Practical learning builds my skills
Jennifer Sau Yan Wan is a second year Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security BSc (Hons) student in the Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing.
Overview
With high profile incidents like the WannaCry and Petya ransomware attacks making headlines in 2017, there is an increasing demand for highly trained individuals who can advise businesses and organisations, government and law enforcement agencies alike on the best ways to protect their computer networks and the valuable, commercially sensitive information stored within them.
The specialist skills and knowledge to thoroughly test the security of computer systems, make them secure and investigate properly if they are compromised are not typically taught within a standard computer science course. In contrast, our course has been developed to provide a good practical and theoretical understanding of cybersecurity, hacking, digital forensics and the underlying computer science.
Why Coventry University?
An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.
COVID-19
The University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to Covid-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedTeaching Excellence
Taught by lecturers who are experts in their fieldCourse essentials
A degree which offers you more, at no extra costAccreditation and Professional Recognition
This course is accredited and recognised by the following bodies:
Chartered Institute for IT (BCS)
Ethical Hacking and Cybersecurity MSci/BSc (Hons) was accredited by the Chartered Institute for IT (BCS) for the 2019/20 intake. Following changes which have been made to improve the courses, we are applying for re-accreditation for entrants of 2020/21 onwards. We anticipate that our application for re-accreditation will be successful. If any changes occur with respect to our accreditation related to these courses, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
Our Facilities
Cisco Lab
The Cisco lab is used for working with general networking and towards accreditation by CISCO. Optional modules allow students to work in the lab to develop skills in preparation for the CISCO certification exam.
Ethical Hacking and Cybersecurity Laboratory
Contains 84 workstations, equipped with full licenses for Forensic Toolkit 7.1 and open source security suites, in addition to a variety of software commonly used by many businesses.
Virtual Laboratories
Provide a cutting edge virtualisation environment that can be used to create entire virtual networks, complete with services, users and even attackers. Students can access this environment from anywhere on or off campus.
What our students say...
With the latest technology at hand and great tutoring, I have gained a variety of skills and deeper understanding of the latest software. Coventry University is the best choice I have ever made.
Course information
Studying Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security at Coventry University will provide you with the opportunity to learn to identify and analyse the threats posed to modern information structures and develop the knowledge and skills to be able to advise a company on how to set up secure systems.
Coventry University has over 10 years’ experience of teaching cyber security, producing graduates who have gone on to successful careers in the sector. Previous graduates have gone on to become security consultants, security engineers, penetration testers and other sector specific roles.
With a strong emphasis on practical application of academic and theoretical aspects, the course aims to teach the key skills and competencies required by a cyber security professional, using specialised physical and virtual labs.
You will cover general purpose computer systems technology and specialist security topics in the computing field, including ethical hacking, digital forensics, penetration testing, network security and cryptography. This combination aims to enable you to devise methods to test a system’s security in the future, apply appropriate defences against threats and possess the technical computing skills needed to break into systems that have vulnerabilities.
Course specification
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Modules
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
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We have been ranked joint first amongst Modern Universities in England for career prospects - Guardian University Guide 2021
In more detail...
Cybersecurity is fast becoming the most pressing and least understood problem for many individuals, businesses and nations. The landscape itself is difficult to visualise, built on layer upon layer of evolving computing equipment, networks, protocols and software. The ways in which it can be exploited are innumerable, with new vulnerabilities discovered daily.
Coventry University is committed to educating successive generations of cybersecurity researchers and experts – from developers that can write secure code, to digital forensics specialists and penetration testers.
We have garnered a reputation for teaching excellence and our current staff benefit from a mix of practical experience from industry and law-enforcement, combined with active research in cutting-edge cybersecurity. Current projects include the incorporation of cryptography into network services for centralised management, machine learning for intrusion detection, low-power security systems and the security of embedded devices and the Internet of Things.
Our current extensive links with industry have helped previous graduates to secure rewarding jobs with security companies, large corporations and government*. These relationships may also provide various opportunities for industry placements* during your studies, with previous students spending a year working for high profile security consultancy organisations such as BAE Detica, Nettitude and NCC Group.
