures etc will be available to students and may take place at locations other than the Newport campus. Students will be expected to pay the cost of transport to these events, which will of course depend on where students live.
The course includes some activities that are held at specialised locations such as the Crime Scene House at Glyntaff campus. Students will be expected to pay the cost of transport to these events, which will of course depend on where students live. There are approximately four occurrences of this type throughout the year.
Throughout the course students will have the opportunity to undertake learning, working towards professional and industry led certificates such as CISCO’s Cyber Ops, Bond Solon Expert Witness Skills, EC-Council’s Certified Ethical Hacker. Some of these certificates are available at an additional cost to students, however they are all offered at a reduced educational discount that may not be available outside of Higher Education.
/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/08-subjects/stem/comet-building-west-view-entrance.jpg)
Investing in your future
We are investing in the future of STEM at USW with an exciting new Computing, Engineering and Technology building at our Pontypridd Campus.
University Quality Assurance
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.