BSc (Hons) Global Security with Aviation

This module aims to support learners in designing and developing a portfolio in groups, and in writing a reflective report. In the module, learners will have the opportunity to put much of the knowledge and skills that they have acquired so far on the foundation course into practice and, potentially, to make an original contribution to the development of a particular aspect in the relevant field of study.

The module is designed to select relevant information from a range of textual formats (quantitative, tabular, and graphic data, reports, textbooks, and articles) and reformulate this in written and spoken form. We will develop arguments and integrate these appropriately. This module aims to develop understanding of the processes involved in writing an academic essay and communicating an argument.

This module helps you build the core academic skills needed to succeed on the programme. You’ll learn to turn curiosity into structured research, manage your time effectively, and make the most of university resources. You’ll also begin developing clear written and verbal communication, essential for both study and your future career. By the end of this module, you will have all the essentials in place to thrive in the remainder of the course.

In this module, you’ll explore the core principles of intelligence operations, from espionage and satellite imagery to managing covert sources. You’ll trace the evolution of intelligence from early spying to modern approaches in policing, commercial security, and cyber operations. You’ll also examine the rise of open-source intelligence, where citizen analysts use public data to produce powerful insights. By the end, you’ll understand how intelligence is planned, managed, and applied, as well as gain the skills to carry out operations yourself.

Security is a broad term that means protection from harm. It can be applied to individuals, communities, businesses, nations, and to cyber space. Whilst the concept of security is as old as human life, it is only in recent decades that it has grown into a professional discipline.

This module provides a broad foundation of the key security concepts: the evolution of security, security threats, organisations’ security culture, physical protection, cyber security, security risk management, legal aspects, and the business of security. It also explains the organisational, national, and global context and the factors that influence approaches to security.

You’ll dive into the core role analysis plays in intelligence, security, and organisational resilience, discovering how structured techniques bring clarity and rigour to complex problems. Through hands-on practice with widely used analytical tools, you’ll learn to break down information, spot patterns, and build assessments that are logical, transparent, and decision ready. You’ll apply these methods to various problems in the remainder of the course.

You’ll explore why information is one of the most valuable assets in any organisation, learning about the different types of information, how it can be used, and the ways it might be lost. You’ll examine the risks of theft and leakage, and compare methods for protecting sensitive data. You’ll also bring together information and IT security to build a strong, integrated defence against modern threats. By applying cybersecurity principles to information security, you’ll understand how the two areas relate, where they differ, and how to respond effectively to evolving risks.

This module helps you build the academic and professional skills needed to succeed in higher education and in careers such as aviation, international security, the civil service, and policing. You’ll develop key academic abilities like research, critical thinking, writing, and presenting, while also gaining practical skills in time management, teamwork, problem solving, and data analysis. You’ll learn how to interpret assignment briefs, plan your work, and reflect on your personal development, with a focus on what employers value in today’s professional world.

This module explores how emerging technologies are reshaping the delivery of security at both corporate and national levels. You’ll examine key questions around the future use of technology in intelligence and resilience, the risks it introduces, and the convergence of physical and cyber domains. You’ll also consider the ethical and legal challenges of surveillance, the digitisation of risk, how to communicate risk to the public, and whether the future can truly be predicted.

This module gives you a broad foundation in global issues that shape the work of Intelligence, Security, and Resilience (ISR) professionals. You’ll explore how geopolitical, economic, environmental, technological, and social trends affect organisational resilience and security. With a focus on anticipating change, you’ll learn to interpret complex, fast-moving developments and consider how organisations can respond. By the end, you’ll understand the global context ISR professionals operate in and be ready to help shape strategic decisions.

This module explores how organisations anticipate, respond to, and recover from a range of incidents, from natural hazards to security threats. You’ll examine the impact of events like severe weather, cyber-attacks, terrorism, and insider threats—particularly within the aviation sector. You’ll also analyse how organisational culture and behaviour under pressure can influence crisis outcomes, gaining insight into how internal factors can escalate or mitigate risk.

This module gives you a detailed understanding of security challenges in the air transport industry. You’ll explore threats ranging from terrorism to cyber-attacks, and examine the procedures used to protect both passenger and cargo operations. A key focus is on ICAO’s concept of Facilitation, including the role of border forces and issues like trafficking, document fraud, and identity theft.

This module examines terrorism as a complex, controversial, and deeply impactful global political issue. You’ll examine how terrorism has evolved across regions, the conditions that fuel it, and the strategies and tactics used by terrorist groups.

You’ll review terrorists’ political strategy as well as their violent tactics, including attacks by bomb, gun, gas, knife as well as hijacking and kidnapping.

You’ll analyse media influence, the political challenges of counter-terrorism, and key events like 9/11 and the War on Terror. You’ll also explore how governments respond, through intelligence, special forces, and protective measures, while balancing security and civil liberties.

In this module, you’ll explore the major challenges of policing the digital world. Topics include cyber deviance, online radicalisation, cyber subcultures, and the risks posed by AI.

You’ll examine ideological drivers behind cyber threats and analyse how criminal activity is evolving online. You’ll also learn about countermeasures used to protect communities, businesses, and governments from cyber terrorism.

By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the complex role of policing and justice in cyberspace.

Gain real-world experience by applying your studies in a professional setting. You’ll build key skills, boost your confidence, and enhance your career prospects.

You’ll reflect on your strengths, identify areas for growth, and create a development plan with expert support.

Internships are offered annually, with options to apply for listed roles or propose your own (subject to approval). Formats include in-person, remote, or hybrid, depending on availability.

This module brings you together with peers for a series of workshops and guest lectures designed to connect your learning with real-world careers.

You’ll hear from professionals tackling current global security and intelligence challenges, take part in scenario-based exercises, and explore how your skills apply across a range of sectors. Sessions will introduce both obvious and unexpected career paths.

Each activity feeds into your reflective journal and helps you build a professional profile aligned with the skills needed for roles in intelligence, security, and resilience careers.

In this module, you’ll explore how aviation organisations develop and implement sustainability strategies. You’ll examine key drivers of sustainable policy and planning, and learn how to evaluate sustainability programmes using tools like scorecards and systems thinking.

You’ll also explore Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and ethical business practices across aviation contexts, gaining insight into how the industry can meet sustainability goals while upholding ethical standards.

In this module, you’ll explore how aviation businesses use data to improve performance, efficiency, and competitiveness. You’ll identify key financial and operational metrics and learn how to analyse large datasets to uncover insights that drive strategic decisions.

You’ll also develop essential analytical skills needed for success in the aviation industry.

In this module, you’ll apply your learning to a real-world corporate security challenge. Ideal if you're aiming for a career in corporate security or business, you’ll work in teams to research, analyse, and respond to a current issue, either proposed by you, the module leader, or a partner organisation.

You’ll explore how businesses manage risk amid competing priorities and produce a group portfolio with your analysis, insights, and recommendations.

This module prepares you to lead small teams with confidence, combining leadership theory with practical exercises based on real-world challenges. You’ll study successful leaders - past and present - and take part in workshops to develop your own leadership style.

By the end, you’ll be ready to guide teams through analytical tasks and deliver professional presentations to clients.

This module explores the real-world role of espionage and counterespionage in both statecraft and global business, far beyond the fiction of Cold War novels and spy films.

You’ll examine how espionage operates across the UK’s four security pillars: physical, personnel, technical, and cyber. You’ll examine long-standing principles and bring them to life by applying them to contemporary case studies. You will also design and plan our own theoretical operation.