Computer Science with Cyber Security
Computer science with cyber security combines the fundamental principles of computing with specialist knowledge of how to protect digital systems, data, and networks from attack. Cyber security has become one of the most pressing concerns in modern society, affecting governments, businesses, critical infrastructure, and individuals, and the demand for skilled professionals who can defend against increasingly sophisticated threats significantly outstrips supply. This four-year full-time programme at the University of Southampton gives you the digital skills and industry experience to protect companies and governments from the rapidly increasing threat of cybercrime, at a time when your skills will be in high demand because of a global shortage of qualified professionals.
You will build strong foundations in programming, algorithms, systems, networks, and software engineering, then develop specialist expertise in cryptography, network security, malware analysis, penetration testing, digital forensics, and the governance frameworks that organisations use to manage information security risk. Southampton is a research-intensive university with strong links to industry, and the programme reflects both current academic thinking and real-world professional practice. The four-year structure gives you time to develop genuine depth in both the computer science foundations and the security specialism.
Graduates from this programme are exceptionally well placed in the job market. Cyber security analysts, penetration testers, security architects, threat intelligence analysts, digital forensics investigators, and security engineers are all in high demand across the private sector, government, defence, and law enforcement. The breadth of the computer science foundation also means you retain the option of working in software engineering, data science, or systems development if your interests evolve.
Postgraduate study in cyber security, information security management, or related research fields is also an option.