Overview

Cyber threats now rank among the biggest challenges facing governments, industries and individuals alike, making the work of keeping digital systems safe genuinely groundbreaking. The BSc Computer Science (Cyber Security) at Royal Holloway, University of London covers all the essentials of application development, from programming and software engineering to databases, information security and artificial intelligence, before moving into advanced cyber security topics on a specialist pathway shaped around students' own career ambitions. Students work directly with leading researchers at the world-renowned Information Security Group, learning how to identify and prevent cyber threats, understand the legal and ethical context, and build security into systems from the ground up. The course is fully certified by the National Cyber Security Centre, with teaching that combines state-of-the-art labs, summer research projects and a team software project built on Scrum-based Agile development. Students also get the chance to test their skills directly against teams from across the country in national cyber security challenges. The course suits students who want practical, industry-informed training at the cutting edge of cyber security, developing genuine transferable skills alongside technical depth. It particularly suits those aiming for high-level careers tackling real security challenges at major global companies.

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What You'll Learn

• Object-oriented programming, covering program basics, data structures, algorithms and coding best practices

• Internet services, web development technologies and the fundamental principles of network security

• Mathematical structures and methods underpinning computer science, including linear algebra, probability and statistics

• Software design and engineering, including Agile and Waterfall methodologies and industry-standard tools

• Databases, algorithms and complexity, and the design and analysis of efficient data structures

• Computer and network security, including software vulnerabilities, hacking-oriented attacks and malware countermeasures

• Security management, cryptography and their real-world application across secure systems

• A major final-year project in information security, applying skills built throughout the degree

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to apply core computer science principles alongside specialist cyber security knowledge to identify vulnerabilities and build genuinely secure systems from the ground up. They will be equipped to use cryptographic techniques and security management practices to protect digital infrastructure, understanding the legal and ethical context surrounding cyber security work. Through hands-on labs, national security challenges and a major final-year project, students will develop the practical, problem-solving and analytical skills needed to tackle real-world security threats. Graduates will leave with an NCSC-certified, industry-relevant skill set, well prepared for high-level careers defending digital systems at major organisations across finance, technology and beyond.