BSC (HONOURS) Cyber Security with Forensics at Sheffield Hallam University

• Develop the skills to design and secure complex information systems.
• Learn to respond appropriately to security incidents by gathering evidence and gaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory environment around complex information systems.
• Use the latest digital forensics software and technologies, employed in industry including Encase, Magnet Axiom and IEF, FTK, X-Ways, Nuix, Cellebrite UFED Physical Analyser and UFED 4PC.
• Have the opportunity to gain industry certifications such as the Cellebrite Certified Operator (CCO) certification and the Nuix Workstation Forensics Practitioner Foundations and Core certifications.

The course is accredited by the British Computer Society, and accordingly includes a number of topics fundamental to all computing studies, including principles of security, computing, architecture and networking, databases and programming.

Work placements

In the third year, you will have the opportunity to take a year-long paid work placement. This gives you a real-world experience to apply your knowledge and skills in industry, preparing you for your future career.

Organizations are looking for experienced staff, and a work placement in industry will provide you with the experience added to your CV in order to secure a desirable security and forensics related position in a competitive job market. Our dedicated placement team will support you through the application process.

During the placement year, you will be mentored by a member of academic staff, who will visit you at your placement. Previous students have worked at organizations including

• Regional Cyber Crime Unit
• HSBC
• CYFOR
• 3Squared
• Satisnet
• Next
• Sec-1

Live projects

Our students have the unique opportunity to apply the knowledge that they are gaining from the course by working with local organisations and businesses. We work in partnership with the North East Business Resilience Centre (NEBRC), which is a non-profit organisation aiming to support and help protect regional businesses from cyber crime, by employing our students to deliver specialist services during their studies. The NEBRC was established in 2019, funded by a variety of Private and Public Partners including the Police, as well as a wide range of business investors and members across England.

Networking opportunities

We are a member of the Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec) Academic Partner Programme which accredits our course to industry standard, providing opportunities to collaborate and ensure the effective promotion of information security professionalism to academics and students. The CIISec is the only pure play information and cyber security institution to have been granted Royal Charter Status. This partnership supports our students to create contacts and develop their network within the cyber security community as well as access to a world-class speaker track and network with prospective employers.

We host a range of events and training sessions to provide the networking opportunities for students and employers.

Future careers

This course prepares you for a career as a

• cyber security analyst
• digital forensics consultant
• security consultant
• information security analyst

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for

• dedicated security and forensics companies
• law enforcement agencies
• large-scale businesses and industries