BSc (Hons)
Cyber Security
- Open for UK/Home students
Why study a BSc Cyber Security undergraduate degree?
Kickstart your career with our BSc (Hons) Cyber Security programme.
The BSc Cyber Security at Southampton Solent University Centres won’t just equip you with the skills and knowledge to help you in your cyber security career; a degree in cyber security is fast becoming an essential qualification for entry to many cyber security roles.
According to the UK Government’s report on cyber security skills in the UK labour market, 2025
:
- 81% of employers require applicants to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree for core cyber security roles
- 83% of employers are looking for candidates with a bachelor’s or higher degree for wider cyber roles
With 8 out of 10 employers looking for candidates with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, if you want to start a career in cyber security, having a cyber security degree will increase your employability.
Why study cyber security at Southampton Solent University Centres?
CCNA certificates of completion
You’ll also have the chance to gain CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) certificates of completion alongside your degree.
| Module title | Certificate of Completion title |
| Introduction to Networks & Security | CCNA: Introduction to Networks (ITN) |
| Routing & Switching | CCNA: Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials (SRWE) |
| CyberOps | CCNA: CyberOps Associate |
These CCNA certificates of completion will equip you with the right set of practical and technical skills that are highly valued by the industry, and those who gain a mark of over 70% will also receive a digital badge. If you would like to gain the Cisco Professional Certificate, you can undertake this externally.
As well as this, you will also be provided with essential knowledge from other modules to be able to independently complete other external industry certificates after your studies:
| Module title | External Certificate titles |
| Cyber Security Essentials and Ethical Hacking and Pen Testing | Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) |
| Threat Intelligence Analysis | Certified Threat Intelligence Analysis |
Please note that should you choose to progress with these external industry certificates additional costs will apply for external exams.
Career-focused cyber security tuition
Prepare for a career as a network and cyber security specialist, ready to embrace challenges and contribute to the ever-changing world of computer networking technology.
Studying the BSc Cyber Security at Southampton Solent University Centres is designed for those who want to start a new career in cyber security. It will challenge and support you in achieving the best of your ability and help you meet your career ambitions within the cyber security workforce.
You will develop a range of subject-specific and transferable skills, which can facilitate continued personal and professional development.
Study that suits your schedule
Through a combination of in-person, online teaching and independent study, with a choice of timetables (daytime or evening and weekend) and intakes, you will be able to fit your degree studies around your personal life without needing to take a lengthy break from your existing career.
Study cyber security in a city near you
Alongside a choice of when you learn, you also have the power to choose where you study.
With three city-centre locations, you can study your BSc Cyber Security undergraduate degree in London, Birmingham, or Manchester, making the commute to your on-campus sessions a breeze.
Teaching and assessment
Learn from cyber security experts, who are specialists in their field.
The cyber security faculty here at Southampton Solent University Centres have years of experience in the industry; where most of them are Cisco qualified.
You will learn theoretical concepts and participate in hands-on practical labs, putting your learning into practice, and get to grips with industry standard software, all under the careful guidance of qualified cyber security experts.
- Lectures, seminars, and hands-on practical workshops: 9-12 hours per week
- Independent study: 30 hours per week
- Assessment: coursework and exams
Blended Learning – choose your timetable
Receiving the same number of live contact hours as face-to-face programmes, a typical timetable may include:
Daytime students – If you are a daytime student, you will typically have 2 days of tuition per week – your sessions will be on-campus for 1 of those days and the other day will take place live online.
Evening and weekend blended timetables will involve: 2 evenings face-to-face on-campus and 1 weekend day live online. Please note that the blended timetable pattern will be decided by the scheduling team.
Please note that your blended timetable pattern will be decided by the scheduling team and you will receive your scheduled timetable after you are fully enrolled and ahead of induction activities.
This course is delivered as part of a partnership between QA Higher Education and Solent University. The programme is validated by the University and delivered by QA Higher Education.
Cyber Security Modules
All units are core and are worth 20 credits unless specified.
Please note: In Year 3, you will choose 2 optional modules from the options below.
Modules
The course information displayed on this page is correct for the academic year 2026/27. We aim to run the course as advertised however, changes may be necessary due to updates to the curriculum (due to academic or industry developments), student demand or UK compliance reasons.
Cyber Security Academic Requirements
Cyber Security Academic Requirements
- 104 – 120 UCAS points
- A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at DMM or BTEC Diploma at D*D or T-level Merit, or equivalent.
If you have any questions regarding our entry requirements or studying with us, please contact us.
English Language Requirements for Cyber Security
- GCSE English Grade 4/C.
- Alternatively, applicants can sit the QA Higher Education English test.
Please note that if your qualifications are not in English, we might need certified translations in order to proceed with your application.
Interviews
Depending on your application, you may be invited for an Academic interview.
| Academic Interview |
|
Related course
If you don’t meet the entry requirements for this programme, we also offer the BSc (Hons) Cyber Security with Foundation Year.
International students
Please note: We are not currently able to offer sponsorship for international students at Southampton Solent University Centres. For information on programmes that are eligible for sponsorship, please visit the Southampton Solent University website
Cyber Security Careers
This three-year cyber security course will prepare you for both technical roles, such as ethical hacking and penetration testing, and managerial roles, such as governance and information security auditing, giving you more options and potential career routes after graduation.
