Overview

This programme prepares students to tackle one of computing's most pressing challenges: the growing threat of digital crime. Delivered at Manchester Metropolitan University, it combines a foundation year that builds essential grounding in mathematics, communication and computing with three years of specialist study in defending systems, investigating breaches and understanding the tools attackers use.

What You'll Learn

• Foundational numeracy, research methods and communication skills to prepare for degree-level study

• Programming fundamentals and the building blocks of web development and databases

• Core principles of digital forensics and security fundamentals

• Ethical hacking techniques and how vulnerabilities are identified and exploited

• Network architecture, operating systems and how to secure them

• Information security management and governance practices

• Advanced and emerging topics such as network security, applied cryptography and current issues in privacy and forensics

• A collaborative team project in the early stages, followed by an independent final year project

• Optional pathways covering areas such as sustainable computing and mobile UX development

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be equipped to analyse and respond to security incidents, applying forensic techniques to investigate breaches and identify their causes. They will be able to think like an attacker in order to defend more effectively, using ethical hacking methods to uncover system weaknesses before they can be exploited. Students will gain the ability to design, secure and manage computer networks and information systems, balancing technical safeguards with organisational policy and risk management. Through sustained project work, they will also develop the research, teamwork and independent problem-solving skills needed to investigate a substantial security challenge from start to finish, along with the critical thinking required to keep pace with an evolving threat landscape.