The Student Room Group

A Thrilling Journey into Cyber Security: My Experience at DMU

Hey everyone!

I hope you're all doing well. As a student ambassador, I wanted to take a moment to share some valuable insights and guidance about studying cyber security. It's an incredibly exciting and important field, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it.

Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Ilya, and I'm currently a cyber security student. My journey into this field started with a passion for technology and a drive to make a positive impact in the digital world. I am an international student so my university application process was very different from the one of home students. However, I have gained experience working in the De Montfort University’s Enquiries Team, where I became familiar with the British education system, qualifications, and entry requirements. So if anyone needs clarification on the entry requirements for cyber security courses at DMU, please feel free to ask, and I will be happy to advise.

Studying cyber security at De Montfort University has been an incredible experience so far. One aspect that truly stands out is the unique approach to learning. Instead of studying multiple subjects simultaneously, we focus on one subject for a dedicated period of time. This block teaching system allows us to dive deep into the subject matter and truly understand every aspect of it. It's been a game-changer for me, providing the time and space to develop a comprehensive understanding of cyber security.

The campus facilities are excellent, especially when it comes to cyber security education. The resources available in the library are extensive, and the syndicate rooms are perfect for group projects. We even have the opportunity to borrow laptops, ensuring we have the necessary tools for our studies. The student society focused on cyber security has also been a great support network. It's a fantastic community where we can enhance our skills, socialize with like-minded individuals, and make great new friends.

One thing that sets our program apart is the supportive and friendly environment. From fellow students to teachers, everyone is welcoming and always ready to lend a helping hand. The knowledge and skills we acquire are highly relevant to the industry, and the teachers are experienced professionals who genuinely care about our development.

In today's digital age, cyber security is of utmost importance. The protection of data and information is critical for organizations and businesses. Pursuing a career in cyber security opens up a world of opportunities. It's a rapidly growing industry that is currently facing a shortage of skills, making it an ideal time to jump in.

To succeed in the cyber security field, certain skills and knowledge are essential. It's crucial to have a solid understanding of cryptography, penetration testing, and professionalism in forensics and security. Our program ensures that we receive the best education and training in these areas, with experts from the Cyber Technology Institute guiding us.

If you were to ask me what I would do differently if I had the chance to start again, I would probably say that I didn't engage much during my first year. I missed out on a lot of wonderful opportunities due to a lack of confidence and fear of the language barrier. However, I now realize that engagement is absolutely key. The university becomes a wonderful land of opportunities as soon as you start getting involved in extracurricular activities and show initiative.

Please, don't hesitate to ask questions and engage in discussions. I'm here to offer support and share my expertise to inspire and guide others interested in pursuing a career in cyber security. Let's explore this exciting field together!

Stay curious and keep learning!

Ilya:wink:
Hi Ilya!

Thanks for sharing your story :h: It is VERY inspiring! I am glad to get some positive insight about the new approach to teaching as when I started my journey with DMU the old system was still in use.

However, I decided to go on a year-long student exchange in Spain, so once I am back, I will continue my education with Education 2030 scheme. I know all about it as a student ambassador, but has not experienced it yet :tongue: Though, it sounds exciting and I feel like it will be a great help in managing my time and workload.

I am also an international student and had some barriers upon the transition. The head was working at full speed. More and more new fears, worries and barriers kept appearing in my mind.

Theoretically, it was very understandable. After all, it is not every day that you move to another country and start an independent life. To all this comes a lot of organisational stuff like visa, bank account, student loan, part-time work to pay the bills, etc. Now that I think about it, I have been worrying for no reason.

The university provided a comprehensive guide covering everything I should have thought about and what I should have done. DMU even offers airport transfers for international students! :cool:

With my first days, luckily, all the stress started leaving me alone. I had all relevant information, so that I knew what and how I had to do. I also felt this incredible psychological comfort that if I struggle with something, there are teams such as Careers Advice, Mental Health Counselling, Financial and International Student Support available at the university.

