Digital Forensics
Digital Forensics plays a significant part in the investigation and analysis of criminal and corporate crime.
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Key Course Details
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UCAS Code
FG44
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Start Date
September
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Location
Newport
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Campus Code
C
Fees
Home students
£9,000*
International students
£15,260*
- Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.
Learn the skills and knowledge needed to work in Digital Forensic Units (DFUs) and Incident Response teams on this state-of -the-art course, gaining specialist skills and knowledge as you develop the practical and professional skills desired by employers in digital forensics, law enforcement and the wider corporate and cyber security sectors.
Designed For
This course is designed for those with a keen interest in digital crime, cyber security, criminal investigation, law enforcement and incident response in the criminal and civil industry sectors.
Accredited by
- BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
Career Paths
- Digital Forensics Investigator
- Policing
- Government Intelligence Agencies
- Incident Response Analyst
- Private Forensic and Security Consulting Companies
Skills taught
- Investigative and analytical skills
- Presentation skills
- Legislation and digital forensics
- Problem solving
- Formal report writing
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Course Highlights
Course Overview
You will learn how to acquire, analyse and interpretate data recovered from computers and digital devices under law and regulatory compliance. You’ll learn in state of the art, dedicated cyber labs including our Security Operations Centre (SOC) and Crime House training facility, with cutting-edge resources. The course is BCS accredited and has been designed in line with industry and law enforcement. The course will develop your skills in forensic investigation management and incident response for law enforcement and within organisations post-attack, as well as professional court report writing and court cross examination skills.
The first year of the course is designed to provide an introduction to many of the key computing concepts. Students learn technical skills relating to a range of topics that are built upon subsequently. Learning and assessments consist of a variety of practical and theoretical-based elements.
Programming
To introduce the fundamentals of procedural programming and understand the factors associated with the development of applications, and to be able to customise and build simple applications.
Professional Practice and Employability
To introduce professional practice in computing, developing academic skills and knowledge relating to legal, social, ethical, and professional aspects of computing and to develop employability skills and the student's academic skills particularly in the areas of self-reflection and research.
Network Configuration
To introduce basic networking concepts in a practical context, including the design, installation and configuration of a network and to introduce networking protocols and services including addressing mechanisms, in the context of existing and emerging network technologies and standards.
Information Security & Governance
Develop the knowledge of the underlying principles of IT Governance and Information Security.
Cyber Security Tools and Practices
To develop skills and knowledge by introducing different aspects of cybersecurity and the tools and practices used within the cybersecurity industry, within the context of legal, social, ethical and professional issues.
Computer Systems & Security
To introduce students to the fundamental architecture and function of computer systems to underpin the practical aspects of cyber security and digital forensics.
Year two of the course is designed to further extend the knowledge and skills gained in the first year with much more focus on the various disciplines of digital forensics. Employability of students is further enhanced with more attention to professional skills. For example, during the Team Project Evidential Practice module, students work in groups to deliver a digital forensic service that mimics real-world processes and expectations mirrored in industry.
Forensic Digital Evidence
To provide knowledge of the tools and techniques associated with computer forensics and to develop the student’s ability to apply computer forensics principles to a range of problems.
Cyber Crime Research Project
To develop skills and knowledge in critically researching and examining a topic in depth, drawing from a wide range of academic sources and producing a research paper. This module will also prepare students for the final year dissertation project.
Post Incident Analysis
To demonstrate and evaluate a systematic understanding of the principles and practices associated with post-incident analysis and Incident Response.
Compliance and Risk Management
To develop an ability to evaluate and analyse the underlying principles of strategic risk management, governance and compliance strategies in order to manage a corporate information security governance infrastructure at the strategic and tactical levels.
Securing Data with Cryptography
To enable students to develop an understanding of cryptography and cryptanalysis.
Digital Crime Scene Management
Develop and demonstrate knowledge of the tools and techniques associated with the creation and delivery of a digital forensic investigation.
