Computer Systems and Networks Engineering BSc (Hons)

Southampton Solent University

Computer networks play a pivotal role in all organisations, and very few businesses survive without one – meaning well qualified network engineers are in high-demand. This degree will support you to develop an in-depth understanding of the major components and principles underpinning computer network technologies – ready to start a fascinating career as a computer network engineer.

In partnership with the Cisco Networking Academy, the course will equip you with the practical skills required to design, implement, secure and manage computer network systems for business and industry – ranging from small businesses to large scale enterprise levels.

The course also has embedded industry-recognised professional qualifications including CCNA Routing and Switching, CCNA Security, Cisco Cybersecurity Essentials, Cisco CyberOps and PCAP Python to equip you with the practical and technical skills in high-demand by industry.

Throughout your studies, you will be working in our high-tech computer networking labs with industry standard facilities; featuring a wide variety of equipment including Cisco routers and switches, CCNA and CCNP bundles, multi-vendor network devices and high-performance servers. The lab machines are also equipped with a multitude of academic and commercial software including Cisco Packet Tracer, OPNet, VMWare, Open NMS, Wireshark, and GNS3 in Windows and Linux environments. The lab machines can also be configured flexibly to implement and test computer networks, and learn advanced technologies such as software-defined networks, cloud computing, virtualisation and the ‘Internet of Things’.

Your future employability is a key focus, and in addition to professional qualifications there are a broad range of transferable skills such as project management, problem-solving and communication skills embedded throughout – helping you to become highly employable. After completing the second year, you will also have the option to spend a placement year in industry to develop your practical skills further. Previous students have completed placements and been employed in companies such as British Aerospace, Cisco, Juniper, and IBM.

The course is delivered by a team of passionate, friendly and research-active qualified academics who work at the forefront of the field. Our academics are also fellows of the Higher Education Academy as well as Cisco certified instructors.

Industry-recognised professional qualification such as CCNA Routing & Security, CCNA Security, PCAP Python, Cisco Cyber Security Essentials.

What does this course lead to?

Recent course graduates have gone on to various roles in network infrastructure and system support organisations including; Cisco Systems, IBM, Juniper, Symantec Security UK, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Electra networks, QinetiQ, Quostar, VeriFone, TalkTalk, Rackspace, Vodafone and Peer 1 Hosting.

The course leads to the role of a network engineer and its various specialised forms such as:

System Support Analyst

Network Security Analyst

System Architects

Penetration Tester

Network Systems Consultant

IT Support Engineer

Product Support Engineer

Who is this course for?

This course is ideally suited to those with a passion for computing, wishing to develop the skills to support, research, design, deploy and maintain computer systems and networks.

Accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.