I cannot count how many times a helping hand was given to me, making both DMU and Leicester my second home. This gratitude inspired me to become a student ambassador and share a priceless experience with others. No one will understand a future or current student more than us going through the same.

Thankfully, I was able to quickly forget the anxiety and start enjoying this new adventure, which I constantly call the adventure of my life :colone: Travel has become an integral part of it, and it has always been my biggest dream. In two years, I have been on two academic trips to Spain with DMUGlobal, and I cannot count how many times I have organised a trip on my own because of cheap flights from London.

My next goal when I decided to study in the UK was to network with people from all over the world. Leicester was a hit. The city, just like the university, is full of different cultures. There are cultural societies around DMU for those who miss home.

The International Student Support team organises budget one-day trips around the UK every day so that we can learn more about British culture and see as much as possible. As if that were not enough, there are various integration events, such as an evening of board games, a welcome treat, and much more. That is significantly important for those who find it more challenging to establish a relationship. In such an intimate group, it was much easier for me, especially at the beginning, and I made wonderful friends from all over the world.

Finally, I knew it would be hard to develop professionally in Poland. The UK and the DMU again did not disappoint my expectations. I have only been studying for two and a half years. Yet, I have completed two psychological internships, a Spanish language course, a Teach English as a Foreign Language training (having it, I can go to Asia :redface: and teach children English as a volunteer), and now, I am on a student exchange in my beloved Spain. All this on DMU's initiative and with its outstanding support. Oh. I almost forgot... and I have the best job a student can dream of!!!

If I am about to describe it with one word, It has been epic :biggrin: My only regret is that time is running out so fast. That is why, I make the most of it and enjoy every precious day!

Do you have something to add Ilya? Or maybe you have different thoughts on being an international student in the UK and at DMU?

Just like Ilya, I cannot wait to chat and share experience with you guys! We are here for you :colondollar:

Julia
Psychology student
(edited 5 months ago)
Hi everyone! :hello:

I am loving everyone’s experiences so far! :heart: It’s been great as a Student Ambassador to share our experiences for others to read. For this post, I will be talking about career prospects as a HLS student (Health and Life Sciences)

Introduction (who am I and why have I chosen my course)

I’ll start by introducing myself and why I chose my undergraduate degree in Health and Well-being in Society. My name is Maddie, I am 19 years old, and I am currently in my second year at De Montfort. Firstly, I chose Health and Well-being because I loved the subject, :heart: I have been studying it since I was 14 when I chose it for GCSE and it has been one of my passions since and a career area I wanted to explore further.

I have continued studying this subject due to my passion for the field especially regarding those with special educational needs and disabilities. This is largely due to my home circumstances of being a young carer :hugs: and I know that by having a career related to this I would bring a fresh perspective as I can base it personally on how I would expect my younger sibling to be cared for and something their families can appreciate. At the minute I am still exploring within the field of where I would like to take my undergraduate degree but I am considering management at some sort of care institute. So that’s me it’s just a small possibility of why and where I would potentially take my footsteps in the world of Health and Life Sciences. :smartass:

Here is a link where my course Health and well-being in society is explained further in case anyone is interested :gthumb:

Why choose an HLS course?

The great thing about a career in Health and Life Sciences is that it’s a secure job regarding prospects as it is something that will always be needed within society. :party: The careers are mainly based on improving individuals’ overall health within the community and this can be quite rewarding because of the positive impact you will have on those individuals.:h: In addition, by studying an HLS course, it is underpinned by the latest research,:cyber: allows you to develop your critical thinking and analysing and overall provides you with a broad perspective of health and social care issues and allows you to apply this to a continuously changing global setting. Overall, it is a broad subject area and provides you with lifelong skills that are not just limited to the workplace but are useful in all elements of life.

