A student studying with a red laptop.

BSc(Hons) Cyber Security and Digital Forensics

Entry year
2024/25
Course code
G4H4
Application
UCAS
Level
Undergraduate
School
School of Computing and Creative Technologies
Tariff points
112
Campus
Frenchay
Duration
Three years full-time; four years sandwich
Delivery
Full-time; sandwich
Programme leader
Dr Aida Abzhaparova and Jay Murphy

This course is open for applications.

Page last updated 11 March 2024

Introduction

Play an important role helping organisations manage cyber-attacks and investigate digital evidence.

Why study cyber security and digital forensics?

Cybercrime is on the increase and set to keep growing as technology becomes more widespread.

High-level security breaches have led government, public services and corporations to dedicate more resources to computer security.

Meanwhile, digital forensics is providing a wealth of material for law enforcement for the police and businesses.

This has led the UK government to highlight an urgent need for skilled graduates in forensic computing.

Why UWE Bristol?

Develop computer programming and database skills and expand your knowledge of computer networks, systems and the legal environment you'll operate in.

Gain vital professional skills, such as using industry standard forensic and security tools. Build your industry network and knowledge at presentations from visiting professionals.

Apply what you've learnt to practical projects, including investigating computer crimes and assessing the integrity of forensic data and computer security systems.

High demand for your skills will enable you to choose a placement from a range of specialisms.

Where can it take me?

Choose from careers in government and the private or public sector.

Roles can be within forensics and security teams, legal practices or the police and related organisations.

Structure

Content

The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.

Year one

You'll study:

  • Programming in C++ 
  • Computer and Network Systems
  • Introduction to Databases
  • Computer Crime and Digital Evidence.

Year two

You'll study:

  • Operating Systems
  • Data Science for Cyber Security
  • Security and Forensic Tools
  • Secure Computer Networks.

Plus, one optional module from:

  • Internet of Things
  • Secure Embedded Systems.

Placement year (if applicable)

If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after Year two.

You'll complete the Professional Experience module.

See the placements and fees sections for more information.

Final year

You'll study:

  • Security Management in Practice
  • Cyber Security Project
  • Global Landscapes of Cyber Security and Adversaries
  • Forensic Computing Practice.

Plus, two* optional modules from:

  • Digital Evidence - Crime Scene to Court Room
  • Cyber Security Engineering
  • Cyber Security Consultancy.

*If you complete the placement (sandwich year) you'll only study one of these modules.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.

Learning and Teaching

We encourage you to become a proactive, independent learner.

Learn through a mix of face-to-face lectures and tutorials, virtual learning environments, laboratory-based practical work, and independent project work.

Attend regular lectures with industry experts. Past speakers have included Avon and Somerset High Tech Crime Unit, Fujitsu, Hewlett Packard and Price Waterhouse Coopers.

To help you apply for graduate work, we arrange for employers to visit and give you advice on CV writing and interview techniques.

See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Approximate percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities*:

YearScheduled learning and teaching studyIndependent studyPlacement study
131%69%0%
225%75%0%
317%83%0%

*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year.

Compete and learn

Enter national competitions and undertake challenges so you can apply your skills and build an industry profile.

Past students have achieved success in the Cyber Security Challenge UK.

Assessment

You'll be assessed through a mix of exams, individual and group coursework, presentations and project activities.

Learn more about assessments.

Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:

YearWritten exam assessmentCoursework assessmentPractical exam assessment
112%58%30%
228%59%13%
336%49%15%

*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year

Features

Placements

Experience hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you highly employable on graduation.

If you choose the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after year two.

Past students have worked in police High-Tech Crime Units, while others have gained experience testing the security of networks or collecting data to support legal cases for Ernst and Young.

Study facilities

Experiment and develop vital professional skills in our modern facilities.

Gather and evaluate forensic evidence using industry-recognised software such as EnCase and Autopsy in our well-equipped computer labs.

Analyse viruses and attempt to hack systems in our dedicated isolation lab. Develop and test networks using our specialist networks labs.

Our mix of traditional and creative learning environments will enable you to learn essential knowledge and real-world skills, standing you in good stead for your professional career.

Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.

Take a Virtual Tour of the Computer Science and Creative Technologies facilities and see what's on offer here for you.

Life

Accommodation

An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.

Bristol

A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.

Sports, societies and activities

There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.

Health and Wellbeing

We provide support in the way you need it.

Campus and facilities

Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.

Careers

Careers / Further study

As a graduate, you'll be highly employable. Organisations often approach us for graduates, due to the skills shortage in this field.

Most of our students are in employment within six months of graduating.

Choose from a range of careers in the private or public sector. Opportunities include working for in-house forensics, e-discovery and security teams, legal practices or the police.

Get inspired

Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.

We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.

Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.

Fees

Supplementary fee information

Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.

You'll apply for funding each year that you study and student finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the four year course and then transfer to the three year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.

Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.

Learn more about funding.

Additional costs

Additional costs are for items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.

Learn more about costs.

Entry

Typical offers

  • Tariff points: 112
  • Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
  • GCSE: Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
  • English Language Requirement:

    International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

    *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Please visit our English language requirements page.

  • A-level subjects: No specific subjects required.
  • EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required. Please list the units you are taking in your application. For further advice on acceptable units please email us.

    For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.

  • Access: No specific subjects required.
  • Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required.
  • Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
  • T Levels: No specific subjects required.

Entry requirements

If you don't meet the entry requirements, you may be eligible for BSc(Hons) Cyber Security and Digital Forensics with Foundation Year.

International applicants

For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the country information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.

If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our pre-sessional English Programme.

Read more about entry requirements.

How to apply

Read more about undergraduate applications.

Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.

For further information

Unistats

UWE Main Campus

Full Time

You may also be interested in