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Southampton Solent University logo

BSc (Hons)Computer Networks Engineering

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Starting in2025
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UCAS code: CNE1
Institution code: S30
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps

Why study a computer networks engineering degree at Solent University

Well-qualified network engineers are in high demand and this degree is delivered in partnership with Cisco Networking Academy providing essential skills for the computing industry.

  • 0%
    positivity score for academic support in our computer network courses (NSS 2024)
  • 0th
    UK uni for sustained employment (Longitudinal Educational Outcomes, 2022)
  • Top0%
    for teaching quality, out of 131 institutions (Times Good University Guide, 2025)
  • This degree is developed in partnership with the Cisco Networking Academy.
  • Gain industry recognised professional qualifications alongside your degree, including CCNA Routing and Switching, CCNA Security, Cisco Cybersecurity Essentials, Cisco CyberOps and PCAP Python.
  • Study in our high-tech computer networking labs, which include equipment such as Cisco routers and switches, CCNA and CCNP bundles, multi-vendor network devices and high-performance servers.
  • You'll be taught in lab-based small groups.
  • Solent placement and graduate fair with great employment prospects – many of our students who did a placement at one of the exhibiting companies got offered a graduate job after their studies.
  • You will be studying in the south east which continues to dominate the tech industry alongside London (BDO UK, Nov 2022).
  • You’ll be assigned a personal tutor who can assist you with pastoral support to help you make the most of your learning.

Course overview

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.

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.

This course is part of the South Coast Institute of Technology (IoT), a partnership of colleges, universities and industry-leading employers to create new career opportunities in the technology sector. IoT courses like this one are precisely tailored to the needs of employers in the maritime, engineering and digital industries – industries which are hungry for talented new engineers, technologists, technicians and creatives like you.

Any questions?

Contact UK admissions

Email: admissions@solent.ac.ukCall: 023 8201 5066

Contact international admissions

Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066

Accredited by:

BCS

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Course features

  • Foundation year available

    If you're not quite ready for a full undergraduate degree, there's alternative entry through one of our foundation years

  • Placement year

    If you apply for this course with a placement year, you have the opportunity to undertake a year in industry between your second and third years

  • Specialist facilities

    This course has access to CISCO networking labs and computing and usability labs.

  • Top-up option

    If you have an appropriate Level 5 qualification, you can top it up to a degree in just a year

  • Further studies

    After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent

  • Study abroad

    You have the opportunity to study abroad in one of our partner universities for a semester on this course

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.

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, Softcat and Peer 1 Hosting.

Graduate stories

Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.

Read more stories
I enjoy learning and testing new technologies - each day can be different and I like customer interaction.

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Peter Baker

Technical Support Engineer

Meet the team

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.

The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.

Facilities

Dedicated specialist networking labs provide opportunities to work with a wide variety of real-world networking equipment from Cisco, Fluke and HP, as well as high-fidelity simulation systems including the market-leading Opnet.

You’ll also have access to our devices lab. This is a special test area integrated within one of our existing software development spaces. It consists of a range of mobile devices mounted on flexible tethers, giving you the chance to test your websites and apps on real equipment.

    International opportunities

    Broaden your horizons by adding an international dimension to your CV – essential to achieving success in today’s fast-changing, global environment.

    Studying, working or volunteering in another country could be the experience of a lifetime. Enhance your degree by developing important global skills such as knowledge of other countries, language skills, intercultural awareness, adaptability and confidence.

    For more information, please email international.mobility@solent.ac.uk.

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