This course is the first step towards your career goals, providing the skills and knowledge needed to succeed.
Skills you’ll learn on this programme include:
- Risk Management
- Cloud Computing
- Network Security
- Ethical Hacking
- Operating Systems
Developing skills that are industry-focused and transferrable, you will be the ideal candidate for jobs in a variety of fields and sectors.
Course graduates possess a broad array of skills and specialisms, making them well-suited for a diverse range of cyber security and computing roles.
Average earnings for cyber security roles in the UK
A degree in cyber security not only opens more roles to you but could also improve your earning potential.
The average salary for cyber security professionals in the UK is over £50,000 (salary.com, 2025)
The UK salary for cyber security roles range by level and location, but typically you could earn:
- Entry level: £25,000-£40,000
- Mid-level: £35,000-£70,000
- Senior level: £60,000-£120,000+
(cybersecurityjobs.tech, 2025)
This BSc Cyber Security won’t just provide you with the degree needed to access more cyber security jobs. It will provide you with the fundamental practical, technical, and critical thinking skills needed to excel in cyber security roles, such as Cyber Security Analysts and Network Security Specialists.
Potential job roles this cyber security programme might open for you include:
- Ethical Hacker
- Cyber Security Auditor
- Cyber Security Analyst
- Digital Forensics Analyst
- Cyber Consultant
- Cyber Defence Analyst
Cyber Security - Tuition fees 2026/27
- £9,790 per annum
*Please note yearly fees may increase in line with inflation & Government guidelines.
What’s included in your tuition fees
- Academic Support, including the Academic Community of Excellence (ACE) Team
- Careers and Employment Service
- Class hours (lectures, seminars and tutorials)
- Facilities (computers, on-campus Wi-Fi, printers, vending machines)
- Library resources, including a large online catalogue of books, journals and more
- Online resources
- Social spaces (quiet study spaces, multi-faith rooms and spaces to socialise)
- Student Support (Welfare Team, Finance Team and more)
External Certificates:
If you would like to complete external industry certificates such as the Cisco Professional Certificate, or the EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) or Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst certifications, please be aware that additional costs will apply for external exams.
To take the exam, you will need to buy an exam voucher. These are prepaid unique codes which are issued by the EC-Council and CCNA that acts as payment to schedule and take the exam.
For the most up-to-date costs and any further information, please refer to the relevant vendor academy website at:
Student Finance
Students from the UK may be able to receive financial support from the Government to help fund your studies, subject to your eligibility. You can learn more about Student Finance and check your eligibility on the Student Finance website.
Additional costs
Tuition fees do not include the cost of course books you may choose to purchase, stationery, printing, photocopying, accommodation, living expenses, travel or any other extracurricular activities.
We recommend you allow an additional £200 per annum to buy some of the course texts which are around £30 each.
Requirements
Access to a laptop/PC with a microphone, speakers, webcam and a reliable internet connect is required for accessing your live online session.
Need more help?
For more information on tuition fees, student finance, and payments, please visit our Finance page.
Ready to apply?
If you are ready to apply, please complete our online application form in the links below and provide any required supporting documents (examples below):
- Your passport personal details page
- Copies of previous qualifications, including final certificates and transcripts, translated into English (if not in English)
- A personal statement (more than 250 words)
- Your CV (if required)
- Your referee details
We will assess your application and provide you with a response using the email address you have submitted with your application.
Apply for October 2026
You will be directed to a QA Higher Education portal to set up an account and complete your application.
FAQs
Our comprehensive career services team works closely with industry leaders to ensure you are job-ready upon graduation. Through dedicated mentorship, regular networking events, and mock interviews, we help bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world employment.
Graduates frequently secure roles across various high-demand sectors, including:
- Finance & Banking: Protecting critical infrastructure, transactions, and sensitive customer data.
- Government & Defence: Securing national networks and intelligence systems against state-sponsored threats.
- Healthcare: Safeguarding confidential patient records and complex medical internet-of-things (IoT) devices.
- Tech Consultancies: Delivering specialized risk assessment and penetration testing for corporate clients.
Additionally, you will receive lifetime access to our alumni network, connecting you with global opportunities and ongoing professional development.
Our curriculum is deeply rooted in practical application, ensuring you spend significant time in our dedicated, state-of-the-art cyber security laboratories. You will move beyond theoretical frameworks to actively simulate real-world cyber attacks, develop robust defense mechanisms, and analyze complex digital forensic evidence.
Throughout your studies, you will engage in various intensive practical exercises, including:
- Penetration Testing: Evaluating the security of network infrastructures by safely identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities.
- Incident Response: Developing and executing strategic containment protocols during live-simulated ransomware and malware outbreaks.
- Ethical Hacking: Utilizing industry-standard toolkits to understand the mindset, strategies, and methodologies of modern threat actors.
- Cryptographic Analysis: Implementing advanced encryption algorithms to protect sensitive organizational data across distributed networks.
Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to participate in regional hackathons and collaborative live briefs commissioned by external corporate partners. These experiences allow you to refine your technical troubleshooting abilities and critical teamwork skills, ultimately building a comprehensive digital portfolio that effectively demonstrates your technical readiness to prospective employers.
Contact us
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