Computer Science with Cyber Security with Foundation Year

Computer science with cyber security addresses one of the most urgent challenges in the digital world: how to build, maintain and protect systems, networks and data against the growing range of threats that malicious actors direct at them. Understanding how to attack and defend computer systems requires a thorough grounding in computer science itself, including algorithms, software engineering, networks and operating systems, alongside specialised knowledge of security principles, cryptography, vulnerabilities and the defensive and offensive techniques that security professionals use.

The University of Huddersfield offers this four-year full-time programme, which incorporates a foundation year at the start to ensure all students have a secure grounding in the mathematical reasoning, programming fundamentals and academic skills that the degree builds on. The main degree develops core computer science content alongside specialist cyber security topics, including network security, ethical hacking, digital forensics, malware analysis, secure software development, security governance and risk management. A sandwich year in industry is incorporated into the programme, giving you extended professional experience in a security or technology organisation before your final year, alongside embedded work placement experience.

Huddersfield's applied orientation means the curriculum is shaped by the real demands of industry as well as by academic rigour.

The degree develops technical proficiency across both computer science and security, the analytical thinking needed to identify and reason about vulnerabilities, and the professional competencies that security roles demand. Hands-on experience with security tools and environments is central to the programme.

Graduates enter careers as security engineers, penetration testers, digital forensics analysts, security operations centre analysts, security consultants and network security specialists across the financial, healthcare, defence, technology and public sectors. The combination of computer science foundations and cyber security expertise is in very high demand. Postgraduate study in cyber security or computer science is a natural option for those wishing to specialise further.