Year three extends the knowledge and skills gained in the previous year as well as developing knowledge and practical skills in more specific areas of digital forensics. The Individual Project allows students to investigate and develop skills in a relevant topic of their choice. It will give you the opportunity to specialise in an area you want your career to focus on or to explore a related topic that interests you.
Digital Forensic Techniques
Develop advanced practical and theoretical principles regarding Digital Forensics on a variety of devices and sources and be able to evaluate, analyse and apply investigative solutions on a range of sources and devices.
Cyber Professional in Practice
Consolidate employability and professional practices in cyber security and computing professionals and enhance graduate attributes in alignment with the 2030 strategy. Develop critical awareness and demonstrate knowledge of workplace conduct, equality and diversity legislation and practices.
Secure Operations & Incident Management
To evaluate, analyse and synthesize the capability to perform security operations and incident management.
Cyber Dissertation Project
To provide students with an opportunity to research, design, develop and evaluate a solution to a problem identified within the pertinent specialised programme of study.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
UCAS Points: 104 (or above)
Typical qualification requirements:
- A Level: BCC
- Welsh BACC: Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C/B in the Skills Challenge Certificate 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.
Additional Requirements:
The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSE’s 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
£9,000
per year*£15,260
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.
Course Highlights
Delivery and assessment
You will spend 12 hours in lectures, tutorials, and practical sessions each week. You will also spend four hours per week per module on coursework, general reading, and other preparation. You’ll be trained in courtroom skills and learn how to give evidence in a court of law from the Bond Solon legal training consultancy. You will also learn how to collect, write, and present evidence under cross-examination in our mock courtroom. Upon successful completion of the Bond Solon course, students receive a certificate from Bond Solon on “Excellent in Report Writing, Written Evidence”. Additionally, industry leading digital forensic software will be used throughout the course that will develop these core skills for industry.
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Teaching staff
- Peter Eden, Course Leader
- Rachael Medhurst, Senior Lecturer
- Andrew Bellamy, Senior Lecturer
- Beth Jenkins, Lecturer
- Dr Richard Ward, Lecturer
- Joshua Richards, Lecturer
- Emma Derbi, Lecturer
- Dr. Arun Kumar, Lecturer
- Madhu Khurana, Lecturer
- Nisha Rawindaran, Lecturer
- Christopher Manley, Lecturer
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Placements
To improve your employment prospects, we also strongly recommend you spend up to a year working in industry at one of a variety of organisations in the UK or abroad, through USW Placements. This can often lead to employment opportunities with your placement company.
The University has excellent relationships with industry, with students undertaking placements with the Financial Services Authority (FSA), Home Office Scientific Development Research Branch (London), GCHQ, Qinetiq, Cy4or, financial services, international banks, the Office for National Statistics, digital forensics companies and various government departments. We also have strong links with security agencies, incident response organisations handling cyber-attacks and local police forces.
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Facilities
Our facilities are at the cutting edge meaning you’ll use the latest technologies in high-spec labs. There’s a Digital Investigation Lab, which is a digital forensic facility and a Secure Operations Centre (SOC) typical of those used by law enforcement agencies and corporate organisations to analyse digital files and media to support corporate and criminal investigations.
You can join the fight against cyber-crime in our National Cyber Security Academy and become part of that next generation of Cyber Security Experts. We use leading digital forensic software and include industry engagement within modules while also helping you to network to support your learning while emulating a working environment.
You’ll have opportunities to interact with industry organisations like Splunk, South Wales Police DFU, Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) and Gwent Police. You will also have the opportunity to gain industry recognised certifications in software packages.
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Why USW?
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94% of students are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating from USW.
Named in the Top 50 UK institutions for research power by the Times Higher Education
Why USW?
94% of students are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating from USW.
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94% of students are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating from USW.
-
Named in the Top 50 UK institutions for research power by the Times Higher Education