BSc (Hons) Cyber Investigations with Digital Forensics (with Foundation Year) · University of LancashireBachelor's degree · 4 years
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BSc (Hons) Cyber Investigations with Digital Forensics (with Foundation Year) Bachelor's degree at the University of Lancashire

BSc (Hons) Cyber Investigations with Digital Forensics (with Foundation Year) at University of Lancashire includes a foundation year, making it accessible to those without traditional entry qualifications.

BSc (Hons)
Award
4
Years
Full-time
Study mode
75%
in work/study (15m)

About this course

Gain a broad insight into the basics of policing & investigation on our Cyber Investigations with Digital Forensics (with Foundation Year) BSc (Hons) degree From the provider’s course page.

BSc (Hons) Cyber Investigations with Digital Forensics (with Foundation Year) is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at the University of Lancashire, based in Main Campus. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.

For Computing graduates from this provider, 75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 70% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £25,000. (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.

7.4
/ 10
Strong
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Strong69

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)

Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Strong75

Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 75% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Strong78

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 78% (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.

Foundation year 10 modules
  • Academic Skills for Higher EducationCompulsory
    Module details

    Develop a range of core literacy skills to support the skill of extended writing so that you can study independently at Level 4 and beyond in a UK HEI.

  • Verbal skills: Rights and DebatingCompulsory
    Module details

    This module will help you develop effective verbal skills and build verbal confidence by participating in the planning and presentation of individual and group tasks. As well as debates on contemporary human rights/social justice issues.

  • Introduction to Law and PolicingOptional
    Module details

    This module will introduce you to the purpose of law, the English Legal System, policing and decision making in policing. It will also facilitate discussion of the interaction of law, politics, and morality.

  • Introduction to Criminology and SociologyOptional
    Module details

    Consider the influence and impact of ideas about socially constructed identities, inequalities, and crime in the context of the media's representation of marginalised groups in society.

  • Issues in Family LawOptional
    Module details

    Examine how law regulates aspects of family life, including marriage, cohabitations, ending relationships, parent-child relationships, and domestic violence.

  • Issues in SociologyOptional
    Module details

    This module will introduce and explain some selected sociological theories, which you'll apply to a case study evaluation of the relationship between health, the body, and disability.

  • Police Decisions: Risk and VulnerabilityOptional
    Module details

    Explore how the national decision-making model informs the assessment of risk and vulnerability when making decisions.

  • Policing: Digital InvestigationOptional
    Module details

    This module outlines and explains the variety of crimes that can be committed digitally and explores how these crimes are investigated using science software to analyse and gather digital evidence.

  • Issues in CriminologyOptional
    Module details

    Explore a range of criminological issues arising from the workings of the criminal justice system to enable a broad understanding to evolve of how criminology as a discipline frames issues relating to crime, criminality, and victimhood.

  • Introduction to PsychologyOptional
    Module details

    In this module, you will study cognition, development, social behaviour, and individual differences. You will attend workshops on the methods of psychology, design and analysis, memory, and testing.

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 offers a broad foundation in the basics of policing and investigation, with a focus on cyber and digital forensic methods. You'll begin with core computer science fundamentals: programming (typically in Python and Java), computer systems and architecture, and the discrete mathematics that underpins algorithms. In your second year, you'll study algorithms and data structures, databases and software engineering, and artificial intelligence and machine learning. From year 3 onwards, you'll develop deeper expertise in specialist areas such as cybersecurity, systems and networks, human-computer interaction, and data science. Throughout, the course builds towards a substantial individual project where you'll design, build and evaluate a software system. The foundation year ensures you develop essential skills in computing before moving to the honours programme.

Who it's for

This course suits students interested in digital forensics, cybercrime investigation and security. You may have A-levels or equivalent (91% of recent entrants did), though the foundation year provides an alternative entry route. If you're motivated by solving digital crime and building technical expertise in a growing field, this programme offers structured progression from fundamentals through to specialist practice.

Careers & job market

Across Computer Science courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months, with 75% in highly skilled roles or continuing their education. Starting salaries typically range from £25,000 to £35,000 (15 months post-graduation), rising to £29,750–£42,000 after five years, according to national graduate earnings data. Cyber investigations and digital forensics remain active areas within the broader technology sector. Specialisations available include Cyber Security, Software Engineering, Data Science, AI & Machine Learning, and others such as Cloud & DevOps and Web & Mobile.

