Next start date: September 2013
Degree type: BSc (Hons)
UCAS Code: GG45 BSc/EHC
Duration: 4 years (full-time)
How to Apply
Why choose this course?
How do hackers break into computer systems? Can they get into your computer? Is it easy to break into a corporate network and steal their secrets? During this course, you will be given information about the latest tools and techniques to break into systems. You will be shown how to break into web servers, steal information and how to remotely control someone’s computer. “It takes a thief to catch a thief”.
The basic aim of this course is to provide a graduate with knowledge of how illegal computer attacks can be performed and how they can be stopped.
You will study:
How you learn
You will spend around 15 hours per week in lectures, tutorials and computing lab-based activities. Lectures are used to present the key concepts, theories and techniques throughout the course. Tutorials and lab-based activities increase your understanding of the subject and allow you to develop your competence and confidence in technological and theoretical work.
How you are assessed
There is a mixed assessment strategy used on the course. Many modules are assessed through coursework – which may be continuous and may include student-led presentation. Modules in later years of the course use a mixture of coursework and formal examination.
Minimum Entrance Requirements
Higher BBBB; A Level CCC; ILC (H) BBBBB
Essential subjects: two technology-related subjects
Interview required
Criminal records check required
Overseas/EU
All applicants are required to provide certified proof of competence in English Language and the University's minimum requirements are listed here
USA Applicants - US High School Diploma along with either AP or SAT scores. If the US High School Diploma is offered with AP scores then at least two, but preferably three subjects at AP (two of which should be technology related, e.g. computing, physics) at minimum grade 3. If the US High School Diploma is offered with SAT scores, then a minimum of 600 in writing, critical reading and mathematical elements of the SAT Reasoning Test and a minimum of 600 in the relevant SAT Subject Tests (with the subjects being technology related is required).
Alternative Qualifications
Applications are generally assessed on the basis of standard school leaving qualifications such as SQA Highers or GCE A Levels. For those with alternative qualifications, consideration is given to professional qualifications or other forms of formal academic learning as well as experience gained that could provide evidence of ability to benefit from a particular course.
The successful completion of approved access courses such as the University's AHEAD programme, or those offered by further education colleges (such as those offered by Dundee College in association with the universities of Abertay, Dundee and St Andrews) provides significant evidence of ability to benefit from study at Abertay.
For further advice please use our Ask a Question section.
What our students say
“I am going into 4th year of the hacking course, and I would recommend it to anyone, the great thing about it is that it is very varied, you do a lot of security, but in order to know about security, threats, hacking etc you must know all other aspects of computing, networking, programming, program execution.”
Gary, Scotland
“I'm going into 3rd year and overall I have enjoyed the course, you learn a lot about hacking along the way (...and how to prevent). Job prospects are very wide-spread as you are covering a wide selection of computing areas and learn the threats that are related to them.”
Kieran, Scotland
Career prospects
A potentially large job market is emerging for graduates from this course. Currently, many auditors are insisting that companies must get their network penetration tested for legal purposes.
The Data Protection Act means that any network manager must take reasonable steps to protect personal data. Any company with financial considerations are also bound by banking acts. This increase in the job market for graduates is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. There is also a large job market for network management staff.
Professional accreditation
The course is accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, as meeting the educational requirement for CITP and partially meeting the educational requirement for CEng registration subject to Committee approval in 2010 and confirmation once the first cohort has graduated.
| Fee Category | September 2012 Fees |
Scholarships & Bursaries |
| Scottish and other EU students |
£1820 per year. Apply to the Student Awards Agency |
Other forms of support |
| English, Welsh and Northern Irish students |
£7000 per year (max. amount payable You can apply for financial assistance, |
Bursaries & Scholarships |
| Overseas (non EU) students |
£9975 per year. Fees may be subject to annual increase. |
Overseas Scholarships |
Fees shown are payable annually, and may be subject to increase each year.
