Course modules
Final year (national level 6)
Applied Research and Development (30 credits)
Curious how cutting edge research drives innovation and solves real world problems? This module equips you with essential research skills to explore current literature, identify gaps, and develop robust solutions related to your field of study. You’ll conduct a substantial independent research project, potentially publishable, that combines technical expertise with innovative thinking, creating systems, applications, frameworks, or experiments. You’ll have the chance to propose your own project, collaborate with industry partners, or work alongside academic staff to develop specialist knowledge. Along the way, you’ll build strong communication and critical thinking skills, learn to manage complex projects independently, and engage in scientific discussions and peer review processes.
Advanced Cybersecurity (30 credits)
How do cybersecurity professionals stay one step ahead in a world of constantly evolving cyber threats? This module offers a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity principles, threats, and defences to prepare you for the modern digital security landscape. You’ll learn how hackers operate and how security experts protect systems, exploring complex challenges like Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) and information warfare that impact businesses, governments, and global security. Through practical experience with tools such as firewalls, encryption, and intrusion detection systems, you’ll gain skills to identify vulnerabilities across web applications, operating systems, networks, and software. The module also covers the limitations of security technologies and strategies to mitigate risks. By the end, you’ll be ready to tackle real world cybersecurity challenges and pursue careers in cybersecurity analysis, threat intelligence, and ethical hacking.
Enterprise Networks (30 credits)
Ever wondered how global data traffic is managed across massive enterprise networks and the internet? In this module, you’ll explore how Exterior Gateway Protocols (EGPs) enable large organisations and internet service providers to route IP traffic efficiently and securely across the globe. You’ll learn how EGPs support complex routing policies, control traffic flow between large scale networks, and ensure scalability for growing infrastructure. The module also covers how WAN technologies and service-level agreements support enterprise connectivity, while also diving into security best practices for protecting inter-organisational communication.
Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking (30 credits)
Ever wondered how cybersecurity professionals think like hackers to protect systems? This module introduces you to the world of ethical hacking and penetration testing, showing you how to legally and responsibly identify vulnerabilities in real world systems. You’ll learn how attackers operate and how to stop them, such as by performing live security tests, vulnerability scans, and exploitation exercises. Alongside practical skills, you’ll explore the legal, ethical, and compliance frameworks that govern penetration testing. You'll work with industry standard tools and techniques used by professional ethical hackers, gaining in demand skills for careers in cybersecurity, ethical hacking, and security analysis. By the end, you’ll know how to think like an attacker, but act like a defender, with the confidence to help organisations stay secure in a rapidly evolving digital world.