Cyber Security and Forensic Computing

Cyber security and forensic computing together address the two sides of an increasingly critical professional field: protecting digital systems from attack, and investigating what happens when those protections fail. Cyber security is concerned with identifying and remediating vulnerabilities in systems, networks, and applications, and with developing the defensive architectures and policies that organisations rely on. Forensic computing applies systematic investigative techniques to digital evidence, recovering and analysing data in ways that can support legal proceedings.

Both disciplines require technical depth, analytical rigour, and a thorough understanding of how adversaries think.

At Portsmouth, you will investigate cyberattacks, expose flaws in security systems, and develop the ethical hacking skills needed to secure the operating systems of global companies. You will become expert in malware forensics and cryptography, and you will learn to apply these skills in a world that relies on computing to function. The programme includes a sandwich placement year and a year abroad, both of which provide extensive professional and international experience, alongside embedded work placement opportunities.

The degree runs over three years full-time, with a typical entry tariff of 120 points.

Graduates of cyber security and forensic computing programmes work as penetration testers, security analysts, incident response specialists, digital forensics investigators, and cyber security consultants across finance, defence, law enforcement, and technology. The demand for graduates with this combination of skills is strong and growing, as organisations of all sizes confront escalating security threats. Many graduates pursue professional certifications alongside their careers, and postgraduate study in cyber security, forensic computing, or information security is a natural route for those who want to develop deeper expertise or move into research.