Computer Science and Cyber Security

Why choose this course?
In a rapidly expanding digital age, safeguarding our data is of vital importance. Our focus in this programme is to develop strong computer science skills, learn how to safeguard our data and how to respond to cyber threats. In a constantly evolving threat landscape, we believe it is vital for our students to be forward-looking, innovative and to have the opportunity to personalise their studies to reflect their interests.

Beyond the classroom, you will gain from our strong partnerships with industry, both locally and internationally, ensuring you graduate with the skills to thrive in one of the world’s most critical fields.

Our BSc in Computer Science and Cyber Security sits within our renowned School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering and our outstanding Surrey Centre for Cyber Security.

The Surrey Centre for Cyber Security is a designated Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research. The University, meanwhile, has been recognised as a gold-standard Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education. Both accreditations were awarded by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which is a part of the Government Communications Headquarters.

This means your teaching will be informed by world-class research conducted by nationally and globally rated experts in the subject. You’ll also benefit from our strong links with local and international industry.

We’re preparing you for the future by integrating AI into every course, building digital skills, confidence and creativity that employers value in tomorrow’s workplace.

What will you study?

Our degree will equip you with the skills to develop your understanding of the concepts and principles behind modern computing systems. You will gain the right balance of knowledge and skills to design, implement, troubleshoot and secure software systems to a professional standard. You will also acquire skills to assess risk in systems and understand how businesses design, develop and deploy systems in the context of being able to analyse the business impact of security breaches.

You’ll explore a wide range of topics, including:

• Cyber Security

• Software Engineering

• Internet scale systems

• Privacy Enhancing Technologies

• Ethical Hacking

• Distributed Systems

• Artificial Intelligence threats for Cyber Security

In your first year, shared with the BSc Computer Science programme, you’ll build a strong foundation in object-oriented programming and database systems. This knowledge is brought to life in structured, hands-on lab sessions, where you’ll gain real-world experience using industry-standard tools and practices, preparing you to thrive in both academic and professional environments.

Building on the solid mathematical foundations of Year 1, covering topics such as algebra, calculus, logic, and probability, you’ll advance in Year 2 into the practical world of algorithms, parallelisation, and artificial intelligence, tackling challenges of increasing complexity.

In Year 2, you’ll start to specialise in cyber security, preparing you for a placement year. Modules in Year 2 equip students with a mix of technical and transferable skills that mirror industry demands. You’ll acquire a deep understanding of cyber security theory, including cryptographic principles and network security protocols through modules such as Computer Security and Computer Networks Security.

In Year 3, you’ll deepen your cyber security expertise through advanced optional modules in network security, ethical hacking, digital forensics, formal verification, and privacy-enhancing technologies. These modules build practical skills in cyber defence, vulnerability testing, forensic analysis, and secure system design.

Course Modules

To see the full range of modules for this course please visit our website – the link is under the Course contact details. You will also find full details of the programme, including programme structure, assessment methods, contact hours and Graduate prospects.