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BSc (Honours) Cyber Security with Forensics

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Year of Entry 2023/24
BSc (Honours)

Cyber Security with Forensics

Full-time Computing

Prepare for a career in cyber security by designing security systems, identifying evidence of cybercrimes and acting as detectives in a digital world.


Everything you need to know...

What is the fee? Home: £9,250 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
International/EU: £15,860 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
How long will I study? 3 / 4 Years
Where will I study? City Campus
What are the entry requirements? 112 UCAS Points
What is the UCAS code? F4G4
When do I start? September 2023
Placement year available? Yes

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Course summary

  • Develop the skills to design and secure complex information systems. 
  • Learn to respond appropriately to security incidents by gathering evidence. 
  • Understand the legal and regulatory environment around complex information systems. 
  • Study the principles employed in cyber security and digital forensics. 
  • Use the latest digital forensics software and technologies employed in industry.  

You will study fundamental cyber security topics, including principles of security, computing, architecture and networking, databases, and programming. You’ll also gain industry certifications such as the Cellebrite Certified Operator (CCO) certification and the Nuix Workstation Forensics Practitioner Foundations and Core certifications. 

Roha Roheel headshot
"Sheffield Hallam helped me to fight cyber crime."

Roha Raheel, BSc Cyber Security with Forensics graduate.

See her story

How you learn

Watch course leader Shahrzad Zargari talk about this course.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive. 

You’ll start by developing strong practical skills in cyber security though lectures and hands-on tutorial sessions. These sessions will build your understanding of how and when to use appropriate processes, tools, technologies, and management practices in areas including network fundamentals, cryptography, and information security. 

You will develop these skills further on real-world projects – collaborating in small teams to produce deliverables inspired by industry.  These projects will further your knowledge in areas such as system vulnerabilities, detect network intrusions, and analysing and interpreting digital evidence collected from computers and mobile devices.  Previous students have worked with the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Cyber Crime Unit to develop security demos.  

During your final year, you will create a significant cyber security deliverable, guided by a dedicated project supervisor. As part of this individual project, you will undertake research and apply new skills while you create a solution to a complex cyber security and forensics problem. The course team offers guidance and support throughout this process.   

The course encourages you to take an active approach to learning and self-development to develop highly sought-after cyber security skills through problem-solving activities, practical implementation and teamwork. You learn through 

  • lectures 
  • hands-on lab sessions and tutorials 
  • regular feedback 
  • teamwork and group-based learning 
  • practice-based applied learning 
  • discussions 
  • self-study 

 
You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate level employment through a number of key areas. These include 

  • access to our unique student support triangle to help with your personal, academic and career development 
  • access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments 
  • industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities 

Applied learning

Work Placements

You’ll have the opportunity to complete a year-long work placement between your second and third year. A placement is widely recognised as the gold standard opportunity to gain personal and professional development through real-world experience. 

You will be encouraged to take up this opportunity, as it will benefit your long-term career prospects and salary level, as well as your academic achievements and degree classification. Your course will prepare you to succeed in your placement and you will be supported throughout it. 

Your placement will allow you to apply the knowledge and skills gained on your course, in areas such as digital forensics, information security, and network intrusion detection. 

Students from this course have worked with companies such as  

  • 3Squared  
  • The BBC 
  • CYFOR 
  • HSBC 
  • Next 
  • Sainsbury’s 
  • Satisnet 
  • Sec-1 
  • Yorkshire & Humber Regional Cyber Crime Unit 

Your placement year will allow you to gain an Applied Professional Diploma in addition to your degree which will enhance your graduate profile and give you the edge with future employers.  

You’ll also be supported to take advantage of work experience opportunities throughout your course, through access to a range of support activities, resources, and employer events from your Employability Team. This will further enhance your employability skillset, confidence, and opportunity-awareness to help you succeed in your career after graduating. 

Live projects 

During each year of your course, you’ll be applying your learning using industry projects. These will challenge you to solve real-world cyber security problems while developing team and project management skills. This is great preparation for the world of work, all in a supportive learning environment.   

 

We work in partnership with the North East Business Resilience Centre (NEBRC), a non-profit organisation. NEBRC aims to help protect regional businesses from cybercrime and employs our students to deliver specialist services during their studies. The NEBRC was established in 2019 – funded by a variety of private and public partners including the police, as well as a wide range of business investors and members across England. 

Networking opportunities 

We’re a member of the Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec) Academic Partner Programme. The CIISec is the only information and cyber security institution to have been granted Royal Charter status. This means you’ll be able to develop contacts within the cyber security community. You’ll have access to world-class speakers and the opportunity to network with prospective employers. 


Future careers

This course prepares you for a career in 

  • cyber security analysis 
  • digital forensics consultancy 
  • security consultancy 
  • information security analysis 
  • information security 
  • incident response analysis 

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for dedicated security and forensics companies, law enforcement agencies and large-scale businesses and industries such as 

  • 3Squared 
  • Cisco 
  • Citrix 
  • CYFOR 
  • Exponential-e 
  • F-Secure 
  • G-Research 
  • Hewlett-Packard 
  • HSBC 
  • IBM 
  • Info-Assure 
  • Intaforensics 
  • NextGen Security 
  • Sec-1 
  • Serious Fraud Office 
  • Servelec Group 
  • Sky 
  • South Yorkshire Police 
  • West Yorkshire Police 

Where will I study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

City Campus map | City Campus tour | Keeping safe on Campus


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Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Equipment and facilities

On this course you’ll have access to specialist security and forensics labs and work with:

  • our state-of-the-art internetworking labs 
  • Cisco switching 
  • routing and security devices 
  • virtualised desktops and servers 
  • intrusion detection systems 
  • penetration testing applications 
  • the latest specialist software – including Encase, Magnet Axiom and IEF, FTK, X-Ways, Nuix, Cellebrite Physical Analyzer, UFED Touch 2 and UFED 4PC. 

We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students. 


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Entry requirements

All students

UCAS points

  • 112

This must include at least 64 points from two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:

  • BBC at A Level.
  • DMM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
  • A combination of qualifications, which may include AS Levels, EPQ and general studies

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

GCSE

  • English Language or Literature at grade C or 4
  • Maths at grade C or 4

• Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 Level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

We welcome applications from people of any age. We may be flexible in our normal offer if you can show a commitment to succeed and have the relevant skills and experience. This must show that you will benefit from and finish the course successfully.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Additional information for EU/International students

If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.

For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.


Modules

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1

Compulsory modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Computer Systems And Networks Credits: 40 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Introduction To Cyber Security, Maths And Cryptography Credits: 40 Assessment: Coursework
Exam
Module: Professionalism And Employability Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Software Development Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework

Year 2

Compulsory modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Database Administration And Security Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Digital Forensics Incident Response Credits: 40 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Project Based Learning Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Secure Network Services And Administration Credits: 40 Assessment: Coursework
Practical

Year 3

Optional modules
Module Credits
Module: Placement Year Credits: -

Final year

Compulsory modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Advanced Cyber Forensics Credits: 40 Assessment: Coursework
Practical
Module: Information Security Management Credits: 20 Assessment: Practical
Module: Project (Cyber Security And Networks) Credits: 40 Assessment: Coursework
Elective modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Blockchain And Iot Security Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Data Storage Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Offensive Forensics Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and are therefore subject to changes in government policy. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

† If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2023/24 is £15,860 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

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Financial support for home/EU students

How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.

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Additional course costs

This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

Additional costs for Computing courses (PDF, 238.9KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

 

How do I apply?

Apply now via UCAS

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