Cyber Security Technologist (HTQ) CertHE

A Higher Technical Qualification in Cyber Security: Practical, employer-designed and endorsed with the HTQ quality mark. Developed with direct employer input and mapped to the Skills England occupational standard, youll gain the skills to protect systems, respond to threats and launch a career in one of the UKs fastest-growing sectors.

Cyber security is one of the most critical and rapidly growing fields in the digital economy. Organisations across every sector, from healthcare and finance to government and critical national infrastructure, urgently need qualified professionals who can identify threats, secure systems and respond effectively when incidents occur.

This Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) in Cyber Security Technologist is a one-year, full-time programme developed with direct employer input and mapped to the Skills England occupational standard. It carries the prestigious HTQ quality mark, a guarantee of quality and relevance recognised by employers and professional bodies.

De Montfort University is the only university in the region to hold Gold status as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACE-CSE), awarded by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). You will be studying in an environment where cyber security is taken seriously at the highest level.

Who is it for? This programme is ideal for school leavers, adult returners, career changers and those already working in IT who want to move into a specialist cyber security role. No prior experience in cyber security is required.

How is it delivered? Teaching is delivered in structured 9-weeks blocks as evening sessions at DMUs Leicester campus, with a blend of lectures, seminars and hands-on coding sessions.

What will you study? Eight modules covering programming, computer systems, law and security management, cyber security foundations, endpoint security, computer networks, and cyber threat intelligence and incident response.

Support and resources: You will have access to specialist security labs, DMUs Kimberlin Library, digital learning platforms and the full range of student support services throughout your studies.

This programme carries the Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) quality mark, awarded by Skills England. The mark guarantees that the qualification has been developed with direct employer input and is mapped to the Cyber Security Technologist occupational standard.

HTQs are backed by the Department for Education and are eligible for Advanced Learner Loans.

De Montfort University holds Gold status as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACE-CSE), awarded by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of GCHQ. DMU is the only university in the East Midlands region to hold this status, reflecting the depth and quality of its cyber security provision.

At DMU, the focus is on your future - with work experience opportunities on every course, an employability-boosting careers award, and industry-led course content, you'll be well prepared to start your career.

You’ll get guaranteed work experience opportunities with UK and overseas placements, internships, and personalised training. DMU has been named the UK’s Best University for Work Experience (RateMyPlacement 2024 & 2025), offering personalised careers support, industry connections, and placements with global names like Rolls-Royce and Adobe.

DMU is one of only a few universities where you’ll benefit from modular, block teaching where you’ll study one subject at a time for deeper learning and better results.

Situated in the heart of Leicester, a vibrant student-friendly city, the campus is just a short walk from everything the city has to offer. Its central location means you can hop on a train and be in cities like London, Birmingham and Nottingham in around an hour or less.