University & format

This is a 4-year full-time BSc (Hons) degree studied at the University of Lancashire, a university founded in 1828 and located on its Main Campus. The course is taught in English and leads to a nationally recognised Bachelor's degree. The University of Lancashire holds Silver status for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 assessment. The degree is recognised by the UK degree-awarding body framework.

Student satisfaction

How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.

The teaching on my course
71%
Learning opportunities
75%
Assessment and feedback
68%
Academic Support
64%
Organisation and management
55%
Learning resources
88%
Student voice
62%

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.

Application timelineWhat happens next
  1. 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted

    Your application needs a reference before you can send it.

  2. 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  3. 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

  4. 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline

    18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.

Show 5 later dates
  1. 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens

    Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.

  2. 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers

    Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.

  3. 2027 entryClearing opens

    Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.

  4. 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  5. 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

Open daysAttend our next Open Day

See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.

Entry & how to get in

Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent91% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 96 - 111 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check the University of Lancashire's official course page for the current offer.

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

QualificationShare
A-levels or equivalent91%
another higher-education qualification3%
No / unknown prior qualifications2%
a previous degree1%
an Access course1%
Other1%

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Accessible entry

Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.

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.

Add your grades to see where you land

Your points will drop onto the distribution above, with an honest above / within / below read.

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.

Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesBCCA-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeFG15quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code FG15). One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write 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.

  3. 3
    Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time

    UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results 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.

💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask University of Lancashire whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.

Fees & funding

What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.

Tuition per year

Homeup to £9,790 / yr
Internationalset by the university

Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.

Check fees at University of Lancashire →

For students who normally live in England

illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 4 years

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.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All University of Lancashire funding →

Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.

Financial Support Package£500–£750 a year
Means-tested2026/27

Undergraduates from low-income households, subject to eligibility

How it worksAutomatic assessment after enrolment when Student Finance shares household-income data.
TimingNo separate application
Check eligibility →
Means-tested2026/27

Eligible undergraduate students with experience of care

How it worksApply through the Student Hub after enrolment.
TimingNine months after the academic year starts
Check eligibility →
Means-tested2026/27

Eligible undergraduate or taught-postgraduate unpaid carers

How it worksApply through the Student Hub after enrolment and provide evidence.
TimingNine months after the academic year starts
Check eligibility →
Sanctuary ScholarshipFee waiver + up to £5,000 a year
Means-tested2026/27

Forced migrants who are not eligible for student finance

How it worksComplete the university application form; an offer is not required to apply.
TimingCheck the current application form
Check eligibility →

Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.

StudyKit · free

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.

Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

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

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£25,000£24,000 – £30,00015
3 years after£24,500£19,000 – £31,500225
5 years after£28,000£21,500 – £39,000235

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

75%
in work or further study 15 months on
70%
in highly skilled work or study
78%
continue past their first year
65%
find their work meaningful
60%
say work fits their future plans
  1. 1Graduate / Junior DeveloperFirst engineering role · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Software EngineerShipping features end-to-end · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / Lead EngineerOwning systems and mentoring · 5–9 yrs
  4. 4Principal / Engineering ManagerArchitecture or leading teams · 9+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs Computer Science nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£25,000
£25,000 – £35,000
After 3 years LEO
£24,500
£23,375 – £33,000
After 5 years LEO
£28,000
£29,750 – £42,000
national rangethis course’s medianaxis £22,000 – £43,500

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.

75 of 100

were in work or further study

15 months after graduation

60% working15% working and studying0% in further study70% in highly skilled work or study

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. 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.

This course £28,000Peer median £34,500Middle 50% £29,000–£43,000
22nd percentile

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 · 40% of published destinations · ASHE median £55,357
  • Science, engineering and technology associate professionalsSOC 2020 31 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,828

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: 90; response rate: 50%. 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.

85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Computer Science courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
75%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

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.

Where they work

  • Tech companies
  • Banks & fintech
  • Consultancies
  • Government (GDS) & startups

Is 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

75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £25,000. 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 7.4 out of 10: NSS 69% · in work or study 75% · continued 78%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

University of Lancashire

All students23,865
International20.5%
Aged 25+43.6%

Computing across the UK

Students205,990
Aged 25+31.2%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Local crime-data context

A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.

Around Main Campus

2,263 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Violent Crime 753Anti Social Behaviour 464Shoplifting 194Criminal Damage Arson 169Public Order 166

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 University of Lancashire from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is set per course by University of Lancashire; 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 University of Lancashire’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 University of Lancashire and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Entry is historically accessible, accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 96 - 111 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
Set by the University of Lancashire. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For Computing graduates from this provider, 75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 70% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £25,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
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. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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