Here is a general introduction to Health and Life Sciences courses at DMU

The Facilities at HLS

Another reason to choose an HLS course is the academics supporting and teaching you can also prepare you for the workplace. During workshops, you will have the opportunity to use specialised facilities, depending on your course, and they are replicas of what you would use professionally. We offer a diverse range of facilities for HLS students including industry-standard x-ray imaging suites, mock hospital wards, patient care simulation suites, state-of-the-art biomedical science labs, VR headsets for simulations, full-size birthing pool in our midwifery suite and practical pharmacy suite. All these facilities are specifically designed to enhance our clinical skills and support employability after graduation. :shakehand:

Here is a link to more of our facilities :smile:

Where can a HLS course take you in your career?

Students who have pursued an HLS course have gone on to various careers and organisations. Many work within the NHS in occupations such as public health practitioner, social worker, or others have continued with further education, teaching, and careers like psychological well-being practitioner, sports therapist, pharmacist, and many more! The one thing I would argue regarding HLS is there is great variation. :smile: De Montfort itself has an incredible reputation for the support that is provided to students hence DMU was awarded as having the Best University Careers and Employability service out of all the universities in the UK (2021). :clap2: In addition, DMU’s employability rate is a whopping 97.3% meaning 97.3% of graduates are either working or pursuing higher education following the conclusion of their study. Our careers team also provides lifelong career support for all DMU alumni ensuring you receive support throughout your working career. :party:

Here is a link to some career possibilities in further depth (not all career options are listed on this website it is just what profiles they currently have)

Hope this helps and please leave a message if you have any more questions and want to find out more I would love to help!

Maddie,:heart: second-year health and well-being student at De Montfort University
(edited 5 months ago)
Hi guys!
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Loving everyone’s introductions! It’s so interesting to hear about others experiences on different courses like Ilya’s - I didn’t know anything about cyber security! Also, Julia that sounds like a great journey and one only just begun.* It’s interesting seeing what an experience as an international student is like. Maddie, I understand! As a HLS student I know how many variations of jobs there are to go into :smartass: Hearing your experience and passion for Health and Wellbeing is so great! I am loving my role as a student ambassador and as a postgraduate student so I shall tell you a bit more about that 👏
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Who Am I?
I shall introduce myself first! Hi, I’m Hannah and I am a Msc Psychological Wellbeing student! I completed my undergrad degree at DMU and I loved it so much I wanted to stay for my masters! Deciding what to do after uni can be very confusing and stressful. If you are considering continuing education I highly recommend! I am a UK student and moved about an hour and half away from home for my studies! I love psychology and anything related to it and I wish to pursue a career within psychology. Alongside my studies I have been a student ambassador, a course representative and I have worked in support roles also. I have loved my university experience and to be honest I wasn’t ready for it to end. Hence the masters!
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Why Choose a Postgraduate Course?
I have always loved education. Since I was young, I always had a fascination with people and why we do what we do. This is why I chose psychology. I love to learn and use what I have learnt in daily life. My postgraduate experience has been amazing! I have a small cohort and we all get on really well. We can have great lengthy academic discussions about what we are learning, and the staff have also been incredible. They really want us to succeed and have encouraged us to participate in events which will enhance our employability after university. If you are considering continuing your studies, I would 100% recommend it! :party:
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A postgraduate course can boost career options and help you specialise in an area more. For me, I want to be a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner. This is a very competitive field, and I wanted my applications to stand out more. This is why I chose the course that I did. Studying the Msc Psychological Wellbeing course has offered me a further insight to this area and has inspired me to push through and become what I want to be. I have also has to opportunity to speak to current and past psychological wellbeing practitioners which has massively helped with my application for this role after my masters!
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The Postgraduate Process
Applying for a postgraduate course isn’t as tricky as you might imagine! To apply at DMU there are a few different routes you can go down. This depends on what sort of course you are doing (for example, taught or research) and if you have previously studied at DMU or not! I am going to talk about my experience of applying for a taught masters as a previous student! I have attached a link so you can look at other methods if this applies to you or to see in more detail!
How to apply to postgraduate study at De Montfort University (dmu.ac.uk)
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I applied through the My DMU app. I filled out the form which was super easy to do! I had to talk about why I wanted to apply for the course and what my grades were. I also got an academic reference from my dissertation supervisor to support this. The whole process was super simple and easy as I just had to follow the set-out questions! It didn’t take long to receive my conditional offer letter which I accepted! Once I had finished my undergraduate degree and achieved the grades, I submitted proof of this then my condition offer turned to unconditional, and I accepted again. It was such an easy process but if I did have any questions, I just emailed our admissions team, and they were more than happy to help! 💻️
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If you have any questions about the postgraduate experience or my experience as a university student please fell free to reach out!💟
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Hannah 🐬
Msc Psychological Wellbeing Student
(edited 5 months ago)
Hi there Maddie and the rest of the team ! 💛
It was amazing getting to know you all a little better and hearing all about your courses and the career opportunities associated with each course . I especially appreciated Ilya and Julia sharing their challenges adapting as international students because I can relate with this.