This course is designed to give you the opportunity to equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to lead the fight against cyber criminals and keep hard-earned assets secure. It covers the essentials of computer systems architecture, programming, operating systems and databases, together with specialist topics in digital forensics, legal issues, networking, ethical hacking and computer security.
Our Activity-Led Learning (ALL) approach means your education should be hands-on; we aim to help you become familiar with penetration testing tools, encryption algorithms and forensic analysis software. You could also gain an additional industry recognised network certification through the CISCO Academy Programme (competitive application and additional costs may apply).
* Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
- Opportunity to demonstrate your portfolio of work to potential employers at the annual Coventry New Wizards Showcase.
- Option to join the CISCO Academy Programme leading to an industry-recognised CISCO Certified Networked Associate (CCNA) qualification (additional costs may apply).
- Active Computer Club that organises a range of extracurricular activities, such as LAN gaming, robot programming challenges and hackathons.
- Regular and free to attend guest lectures from current practitioners (subject to availability). In recent years, speakers have included senior professors from Sheffield, Lincoln and Birmingham universities and the European Bioinformatics Centre Cambridge.
- Support applying for short and long-term placements with technology companies to gain the experience employers desire*. Past students have worked for Microsoft UK Ltd, Intel and Accenture, as well as a range of medium sized companies in web, media and the creative industries.
* Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student. - £50m Engineering and Computing building features a large range of specialised computing laboratories in computer security, communications and signal processing, electrical, electronics and microprocessors, ethical hacking and forensic computing, together with a games and multimedia studio and open access computer facilities, featuring industry-standard software from Kali Linux to wireshark and FTK.
Your main study themes are:
- Audit and Evaluation: You will be introduced to the concepts of security audit processes as well as formal assessment methodologies. The course is designed to give you the opportunity to equip yourself with the skills to plan and perform system and penetration testing to effectively identify evidence of vulnerabilities, explain the vulnerabilities and make recommendations of how to mitigate them. The course also aims to give an in-depth understanding of intrusion detection systems for monitoring and identification of malicious activities and policy violations. You will have the opportunity to learn awareness of the aspects related to security incident response and handling, enabling you to develop the ability to evaluate and apply appropriate methodologies of managing relevant investigations.
- Digital forensics: You will be introduced to digital forensics and digital crime scene investigation, including concepts of digital evidence, digital forensic investigation methodology, legacy and current file systems essentials, registry files, password recovery, data acquisition and forensic examination of computer systems using current commercial forensic tools. You will also consider UK and European Commission rules of evidence, legislative frameworks and how the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Digital Evidence Principles (2012) govern investigations in a law enforcement and corporate environment.
- Computer security: Businesses, the public sector and private individuals increasingly rely on digital systems, which have increased their size, scope and complexity; making security and assurance significantly more difficult. There is a correlation between the advances made in computer and network technology, the increased complexity created in its usage and the rise in the level of security required. Digital security may have a strong technological component, but it also has an equally strong physical, social and ethical dimension through the people who both use it and try to subvert it. We will explore the digital security landscape, its technologies and strategies for protection to provide you with an opportunity to develop a good theoretical underpinning for assessing security requirements and preparing strategies.
- Ethical hacking: You will study different types of network and computer attack vectors and penetration tests. You should become familiar with some of the standard tools, techniques and frameworks which are used to identify weaknesses within computer systems, from scanning and finding vulnerabilities to exploitation and maintaining access.
- Legal and Ethical Context: You will be introduced to the legal and ethical landscape in which cyber security and, more generally, computer science sit. Through discussion, case-studies and debate, you will have the opportunity to examine the impact of technology on society, the opportunities and dangers of connected systems and data collection, and issues around international legislation.
- Networking: This module aims to equip you with the skills and in-depth understanding of networks and security issues for today's internetworking technologies. The use of encryption protocols, wireless network, protocol analysis, network security, network design archetypes, tunnelling and virtual private networks for protecting private traffic are introduced. You should develop a fundamental understanding of network traffic analysis used for threat detection and investigation as well as network performance and diagnostics.
- Professional Development: you will be challenged to consider the professional aspects of careers in cyber security. Through a simulated business and talks from industry professionals (subject to availability), you will have the opportunity to consider how your decisions and performance could affect a business. The course is also designed to develop your awareness of the security certifications available, as well as how to prepare for success in the recruitment process. Other concepts, such as risk analysis, business impact analysis and adversarial thinking are also introduced. Overall, the course aims to provide you with the opportunity to develop transferable skills that can be used to enhance your career options.
