Cyber Security with Foundation Year

At least 3 GCSEs including

• GCSE Maths, Grade C or Grade 4 or above. 

• GCSE English, Grade C or Grade 4 or above. 

If you don't hold GCSEs, we accept 45 credits at Level 2 or equivalent.

If your qualifications are older than 3 years we also ask to see a professional CV.

We strive to support students to succeed, whatever their background, and we encourage you to apply to study with us even if you don’t meet the academic requirements.

We view all applications holistically – and will consider a minimum of 12 months professional work experience (evidenced with a CV and reference) if you don't meet the academic entry requirements.

You'll also be required to submit a motivation letter that outlines:

• your motivations for choosing this course

• how your work experience has prepared you for the Foundation Year course

• how the course aligns with your career goals.

Thinking of transferring institutions or have you studied before? Your prior learning could mean you're exempt from some modules, bringing you closer to your goals.

Unlock the value of your past learning and experience with our recognition of prior learning process. Simply consult with our Study Advisers, and submit a recognition of prior learning form alongside your application.

If you’re a mature student and you don’t meet our entry criteria, you may be eligible to enrol through our mature student process.

You may be required to submit a CV and a short supporting statement of 500 to 600 words. This should set out why you want to study this programme and how it will support your career plans.

We also consider a variety of qualifications including Functional Skills Qualifications, BTEC Firsts and National Vocational Qualifications.

Overseas qualifications may be accepted, and will be subject to evidence of equivalency normally verified through ECCTIS (UK ENIC).

If you’re a non-native English speaker, you’ll be asked to provide proof of your English language proficiency in one of the following forms.

Alternatively, you may be accepted if you have previously studied in English at an appropriate level and attended a recognised institution.

IELTS grade of 6.0 overall or above, with no element below 5.5.

An online English test is offered (SPEEXX) if IELTS not available. 

TOEFL minimum 80 points.

Trinity College ISE – ISE III at minimum pass. Please note that Trinity College ISE academic results are only valid for two years.

Duolingo English test minimum 95 points. Take Duolingo’s online English test. It takes just 45 to 60 minutes, and you’ll receive your results within two days. You can then send your certificate to us.

Cambridge Certificate minimum B grade overall.

• Foundations of learning

  Explore basic skills essential for successful learning and future studies, including effective communication, time management, and goal setting.

• Academic integrity and writing for business

  Develop the foundational skills required for academic writing and integrity, focusing on referencing, plagiarism avoidance, and business communication.

• Personal career plan

  Identify core strengths and career planning, aiding in the development of personal branding and understanding job search strategies.

• Elective: Foundation Year: (see Electives: Foundation Year)

• Applied learning strategies

  Enhance learning strategies to strengthen self-study skills, advance communication abilities, and improve competency in dealing with challenges.

• Maths foundations – tech related track

  Focus on refreshing essential mathematical concepts necessary for further technical education and everyday professional use.

• Digital skills – tech related track

  Understand digital transformations and their implications across various sectors, enhancing necessary digital skills for a technology-driven career.

• Project: innovation and investigation

  Apply all learned skills in a comprehensive project, tailored to your field of study, to innovate and investigate real-world challenges.

• Operating systems, computer networks, and distributed systems

  Gain foundational knowledge of operating systems, networking, and the construction and operation of distributed systems.

• Introduction to programming with Python

  Learn Python programming basics, important libraries, and their applications in data science and general programming tasks.

• Mathematics: Analysis

  Dive into the fundamentals of mathematical analysis, essential for problem-solving in technology and engineering fields.

• Statistics - probability and descriptive statistics

  Develop an understanding of the basics of probability, statistical analysis and their applications in real-world data interpretation.

• Collaborative work

  Develop skills for effective teamwork and collaboration, focusing on communication, diversity, and conflict resolution in professional settings.

• Fundamentals of data protection and cyber security

  Explore key concepts, laws, and strategies in data protection and cyber security to safeguard information and systems.

• Introduction to network security

  Understand network security basics, protocols, common threats and protection strategies to secure networked computer systems.

• System pentesting basics

  Learn the fundamentals of system penetration testing, including testing strategies, common vulnerabilities, and protective measures.

• Introduction to academic work for IT and Technology

  Develop skills for scientific thinking and academic work tailored to IT and technology disciplines.

• Algorithms, data structures, and programming languages

  Deepen understanding of algorithms, data structures, and programming methodologies critical for efficient software development.

• Theoretical computer science and mathematical logic

  Explore the theory underpinning computer science applications, focusing on logic, computation theories, and process modelling.

• Secure software development

  Learn to integrate security at every phase of the software development lifecycle, emphasising secure coding practices and vulnerability management.

• Cryptography

  Study the principles and practices of cryptography to secure communication and protect data from theft and tampering.

• Host and digital forensics

  Examine methodologies for digital forensics investigations, focusing on tools, techniques, and legal considerations.

• Elective A (see Electives A section below)

• Elective A (see Electives A section below)

• Information security standards

  Study the frameworks and standards that govern information security practices and assess their implementation in organisations.

• Seminar: Ethical considerations in data science

  Engage in deep analyses of ethical issues in data science, with discussions on bias, privacy, and societal impacts.

