BSc (Hons) Computer Science and Cyber Security Bachelor's degree at Loughborough University
BSc (Hons) Computer Science and Cyber Security at Loughborough University combines foundational computer science with applied cyber security, preparing you for roles across technology sectors.
About this course
Join Loughborough’s BSc in Computer Science and Cyber Security to build core computing expertise and specialist security skills for today’s digital world. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Computer Science and Cyber Security is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Loughborough University. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Computing graduates from this provider, 87% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 92% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £38,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Computer Science, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 87% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 94% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 9 modules
- Introduction to Programming and DatabasesCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to give students the basic knowledge of procedural programming and a thorough understanding of entity relationship analysis, relational database design and use.
- Computer Systems and Low-level ProgrammingCompulsory
Module details
The module aims to give students a robust mental model of how the various abstractions of computer science are realised in the architecture of a modern computer system's underlying hardware. As an introductory module, simplifying assumptions will explicitly be made wherever they are appropriate. Part of the module's goal is to make clear how a somewhat-low-level language such as C, is transformed into the machine code that will execute on a given CPU. Part of the goal is understanding the signif
- Operating Systems, Networks, SecurityCompulsory
Module details
This introductory module aims to establish the core concepts that underpin operating systems, computer networks, and their security. Wherever possible, these abstract concepts are made real, using Linux as the exemplary operating system, and Ethernet, IP4, TCP/UDP as the exemplary network stack. Except cryptography (which is addressed in other modules in later years), security is introduced as it applies to operating systems and computer networks. Virtualisation will be used to give students roo
- Logic for Computer ScienceCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to provide the student with the fundamental notions of logic and discrete mathematics that are used in computer science and artificial intelligence.
- Fundamentals of Software EngineeringCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to introduce the student to the basic concepts, principles, and skills for modern software engineering.
- Mathematics for Computer ScienceCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to introduce the student to the main mathematical concepts most frequently used in computer science.
- Introduction to AlgorithmsCompulsory
Module details
The aims of this module are to: Establish a fundamental understanding of the design and analysis of algorithms and their importance in computer science, and to introduce several important data structures. Give an appreciation of how algorithms can be designed and analysed which will aid deeper understanding of later computer science modules.
- Foundations of Artificial IntelligenceCompulsory
Module details
The primary aim of this module is to familiarize students with foundational approaches in Artificial Intelligence (AI) like search and logic-based methods. This module will also equip students to comprehend the ethical issues associated with building and operating intelligent agents.
- Object Oriented ProgrammingCompulsory
Module details
The aims of this module are for students to acquire: Essential skills on object-oriented programming principles. Skills in programming with an object-oriented programming language (e.g. Java).
Year 2 8 modules
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine LearningCompulsory
Module details
The aims of this module are threefold: To equip students with a robust theoretical understanding of the core concepts related to machine learning. To equip students to design, construct and evaluate machine learning systems, applying theoretical concepts as appropriate. To introduce students to recent advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
- Professional Training PreparationCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to enable students to understand the objectives of professional training and to obtain the basic skills necessary to acquiring and completing a placement.
- Team ProjectsCompulsory
Module details
The main aim of this module is to contribute to the development of the student's skills (subject specific and transferable) through the undertaking of group projects. Subsidiary aims will be to further the education of the student in a range of areas through the use of self-guided learning and to familiarise the student with the professional constraints and benefits of working in a small team and to strict deadlines.
- Formal Languages, Theory of Computation, and ApplicationsCompulsory
Module details
The module introduces students to the interrelated mathematical theories of computability, computational complexity and formal languages. These are then developed to show how they underpin important aspects of computer science including: a robust, formal model of algorithms; limits of computation; implications for algorithm design; parsing and processing structured data (including programming languages). The module also aims to raise awareness of a wider range of applications across mathematics
- Software Engineering: Practices and PrinciplesCompulsory
Module details
The aims of this module are to: Introduce the student to the advanced concepts, principles and skills for modern software engineering. Understand and manage the ethical dilemmas, legal and technical requirements of professional work relating to computing. Analyse the legal and regulatory requirements governing cybersecurity, considering their ethical implications and impact on professional practice.
- Computer GraphicsCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to introduce the student to basic concepts, principles and techniques for modern computer graphics.
- Mobile Application DevelopmentCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to introduce the essentials and some advanced topics in mobile application development using mainly an open source platform.
- Web Systems: Security, Architecture, DevelopmentCompulsory
Module details
The module aims to: Sensitise students to the challenges of integrating multiple different networked technologies into a properly functioning web application. Enable students to reason about trust in the various components of a web application, local and remote, and the traffic that flows between them. Equip students to design, implement and test a multi-tier web application that satisfies functional and non-functional requirements.
