Cyber Security & Digital Forensics

Leeds Beckett University

In an increasingly connected world, cyber-attacks are becoming more advanced and harder to detect. As digital crime evolves, organisations need professionals with the skills to investigate threats and defend against them.On this cyber security and digital forensics degree, you’ll develop the technical expertise to analyse digital evidence, uncover cyber incidents, and protect systems from attack. By combining two complementary subjects into one degree, you'll gain a solid understanding of how digital threats emerge, how investigators trace digital activity, and how organisations respond to attacks.You'll learn in dedicated facilities, through hands-on workshops, simulations, and practical lab-based learning using industry-standard forensic and security tools like EnCase, Cellebrite, Autopsy, and FTK Imager. This approach helps you build the practical experience needed to prepare for a career in cyber security and digital forensics.As part of this cyber security degree, you'll:- Investigate digital devices and analyse forensic evidence- Explore ethical hacking, penetration testing, and systems security using industry-standard techniques- Learn how organisations defend networks, systems, and data from cyber threats- Use our bespoke Hacktivity system to simulate real business systems, cyber threats, and attacks- Develop transferable analytical, technical, communication, and problem-solving skillsBy graduation, you'll be ready to pursue careers across cyber security, digital forensics, investigations, and the wider technology industry.

This course is accredited by the British Computer Society

Cyber security and digital forensics are practical, fast-moving fields – and this course reflects that. You'll learn through hands-on workshops, labs, simulations, and real-world scenarios designed to build the technical skills employers look for.

You could extend your learning and earn a master's qualification by choosing the four-year MEng Cyber Security & Digital Forensics course. Or, if you'd prefer to focus solely on cyber security, you could study our BSc (Hons) Cyber Security degree.

From ethical hacking and network security to mobile forensics and incident investigation, you'll explore the techniques used to investigate threats and defend digital systems. You'll also examine how cyberattacks happen, how organisations respond, and how digital evidence is recovered and analysed.

Your teaching team works closely with organisations, including West Yorkshire Police via the Cybercrime and Security Innovation Centre, helping connect your learning to current industry challenges and investigative practice.

You'll have the opportunity to complete a paid placement year between your second and third year, helping you gain valuable industry experience, strengthen your CV, and prepare for graduate roles.