The creation, transmission and storage of huge volumes of electronic data is one of the defining features of our age. It brings us untold benefits but it also exposes businesses, governments and individuals to repeated threats such as cyber theft, sabotage and blackmail. As a result, societies increasingly rely on the expertise and innovations of information security specialists, without which many aspects of our daily lives would grind to a halt. This three-year programme with a specialism in information security will give you the skills you need to pursue a computer science career, and the knowledge and practical experience to manage and improve the smooth running and security of systems, applications and organisations. You will learn from leading researchers in the field, covering topics such as cryptography, computer security, fraud detection and the study of how security itself can best be managed. All this will be underpinned by a solid grounding in the fundamentals of computing and all the essentials of application development, from programming to software engineering, databases to web development, computer graphics to robotics. From the outset you will be experimenting with programming games, robots, Gadgeteer kits, Subversion, JUnit testing, Scrum-based Agile software and more, in our well-equipped laboratories. Alongside our core modules you will have the flexibility to tailor your studies to your own interests in your final year.

Information security specialists are in demand across a wide range of sectors, from private companies to banking, telecommunications, security consultancies, the civil service, public utilities, retail, the military and more. They work in a rapidly developing and expanding field, with lucrative job opportunities. At Royal Holloway, University of London we have particularly strong links with the information security industry and our graduates are highly employable. This programme will give you a solid grounding in the knowledge, skills and practical experience required for a successful career in computing and information security or related fields. You will learn to analyse and solve problems with creativity, to translate technological innovations into programming solutions, to design, implement, test and maintain software systems, and to digest and explain complex technical information. You will also develop valuable transferrable skills such as: team working, advanced IT skills, critical thinking, data handling, communication, time management and self-motivation.