Final year 6 modules
- Cyber Security ProjectCompulsory
- Advanced NetworkingCompulsory
Module details
This module further strengthens a student's knowledge and abilities of computer networking and the Internet through the creation of interconnected networks.
- Cyber Risk ManagementCompulsory
- Human Factors and Cyber SecurityCompulsory
- Digital ForensicsCompulsory
- Applied CryptographyCompulsory
Modules 4 modules
- Entrepreneurship and InnovationOptional
Module details
The aims of this module are: To present a range of issues on managing entrepreneurship and innovation. To present and discuss these issues for both large multinational corporations (MNCs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To present a range of frameworks and tools in support of managing entrepreneurship and innovation. To develop relevant transferable skills.
- Enterprise Resource Planning SystemsOptional
Module details
The aims of this module are to: Introduce students to the need for enterprise-wide information systems. Introduce students to the underlying principles behind enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Provide students with experience of using a leading ERP system.
- Agent-Based SystemsOptional
Module details
The aim of this module is to introduce the student to distributed AI systems through the notion of an agent, how it can be constructed, and how multiple agents can be made to co-operate effectively with one another to solve complex AI problems.
- Algorithm AnalysisOptional
Module details
The aims of this module are to enable students to analyse the amount of resources needed to solve a given computational problem and to compare the efficiency of different algorithms for that problem.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course builds core computing expertise alongside specialist security skills for the digital age. You'll usually start with programming fundamentals, computer systems and discrete mathematics, then move into algorithms, databases, software engineering and artificial intelligence. From Year 2 onwards, you'll progress into more focused material on security, networks and threat models, with the option to specialise in areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, software engineering, systems and networks, or human-computer interaction. You'll typically complete an individual supervised project in Year 3, applying what you've learned to a substantial software build. The course structure moves from breadth to depth, giving you both foundational knowledge and specialist capability.
Who it's for
This course suits those with strong analytical and problem-solving skills who want to work in computing and security. Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent qualifications; accepted students typically had a UCAS tariff of 128–143 points. You'll need fluency in English. The course appeals to those interested in both the breadth of computer science and the specialised field of cyber security, whether you're drawn to software development, data analysis, security architecture, or emerging areas like AI and machine learning.
Careers & job market
Across Computer Science courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with 75% of working graduates in highly skilled roles or further study. National earnings data shows Computer Science graduates typically earn £25,000–£35,000 at 15 months post-graduation, rising to £29,750–£42,000 after five years. Cyber security roles are in sustained demand across public and private sectors. Your actual career path and earnings will depend on your specialism, location, and individual circumstances. Check the university's careers service for course-specific employment outcomes.
University & format
This is a 3-year full-time Bachelor's degree (BSc Hons) taught at Loughborough University, a public university founded in 1909. The course is taught in English and is a recognised UK degree-awarding body qualification, nationally recognised. Loughborough's teaching has been awarded Gold in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Access Loughborough Contextual Offer. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 98% |
| a Baccalaureate | 1% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Loughborough University →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Computer Science graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £38,000 | £30,000 – £41,000 | 40 |
| 3 years after | £38,500 | £31,500 – £50,000 | 130 |
| 5 years after | £56,500 | £41,000 – £77,500 | 130 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate / Junior DeveloperFirst engineering role · 0–2 yrs
- 2Software EngineerShipping features end-to-end · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / Lead EngineerOwning systems and mentoring · 5–9 yrs
- 4Principal / Engineering ManagerArchitecture or leading teams · 9+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Computer Science nationally
National figures for Computer Science graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Computer Science courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,820 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Information Technology ProfessionalsSOC 2020 213 · 79% of published destinations · ASHE median £55,357
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 85; response rate: 75%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Computer Science graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Boilerplate and scaffolding code
- First-pass tests and docs
- Routine debugging and refactors
- Standard data wrangling
More human than ever
- System design and architecture trade-offs
- Reviewing and owning correctness & security
- Translating fuzzy problems into software
- Leading delivery and mentoring
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Computer Science graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Tech companies
- Banks & fintech
- Consultancies
- Government (GDS) & startups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Computer Science graduates.
Software Developer Placement Programme No experience neededIT Online LearningSoftware Developer - .NET & Azure for Green Energy ProjectsOfgemSoftware Developer Backend (SFIA5)ZaiziSoftware Developer (Mobile Apps) in Guildford - ECM Selection (Holdings) LimitedJava Script WorksSoftware Developer (Contract) – Higher Education Projects (UK)Burman RecruitmentSoftware Developer – Distributed Scheduling & Workload OrchestrationCGG Services (UK) LimitedIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
87% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £38,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.9 out of 10: NSS 85.4% · in work or study 87% · continued 94%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Loughborough University
Computing across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Loughborough University
1,024 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Computer Science right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Loughborough University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Loughborough University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Loughborough University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Loughborough University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Loughborough University
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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