BSc Cyber Security at Gloucestershire, Abertay and Lancaster Compared

Three universities, three different routes into an undergraduate cybersecurity degree. They differ in length, entry level and NCSC status, and the differences matter more than the course names suggest. The table below sets out what each university and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) publish.

Table

Side by side

GloucestershireAbertayLancaster
CourseBSc (Hons) Cyber SecurityBSc (Hons) Ethical HackingBSc Hons Cyber Security
Length and place3 years, Park campus, Cheltenham4 years, Dundee3 years, Lancaster
UCAS codeI201GG45I900
Typical entry104 UCAS tariff points (BCC at A level, DMM at BTEC, Pass in a T Level); GCSE English and maths at grade 4/CHighers BBBB or A levels CCC; a pass in maths at National 5 grade C or GCSE grade 4A levels AAB (2027 entry); GCSE maths grade 6/B and English 4/C
International fee£17,950 a year for 2026 entry, as listed on UCAS£17,950 a year for 2026/27, as listed by AbertayNot confirmed: check the fee on Lancaster’s course page
NCSC status (list reviewed 7 September 2026)Fully certified, expiry 30 September 2028Fully certified, expiry 30 September 2031Provisionally certified, expiry 30 September 2030

What the NCSC labels mean

The NCSC says certification is awarded at two levels, full and provisional, and that a degree missing from its list does not have certification. A provisional label is not a failure: for example, Abertay’s BSc Computer Science with Cybersecurity is also provisionally certified. But if the certificate itself matters to you, note that Gloucestershire and Abertay are fully certified and Lancaster’s BSc is provisional. Abertay also says graduates receive a personal NCSC certificate alongside the degree.

The extra year at Abertay

Scottish bachelor’s degrees normally take four years, and Abertay’s Ethical Hacking degree is four years full time. As an illustration only, at a constant £17,950 a year that is £71,800 over four years against £53,850 over three at Gloucestershire. Fees can change each year, and Abertay says some applicants with strong qualifications can enter at Year 2, so ask what your own qualifications allow.

Foundation years are not guaranteed for international students

Gloucestershire offers a four-year route with an integrated foundation year and a lower typical offer of 48 UCAS points. Lancaster’s foundation-year version lists a home fee but shows no international fee, which suggests it is not open to international applicants. Confirm with each university before you plan around one, and read our guide to foundation years in the UK.

Visa funds

All three universities are outside London, so the lower living-cost figure applies: £1,171 a month for up to nine months on GOV.UK today. Under Statement of Changes HC 584 it rises to £1,203 for applications made from 30 November 2026, as reported by immigration law firms. Use our calculator for your total, and our undergraduate guide to compare more courses.

Which one, in our reading?

Gloucestershire is the most accessible on grades and has full certification. Abertay is the most hands-on in name and certification, at the cost of a fourth year. Lancaster asks for the highest grades and has provisional certification, so it suits applicants who meet AAB and care less about the full label. These are our readings of the published figures, not a recommendation for your own case.

Sources and checks

Figures checked: November 2026. Gloucestershire’s fee comes from its UCAS listing, and we could not confirm Lancaster’s international fee. This is general information, not admissions or immigration advice, so confirm entry requirements and fees on each university’s page.

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