DN Colleges Group
UCAS Code: DTCS | Higher National Certificate - HNC
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
University Campus Doncaster’s Cyber Security Pathway is part of the Institute of Technology, and you will be awarded a BTEC Higher National Certificate.
This employer-led programme equips you with essential knowledge and practical skills to protect and secure digital systems. This pathway is ideal for those who aspire to become professionals at the frontline of defending organisations from cyber threats.
Why Choose This Cyber Pathway?
Cyber security continues to be one of the most in-demand and rapidly evolving sectors in digital technology, with threats increasing in both complexity and frequency. This pathway blends theory with hands-on experience, giving you a comprehensive understanding of cybercrime, vulnerabilities, threat actors, and incident response. You'll explore core concepts such as network security, applied cryptography, and information security management, all grounded in real-world scenarios to build confidence and career-readiness.
What You’ll Learn
As part of this Pearson-certified pathway, you will dive into topics including risk assessment, ethical hacking, and security testing techniques. You'll investigate cyber threats and hazard landscapes, explore how to secure cloud-based environments, and evaluate the effectiveness of security protocols.
Our teaching staff, who bring industry experience and academic expertise, will guide you through practical labs and simulated security breaches to prepare you for the workplace. You’ll also work collaboratively with peers and mentors to analyse threats, plan responses, and secure data infrastructures.
Your Career Future:
The Cyber Security Pathway sets you up for a dynamic range of careers in the public and private sectors, including:
Cyber Security Analyst
Security Operations Centre (SOC) Technician
Risk Analyst
Incident Response Specialist
Information Security Manager
As cyber threats evolve, the demand for skilled cyber professionals continues to grow and this course places you in a strong position to join this fast-moving field.
Should You Join Us?
Whether you're a recent Level 3 graduate or a professional looking to reskill or upskill, this programme offers a career-focused, flexible learning experience. You’ll gain access to industry-standard tools and our new sandbox environment designed for you to practice your ethical hacking skills. Completing this HNC gives you a strong foundation to continue to the HND, degree-level study, or move directly into the cyber security industry.
Modules
This course includes the following core modules that all students complete:
Level 4 Year 1
Semester A:
Professional Practice in the Digital Economy
Cyber Security
Networking
Programming
Semester B:
Innovation and Digital Transformation
Big Data and Visualisation
Security
Networking in the Cloud
Level 5 Year 2
The Level 5 programme will be available in 2026/2027.
Occasional changes to modules and course content may take place. Students will be notified when applicable.
Assessment methods
The primary way of delivering this programme is in-person delivery on campus at University Campus Doncaster, but is delivered as a hybrid programme, with some modules to be delivered online.
Assessments include methods such as:
Reports
Code
Portfolios
Industry-style documentation
Development
Presentations
Podcasts
Infographics
And more.
The Uni
University Campus Doncaster
Engineering, Science and Technology
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