Cyber Security and Computer Forensics (Hons) Canterbury Christ Church University

Overview

There has never been a better time for you to enter the computer forensics and cyber security profession. A recent report issued by Parliament on Cyber Security Skills and the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure identified a UK crisis resulting from a high demand and low supply of talent. Brexit and Covid-19 has resulted in an increase in Cyber crime activities. 

What you'll study

During the Cyber Security and Computer Forensics (Hons) degree at Canterbury Christ Church University, you'll study specialist computing forensics and security topics, such as tracing online evidence, structure of popular file systems, recovery of digital artefacts and cybersecurity threats alongside broader computing topics.

All through the course, you'll experience through hands-on learning from on and off campus and on-line learning. You will collaborate on group projects, typically sourced from industry or akin to problems in industry. Your groupwork will be supported through the use on-line tools and on-line project management solutions. You'll also develop skills enabling you to:

• work effectively and supportively in diverse and inclusive groups
• communicate effectively in groups and one to one
• apply project management to group-work
• apply principles of commercial management and consideration of wider issues.

Each year builds on previous knowledge and understanding to reach an advanced standing in the area and you'll be supported and encouraged to develop as an independent thinker and solution finder.

You'll be working in the Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems along with programming languages such as C#, Bash and Python. A mixture of forensic and security tools such as Autopsy Forensic Browser, EnCase, X-Ways, FTK, XRY, Cellebrite, Metasploit, nmap and Wireshark will be used.

In the final year, you'll undertake a substantive piece of research in the Individual Study module. This will allow you to demonstrate your capabilities across the whole range of activities that you have been taught in the previous years as well as research new elements; this may include development of a small software artefact. You will also study some advanced areas in the field.

You will have the opportunity to take a placement in your third year, providing you meet the requirements. If you can identify and secure a placement opportunity, with the support from the computing team. A placement will provide you with the further opportunity to develop your skills as a practicing computing professional, a personal development plan and evidence of your abilities for your future employers. 

Allowing you to put your classroom knowledge into practice in Computer Forensics/Security in order to consolidate your skills and to enhance your employability prospects. There is compelling research by Jones, Green and Higson (2015) that shows that students who undertake placements also tend to perform more strongly academically on return from their placement in their final year of study.

Your future career

As well as a breadth of technical skills, you will develop hugely important professional skills to enable you to engage successfully with employers and their business. The option to take a year in industry as part of your degree provides an immersive experience for you to enrich your technical and professional skills further.

Areas of work for the computer forensic/cyber security professional include, but are not limited to digital forensic investigation in law enforcement, the intelligence services (MI5), consultancy, financial services or healthcare. Staff at Canterbury Christ Church have real-life experience in all of these areas and are well placed to advise what practitioner life is really like at the operational end of cyber security work.

You will also have a strong grounding for further study on specialist Masters or Research (MPhil/PhD) programmes. This degree will stand you in good stead to work towards professional qualifications with a number of commercial providers and also those of the British Computer Society.