Free Level 3 Cyber Security Course in Manchester. Classes run at The Manchester College City Campus, with full-time daytime study over one year. You'll cover the fundamentals of cyber security, threat intelligence, system testing, incident response, and the legal and ethical standards that shape the profession. The course includes practical activities throughout, and completing it earns you 16 UCAS points. Entry requires a Level 2 IT qualification; Level 2 Functional Skills or GCSE in English and maths is desirable, though individual assessment is available.
Who this course is for
Throughout the course, you will take part in a number of practical activities that will help you to understand:
The fundamentals of cyber security
The threat intelligence associated with cyber security
How cyber security systems are tested and flaws identified
How to respond to an incident
Associated legal and ethical conduct, and professional behaviour expectations.
What you will learn
You'll understand the core principles and fundamentals of cyber security
You'll analyse threat intelligence and recognise how cyber threats develop
You'll learn how cyber security systems are tested and vulnerabilities identified
You'll practise responding to security incidents effectively
You'll explore the legal and ethical frameworks that govern cyber security work
You'll develop awareness of professional behaviour expectations in the sector
How you will learn
Learning is classroom based, with practical activities running throughout the course. Assessment uses a range of methods: research and analysis tasks, written reports, question and answer sessions (written or oral), group discussion, assignments, and presentations. You won't sit a single end exam; your work is assessed continuously across these formats.
What you will need to bring
The centre will provide most materials. The Manchester College City Campus will confirm anything else you need before you start.
Where next
Jobs you could do
Cyber Security Analyst: monitor systems and respond to threats
Security Test Engineer: identify and report vulnerabilities in systems
Network Security Technician: protect and manage network infrastructure
Cloud Security Consultant: advise on securing cloud-based environments
IT Service Management roles: coordinate tech support and security processes
Delivery Architect: design and oversee secure IT solutions
What you could study next
Degree-level study in Cyber Security or Computing: this qualification earns 16 UCAS points, and UCEN Manchester offers higher education routes for students progressing from this course.
Level 3 Diploma in IT (Networking and Security): a natural next step if you want to go deeper into how devices, networks, and security systems work before moving to degree level.