- Programming: You will be taught the concepts and algorithms behind programming to support you you in your use of whatever programming language that best suits the problem being faced. You will have the opportunity to develop core skills in programming by learning and applying syntax, problem-solving strategies, and theory common to most programming languages. We also examine professional practices associated with the industry, including key software development concepts such as testing code, version control, functional decomposition and event driven programming, as well as how to interact with non-technical colleagues and clients.
- Software Development: We offer a practical guide to the software development process with associated tools and techniques, such as project management. We focus on modern iterative process models using object-oriented (OO) modelling methods and tools, including techniques for requirements engineering and analysis, architectural design and detailed software design with patterns, through to software implementation and testing.
- Computer Architecture and Operating Systems: You will investigate and analyse the origin, structure and use of the fundamental components of computers, how they represent data, the operating systems (OS) used and networking approaches. You will explore basic OS concepts, such as processes, memory management, drivers and file systems. You will cover the main features of Linux, Windows, Unix and Mac OSI, among others.
• • • • • • •
The programme allows you to study full-time over three years to achieve Bachelor’s level or four years if you wish to progress to Master’s level. You may also take an optional work placement/study abroad* between years two and three.
Your course will be based on a series of lectures, with associated seminars and project based practical classes. In addition, your personal tutor will review and discuss your progress with you and will be available for advice.
Throughout the course, great emphasis is placed on the practical development of work, with a significant portion of your time being spent on assisted lab tasks, which may involve live practical hacking challenges, seminars discussing topics such as cryptography and forward secrecy or project-based classes, which may involve more in-depth work developing secure systems in hostile environments.
Regular external talks by our academic and research staff, as well as visiting lecturers (subject to availability), bring you the latest issues on a wide range of topics, which have recently covered exfiltration methods and social-engineering in banking.
We organise a wide range of optional field trips*, here in the UK or abroad, with past students visiting Bletchley Park, the central site for Britain's codebreakers during World War II, and the Internet of Things Expo in London. We also encourage you to attend the annual Securi-Tay conference, which is held at Abertay University.
*Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
How you’ll be assessed This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include formal examinations, coursework, online and in-class tests, essays, practical or project work, group work, presentations and posters.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.
Upon successful completion, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and a broad and deep understanding of the functioning of common software, platforms and systems, with the ability to build and secure such systems as well as analyse and reverse engineer their function and develop exploits for their flaws.
- Create working solutions to a variety of computational and real-world problems using an appropriate programming language (or languages) for the task.
- Understand the underlying architecture that supports the modern computer, including both traditional operating systems and modern internet-based infrastructure.
- Create software and systems that use appropriate tools, techniques, standards and best practices in order to minimise the chance of exploitable errors and be able to analyse third-party code to determine level of risk.
- Use a range of tools, from simple and general-purpose tools such as nmap and netcat, to specialist tools such as OpenVas or Metasploit, perform penetration tests on systems and networks with good coverage and professional reporting.
- Understand professional practices of the modern cyber security and wider IT industry, including technical (e.g. version control / automated testing) but also social, ethical and legal responsibilities.
- Apply a wide variety of degree level transferable skills including time management, team working, written and verbal presentation to both experts and non-experts, and critical reflection on own and others work.
- Apply the above to advanced topics selected according to your interests or module themes.
Actual teaching contact hours will vary depending on the level of study and the requirements of a particular semester. In a typical week your contact hours will be divided amongst personal tutorials and small group teaching; medium group teaching (e.g. seminars, tutorial sessions, lab sessions and workshops); and large group teaching (lectures). In addition, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study each week depending on the demands of individual modules. The number of contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 17 contact hours per week in the first and second years dropping to around 12 contact hours per week in the final year as you become a more independent learner.
In addition, you will be expected to undertake a further 20 hours of self-directed study each week eg. working on course assignments and taking part in the flipped classroom activities.
Cybersecurity is a global problem affecting all types of organisations throughout the world and, consequently, the course is international by its very nature. For example, when considering the legal and ethical dimensions of ethical hacking, we will study case studies selected from different countries and jurisdictions, such as the USA.
