Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £9,250 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
International/EU: £16,655 per year (£1,200 for placement year) -
How long will I study?
3 / 4 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
GG4N
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When do I start?
September 2024
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Placement year available?
Yes
Employability
94% of our graduates are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating, with 77% in highly skilled employment or further study (2020/21 Graduate Outcomes Survey).
Course summary
- Learn how to provide in-depth cyber defences.
- Develop your knowledge of network and application cyber security.
- Understand the principles behind the tools and techniques used to secure data.
- Create complex technical solutions to real-world security problems.
On this course, you’ll develop a deep understanding of practical cyber security – including key concepts of networks, applications and systems. You’ll become a cyber security practitioner who understands and can build upon the fundamental principles – providing complex cyber defences to solve real-world problems.
Accredited by
This course is accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
"Sheffield Hallam helped me to fight cyber crime."
Roha Raheel, BSc Cyber Security with Forensics graduate.
How you learn
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 practical skills in cyber security through lectures and hands-on tutorial sessions. Here you’ll build the knowledge, experience, understanding and critical thinking you need to solve cyber security problems. These sessions will build your insight of how and when to use appropriate processes, tools, technologies and management practices in areas including network fundamentals, cryptography, and information security.
You’ll develop these skills further on real-world projects – collaborating in small teams to produce deliverables inspired by industry. Previous students have worked with the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Cyber Crime Unit to develop security demos. Tackling real projects like these will help prepare you for a career in cyber security, all within a supportive learning environment.
During your final year, you’ll create a significant cyber security deliverable, guided by a dedicated project supervisor. As part of this individual project, you’ll undertake research and apply new skills while you create a solution to a complex cyber security 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 several 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
Course leaders and tutors
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 information security, network intrusion, and cyber analysis.
Students from this course have worked with companies such as
- Microsoft
- IBM
- BAE Systems
- the Civil Service
- the NHS
- Police forces
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 aiming to support and help to protect regional businesses from cybercrime. NEBRC 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 – to provide specialist services to a range of businesses 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 also have access to world-class speakers and the opportunity to network with prospective employers.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in
- information security
- incident response analysis
- information security analysis
- penetration testing
- security architecture
- IT security engineering
- security systems administration
- IT security consultancy
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for companies such as
- 3Squared
- Cisco
- Citrix
- Exponential-e
- F-Secure
- G-Research
- Hewlett-Packard
- IBM
- Info-Assure
- NextGen Security
- Sec-1
- Servelec Group
- Sky
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
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreLearn more about your department
Computing facilities tour
Take a look around the facilities and equipment in the Department of Computing at Sheffield Hallam University.
Equipment and facilities
On this course, you’ll have access to specialist security and forensics labs and work with
- switches
- routers
- security appliances
- virtualised desktops and servers
- SIEMs
- intrusion detection systems
- vulnerability discovery tools
- penetration testing applications
- mobile, web and desktop platforms
- in-house cyber-attack ranges
- industry-standard targets such as Hack The Box
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.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 112-120
This must include at least 64 points from two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:
- BBC-BBB at A Level
- DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma
- Merit overall from a T level qualification
- 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
GCSE equivalents
- Level 2 Literacy or Functional Skills Level 2 English
- Level 2 Numeracy or Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
• 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.
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
Computer Systems And Networks
Introduction To Cyber Security, Maths And Cryptography
Professionalism And Employability
Software Development
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Database Administration And Security
Ethical Hacking And Intrusion Detection
Project Based Learning
Secure Network Services And Administration
Year 3
Optional modules
Placement Year
Final year
Compulsory modules
Advanced Penetration Testing And Information Security Management
Enterprise Applications Management
Project (Cyber Security And Networks)
Elective modules
Blockchain And Iot Security
Data Storage
Offensive Forensics
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2024/25 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 2024/25 is £16,655 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
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, 197.9KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