• Elective B (see Electives B section below)

• Elective B (see Electives B section below)

• Elective C (see Electives C section below)

• Elective C (see Electives C section below)

• Undergraduate (bachelor) thesis

  Apply your comprehensive Cyber Security knowledge to tackle a theoretical or empirical problem, presenting your findings in an academic dissertation.

• Foundations of academic English

  Essential for international students, this module covers academic writing skills, focusing on grammar and coherence in professional writing.

• Skills for business

  Immerse in the practical aspects of business communication including crafting emails, managing business meetings, and delivering effective presentations.

• Developing a business mindset*

  Learn to build and maintain a business mindset through practical exercises on various aspects such as managing failures and understanding financial basics.

• Business ethics

  Study the integration of ethical considerations in business, focusing on social justice and sustainability.

*Please note, this elective will be available to study from April 2025.

• IT Law

  Understand the legal aspects of IT practice, including copyright, data protection, and compliance issues across different jurisdictions.

• Intercultural and ethical decision-making

  Explore how cultural and ethical considerations influence decision-making in international and diverse organisational contexts.

• Artificial intelligence

  Study the development, applications, and ethical considerations of artificial intelligence technologies.

• Project: AI excellence with creative prompting techniques

  Apply AI and machine learning techniques to real-world problems, emphasising creativity and ethical considerations.

• Social engineering and insider threats

  Learn strategies to mitigate risks posed by social engineering and insider threats through technical and organisational measures.

• Project: social engineering

  Discover how to combat social engineering attacks and insider threats to enterprise IT systems, exploring the 'Human Factor' and technical tools, to robust security policies and awareness campaigns.

• Self-arranged internship I (*)

  Gain practical and analytical skills by securing and completing an internship, enhancing your employability. In preparation tutorials, explore workplace dynamics and set personal goals for your placement.

• Self-arranged internship II (*)

  Building on your first experience, this self-arranged internship lets you apply academic skills in a business environment. Focus on refining your communication, problem-solving, and time management skills.

*You'll be responsible for arranging a suitable internship for your field of study. Once arranged, please complete an application to the internship module via myCampus, to make sure your internship can be recognised and credited towards your course requirements.

Data analysis and business intelligence

• Advanced data analysis

  Explore advanced techniques in data analysis, including machine learning, business intelligence, and text mining.

• Project: data analysis

  Undertake a real-world data analysis project, applying advanced analytical techniques to solve specific business problems.

IT operations and project management

• IT service management

  Discover best practices in IT service management, focusing on the delivery and support of IT services that meet business demands.

• Project: IT service management

  Implement IT service management solutions in a real-world project, applying theoretical knowledge to practical challenges.

Software engineering

• Techniques and methods for agile software development

  Explore agile methodologies and their application in software development projects, emphasising rapid delivery, and continuous improvement.

• Project: agile software development

  Implement a real-world software development project using agile techniques, emphasising team collaboration, iterative development, and customer feedback.

Cloud programming and computing and data engineering

• Cloud programming

  Learn about programming in cloud environments, focusing on developing, deploying, and managing applications that leverage cloud infrastructure.

• Cloud computing

  Gain insights into cloud computing architectures, service models, and deployment strategies, which are pivotal in harnessing the power of cloud technologies.

Future threats and IT security consulting

• Requirements engineering

  Explore how to effectively gather and specify system requirements, a critical step in the development of IT systems and applications.

• Threat modelling

  Study methods for identifying and mitigating potential threats in software or system architecture, crucial for cybersecurity planning.

Pentesting and host forensics

• Principles of ethical hacking

  Understand the methodologies used in ethical hacking to identify and rectify security vulnerabilities in networks and systems.

• Project: pentesting

  Conduct a penetration testing project, applying ethical hacking techniques to identify security weaknesses in a controlled environment.

Data analysis and business intelligence

• Business intelligence

  Study the strategies and technologies used for data analysis and business information gathering, crucial for making informed business decisions.

• Project: business intelligence

  Develop a business intelligence solution, applying analytical and problem-solving skills to a real-world business scenario.

IT operations and project management

• IT project management

  Master the essentials of project management within IT contexts, focusing on methodologies, tools, and techniques to deliver successful projects.

• IT architecture management

  Explore strategic management of enterprise IT architecture, focusing on aligning technology with business goals and optimizing infrastructure.

Software engineering

• Seminar: software engineering

  Engage in an in-depth discussion on advanced topics in software engineering, enhancing your understanding and skills through rigorous academic debate.

• Project: software development

  Execute a comprehensive software development project, from design to deployment, applying modern development methodologies and technologies.

Cloud programming and computing and data engineering

• Data engineering

  Delve into the field of data engineering, learning about big data ecosystems, data pipeline design, and data storage solutions.

• Project: data engineering

  Tackle a hands-on project in data engineering, designing and implementing data infrastructure to support large-scale data processing.

Future threats and IT security consulting

• Technical and operational IT security concepts

  Explore the depth of technical and operational security strategies to protect organisational IT systems from cyber threats.

• Project: configuration and application of SIEM systems

  Design and implement a security incident and event management system, integrating security monitoring tools into an IT infrastructure.

Pentesting and host forensics

• Static and dynamic malware analysis

  Learn techniques for analysing malware through static and dynamic methods to understand its behaviour and mitigate its impact.

• Seminar: sandbox interpretation

  Analyse security sandbox logs to extract actionable information, enhancing your skills in cybersecurity forensics and incident response.