In the past, we have also encouraged students to participate in Online International Learning (OIL) projects in conjunction with colleagues at Middle East College and are currently developing a project with Kwantlen Polytechnic University, British Columbia.
Coventry University currently has links with many universities around the globe. To increase your employment prospects after graduation, we encourage you to study abroad* as part of your degree. Previous students have benefited from our links with universities in Europe (through the Erasmus scheme), America and Asia. Current staff on this course have links with the Emirates Aviation University in Dubai, which provides additional opportunities for collaborative work in research, module delivery, placement, project sponsorship and supervision.
* Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
Global ready
Did you know we help more students travel internationally than any other UK university according to data from the experts in higher education data and analysis, HESA?
In 2018/19, we were able to provide a total of 5,469 experiences abroad that lasted at least five days.
Much of this travel is made possible through our Global Leaders Programme, which enables students to prepare for the challenges of the global employment market, as well as strengthening and developing their broader personal and professional skills.
Explore our international experiences1st for
international experiences
Sending more students overseas than any other UK uni 2016/17
5,469
Student experiences
The number of student trips abroad for at least 5 days in 2018/19
12,000
and counting
The number of students we’ve helped travel internationally since 2016
12
global programmes
As well as trips, we offer other opportunities like language courses
Entry Requirements
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
For more information, please visit our Finance pages.
Course essentials at no extra cost
We're committed to communicating study costs clearly to make sure you're not faced with having to make any unexpected payments.
This is why our ‘Flying Start’ package provides you with a few course essentials. Your full-time fee for an undergraduate degree will cover the following:
Additional costs not included in the fees:
This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to) travel, accommodation, activities and visas.
This course may incur additional costs associated with any equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire.
Additional costs not included in the fees:
Any optional overseas field trips or visits
Optional personal computer and software
Media consumable items
EU student fees
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.
For tuition fee loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
For maintenance loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
Reduced course fees for EU students
The UK Government has confirmed that EU students who are starting their course in September 2021 and onwards will be classified as an international student. To support our EU community who are affected by this change, Coventry University are providing an EU Member State Transition Bursary.
Students ordinarily domiciled in an EU Member State who prior to the 2021/22 academic intake qualified for UK fees (home fee status), are eligible for the EU Member State Transition Bursary. This will bring fee levels for those students across the Group into line with those of UK students for courses starting in the 2021/22 academic year.
Review more details on our EU Member State Transition Award/Bursary page.
Career prospects
Graduate Immigration Route visa
Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
The practical nature of our course places an emphasis on your future employability, developing a wide range of technical, analytical, design and professional skills, many of which may be gained from placement experiences*. The technical content is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect what is currently important and in demand in industry.
In the past, students on placements* at IT security firms have engaged in real client projects, involving various aspects of penetration testing of systems and vulnerability analysis, as well as malware analysis and static and dynamic testing of programs and applications.
We place a strong emphasis on sound investigative procedures, logging and reporting, which is particularly suited to work within law enforcement agencies, as well as consultant organisations. You’ll also have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of different operating systems and a number of investigative, development and hacking tools.
Our faculty’s employability and placements unit the Talent Team, which won the ‘Best Placement Service in the UK’ award at the National Undergraduate Employability Awards in 2015 and 2016, will help you in finding work experience* while you study and employment on graduation.
Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university’s Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.
* Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
Where our graduates work
Previous graduates have found employment in ethical hacking and penetration testing roles, malware and software security analysis, telecoms security, digital forensics and evidence gathering, network and security administration within organisations, government organisations and insurance companies. Others have gone on to pursue more general computing careers in other areas of IT.
What our students say...
After attending an open day I was impressed with the approachability and experience of the lecturers, and the employability factor was a big sell. It was clear from speaking to the EEC Futures team that they were genuine about looking after the best interests of students and helping them get a great career at the end of their studies. With ongoing support from the EEC Futures team and a bit of luck, I almost jokingly applied to Microsoft for my placement year. I never imagined I’d make it all the way and actually be offered a placement. At every stage of the process EEC Futures provided ongoing advice and support, from CV writing and interview techniques to preparing for the applicant day.
Disclaimer
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2021/22 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
