FDSc Cyber Security Engineer
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Two Years
- Start Date: September 2025
Are you ready to take the first step towards an exciting career in cyber security? Whether you're a recent school leaver or considering a career change, this two-year Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) offers the perfect blend of theory and hands-on experience.
Focused on training real-world skills, to an industry-agreed standard, this course helps you can graduate with the exact skillset that some of the biggest companies in the country are looking for.
Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields, with a constant need for skilled professionals. By studying FdSc Cyber Security Engineer, you're investing in a future-proof career path with lots of opportunities for advancement and competitive salaries. Whether you aspire to work for multinational corporations, government agencies, or cybersecurity firms, this degree prepares you for success in this dynamic and rewarding industry.
As an accredited HTQ course, this runs for two years with an industry-certified focus on employability and hands-on training. This programme has been carefully designed by our industry expert academics, based on standards set by professional bodies, to provide you with the skills and abilities needed to thrive in the fast-moving software industry. This means you will graduate with the skills, knowledge, behaviours, and attributes to carve out your own career, create your own opportunities, and enable you to adapt to diverse and different professional work situations and industry needs.
After graduation, you will also have the option of adding an additional top-up year for a full BSc honours degree.
In an era where cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and commonplace, the need for cybersecurity expertise has never been greater. By studying FdSc Cyber Security Engineer, you're not just gaining knowledge; you're becoming a frontline defender against cyberattacks, safeguarding sensitive data and critical systems from potential breaches. Your role as a cybersecurity professional will be crucial in protecting organisations and individuals from cyber threats, ensuring a safer digital landscape for years to come.
Beyond technical skills, FdSc Cyber Security Engineer helps develop critical thinking, communication, and leadership abilities essential for success in any field. Through engaging lectures, guest speakers from the industry, and opportunities for industry visits and conferences, you'll gain valuable insights into the practical applications of data science and develop a well-rounded skill set valued by employers worldwide.
What will I study?
Cyber Security Engineer integrates both academic and practice-based learning. Combining practical skills (with some focus on professionally relevant material from companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, or Cisco), with work-related experience and background theory. The programme is designed around several core principles including accessibility, articulation, progression, flexibility, employer involvement and partnership.
Developed around themes that have general and specific relevance to various potential employment destinations. These themes are:
- IT applications and security basics
- Computers and networks
- Website development and related applications
- Continuing personal and professional development
As an accredited HTQ course, this runs for two years with an industry-certified focus on employability and hands-on training.
This programme has been carefully designed by our industry expert academics, based on standards set by professional bodies, to provide you with the skills and abilities needed to thrive.
How will I be taught and assessed?
You will be taught by a team of expert academics and specialist professionals. Together, they use their collective experience of academia, industry, and commerce to give you the theoretical knowledge and practical skills you’ll need for your career.
The high level of industry experience on our teaching team means we can give you a real flavour of what it’s like to work in a professional environment. We encourage problem-based learning via case studies and classroom exercises throughout the modules. You’ll also benefit from small class sizes that give you a chance to develop close working relationships with other students and tutors.
Course assignments reflect real-world problems because we believe that’s the best way to learn – and it’s more fun! You’ll be taught through lectures, tutorials, practical sessions, and seminars.
A variety of assessment methods will be used as appropriate to the module, including assignments carried out in the student’s own time, in-class assignments, workshops, and presentations.
Authentic assessments which are informal and formal are provided, for example, presentations, group work, peer assessments, simulations, portfolios, podcasts, practical assignments, articles, debates, assessing skills that will be needed in the workplace like real-life scenarios, interviews, demonstrations, journals, problem-solving and difficult discussions, mirroring real-world etc. There is an assessment that is based on real-life experiences within your duties.
Informal assessments are applied throughout the delivery of teaching and basic training through stretch and challenge Q&A, quizzes, role play, presentations, peer assessment and discussions/debates.
The wider Computing Department and our Careers service also offer development opportunities that may involve placements, internships or employment in local companies.
Modules
This course has Opportunity modules.
Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers. Find out more.
You must choose 2 x 10 credit Level 4 Opportunity modules from the Opportunity module catalogue.
What are the tuition fees
Contact advice@bnu.ac.uk for more information.
What are my career prospects?
You'll graduate with a wealth of career opportunities in the field of cybersecurity, such as:
- Cyber Operations Manager
- Cyber Risk Analyst
- Intelligence Researcher
- Security Architect
- Cyber Security Analyst
- Cyber Security Operator
- Forensics & Incident Response Analyst
- Cyber Security Administrator
- Information Security Officer
- Secure Operations Centre (SOC) Analyst
- Network Intrusion Analyst, Incident Response Centre (IRC) Analyst
- Network Operations Centre (NOC) Security Analyst
Additionally, this course provides opportunities for progression to higher-level qualifications, including a BSc (Hons) Degree in Cyber Security and eventually a Masters level degree further enhancing your career prospects and opportunities for advancement.
Course leader
