Course overview
Organisations around the world have never been more at risk of cyber attacks, due to the greater role that data and technology play across all operations. This 100% online short conversion course is intended for individuals interested in cyber security who don’t have the required academic background or work experience to enter this field.
Through this online PG Cert Cyber Security, you will gain essential cyber security knowledge as well as explore the latest trends in this field. You will also develop an understanding of how to reduce vulnerabilities and promote defences within digital systems. Cyber security professionals are increasingly sought after so at the end of your studies, you will be able to unlock careers in a wide range of sectors. You will also be able to continue your studies and advance onto our PG Dip or Masters programme.
Job outcomes
- Software Developer
- Risk Analyst
- Threat Management
- Secure Systems Designer/Programmer
- Information Systems Administrator
Study method
- Online
- Blended
- In-class
Awards

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Duration study load
- 8 months – Part-time
Entry requirements
At University of Essex Online, we believe that everyone should be able to access education. That is why we offer two different entry routes onto our PG Cert Cyber Security, which considers academic or work-based experience.
Academic entry route
You must have the following qualifications as a minimum:
- an undergraduate degree from an approved institution, equivalent to a UK Honours degree, or a relevant professional qualification
Work experience entry route
You must meet the following criteria:
- at least three years’ relevant work experience
English language requirement
Our courses are taught in English so to study with us you must have an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 or equivalent. If you don’t hold an IELTS or equivalent qualification, you will be required to pass a free online English test to assess your proficiency.
Course features
We believe you get the most out of your time spent studying when you are kept informed of your performance, and we achieve this by:
- assessing you throughout modules rather than waiting for end of year assessments
- showing your marks in your grade book which can be viewed whenever you log onto the virtual learning environment (VLE)
- rapid turnaround on work assessed to ensure your grade book is always up to date
- ensuring you have regular contact with your Student Support team
Assessment
All assessments are delivered through our virtual learning environment (VLE). There is no requirement to travel to external test centres or to sit exams! Instead, you will submit assignments through the VLE, such as written reports, discussion forum participation or reflective journal entries.
We also have a policy of ensuring that the work submitted by students is authentic – we use a well-established electronic monitoring system to check for plagiarism.
Career prospects
Given the increasing need for robust cyber security measures and the skills shortage in this area, this course is designed to make you an attractive candidate in this sector. You will be able to succeed in a range of roles such as Entry Level Software Developer, Risk Analyst, Threat Management, Secure Systems Designer/Programmer, Information Systems Administrator or Forensic Analyst.
On successful completion of this course, you will also be able to progress onto our PG Dip or MSc Cyber Security.
Delivery
We’re a 100% online education provider, so we use a state-of-the-art virtual learning environment (VLE) to deliver our teaching, resources and assessments. Our system tracks and manages the learning process in real-time and provides you with immediate access to your learning materials. The VLE is accessible 24/7 and allows both students and tutors to actively take part in real-time conversations and live seminars.
For our PG Cert Cyber Security, there’s no need to download different software packages – all programming languages are included within the tuition fee and all work is carried out on an online development environment.
Subjects
You can study the following modules on the PG Cert Cyber Security:
* This module is core and must be passed in order to achieve the award.
About University of Essex Online
University of Essex Online delivers 100% online part-time courses in business, computing, education, health, law, criminology and psychology. The qualifications we offer include CertHEs and Bachelors degrees at undergraduate level, and PG Certs, PG Dips and Masters degrees at postgraduate level, with study durations ranging from 8 months to 4 years.
We are one of the longest-running providers of 100% online degrees in the UK. All our courses are specifically designed for online delivery, combining silver-standard teaching with the latest technology and enabling you to gain a top-class education from anywhere in the world.
All our qualifications are awarded and validated by the University of Essex, an award-winning university with a 50-year heritage of teaching and research excellence. On completion of your studies, you’ll be invited to graduate at the University of Essex’s Colchester campus. You will receive the same certificate as campus-based students – your mode of study is only mentioned on your academic transcript.
Gaining an undergraduate qualification with the University of Essex Online also puts you in good stead for your career prospects. Results from their 2021 student survey showed:
- 92% of students said their course helped develop their research skills
- 89% of students say their studies fit with their future plans
- 25% of students saw their salaries increase by up to 10%