During the CyberEPQ, students complete modules on different aspects of cyber security to gain a holistic understanding of the cyber industry, gain cyber skills, understand cyber processes and gain confidence to pursue a career in cyber.
This qualification is an independent project where students are required to complete an extended writing task and presentation on a particular aspect of cyber security which interests them, developed from the learning content throughout the modules.
The CyberEPQ enhances many soft study and cyber specific skills in students that help them during the next stages in their study. This helps to bridge the gap between school and college work to the next steps of university, apprenticeships, and careers in the future.
A*-E
The extended project is an internally assessed qualification and the final grade is awarded by City and Guilds.
Students need to complete 8 core modules and choose 1 out of 7 of our specialist/ innovation modules all on different aspects of cyber and reflect on each in a journal, produce a production log, verified by the supervisor, a written report (5,000 words), and a presentation.
Students will be assessed against four objectives:
- AO1 Manage: Identify, design, plan and complete the individual project. Apply organisational skills and strategy to meet the objectives and provide evidence of progress within this.
- AO2 Use of Resources: Obtain and select information from a range of sources, analyse data, apply relevantly and demonstrate understanding of appropriate links, connections and complexities of the chosen topic.
- AO3 Develop and Realise: Select and use a range of skills, including new technologies, to solve problems, to take decisions critically, creatively and flexibly, and to achieve planned outcomes.
- AO4 Review: Evaluate outcomes including own learning and performance. Convey and present evidenced outcomes and conclusions through an appropriate format.
Our cyber security modules:
Core Mandatory Modules:
- Introduction to Cyber
- History of Computing and Cryptography
- Cybercrime
- Risk Assessment, Management and Governance (2 modules) Security Testing and Vulnerability Assessment Digital Forensics Identity and Access Management
Specialist Modules:
- A Human Aspect of Cyber Security
- Pen Testing
- Software Security and Architecture
- Incident Response Management
- Security Audit, Compliance & Assurance
Innovation Modules:
- Quantum Computing
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Tariff points are allocated to all Level 3, UK regulated qualifications. For the CyberEPQ this is listed under the City & Guilds Level 3 Extended Project listing.
In line with standard EPQ's the CyberEPQ reflects:
- Feedback from HEPs suggests that the skills that students develop as part of the EPQ are highly valued.
- Some HEPs signal this by adjusting their standard A level offer for certain courses to include the EPQ.
- Others use EPQ results in Confirmation and Clearing to distinguish between students who have the same A level results.
- A number of universities and colleges encourage applicants to refer to their project in the personal statement and interviews.
- EPQs are widely valued by universities and colleges making points-based offers.
The EPQ is not as widely offered to students as e.g. A levels.
Due to the unique structure and assessment method of the EPQ, teachers and advisers may not feel equipped to predict a grade. If a predicted grade is not supplied, we would encourage teachers to use the reference and/or school specific URL to provide information about the EPQ and any policy for predicting grades, to help inform admissions decision making.
Value adds of the CyberEPQ vs the standard EPQ:
Gain a qualification in cyber security that puts you ahead of the competition when enrolling for cyber security courses in HEPs After completion, gain a one year free membership to CIISec to benefit from our cyber student webinar series, potential post nominals, skills frameworks, ABC guides and networking opportunities.