I’ll preface with a quick introduction about myself and then I will share some more information about my course , STEM careers and the CEM faculty.

Getting to know me :
Everyone calls me Cece , short for S’phiwesihle, proudly born and bred in South Africa 🇿🇦 (perhaps a tad too proud, thanks to our recent Rugby World Cup triumph🥳) . Unlike the typical undergraduate, I find myself navigating my second year as a mature student, studying Energy Engineering. This a specialisation within mechanical engineering that is centred on the intricate processes of energy production, storage, and utilisation. Engineering has been my passion since childhood, driven by a love for mathematics and all things science and fuelled by a curiosity about how and why things work the way they do . My academic journey led me from studying chemical engineering in my home country to pursuing Energy Engineering in the UK - a move that better aligned with my career aspirations.

Choosing DMU was a decision driven by many factors, but what truly stands out is the empowering atmosphere that recognises being a minority as a source of uniqueness, not a disadvantage. In the challenging world of STEM, where women of colour are often underrepresented, DMU has proven to be a supportive environment, making the prospect of building a successful career in these fields not just feasible but promising.

STEM Careers& My CEM faculty:🥼🧪👩🏾🔬
This field covers all Science , technology , engineering and math related careers, particularly in engineering, this field offers endless opportunities for individuals seeking dynamic and intellectually stimulating professions. Engineers play a vital role in shaping the future, contributing to advancements in technology, infrastructure, and innovation. The diverse fields within engineering, such as civil, mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering, present a wide range of career paths. From designing sustainable infrastructure to developing cutting-edge technologies, engineers are at the forefront of solving complex problems and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. The demand for STEM professionals continues to grow, providing many opportunities for people to make a meaningful impact on society, collaborate on groundbreaking projects, and contribute to science and technology. As industries embrace digital transformation and the global focus on sustainability increases, the prospects for those pursuing STEM careers, particularly in engineering, remain exceptionally promising. If the idea of this interests you I strongly advise you to consider a career in STEM.

The CEM faculty at DMU encompasses all Computer , Engineering and Media related degree’s. Ilya and I can both attest that DMU stands out as a hub of technological excellence, offering state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge labs, and advanced resources tailored to students within our faculty. The department has an impressive roster of dedicated lecturers committed to their students' success, providing unwavering support and invaluable career guidance. Additionally, DMU has an exceptional careers team that goes above and beyond to assist students in securing placements and graduate roles. Personally, I've recently reaped the benefits of a career recruitment event featuring prominent industry players like Bentley, JCB, and JLR. This event is just one among many organised by the faculty, reflecting DMU's commitment to enhancing students' opportunities and experiences.

If you are interested in engineering or any other STEM related careers please do ask us any questions , I would love to share some of the experiences I have had completing my first degree and my current. If you are a mature student and want some advice, on how to go back to university when you’re older, I would love to share💖

As you can see our teams is a mix of different people with different stories to tell and if you relate with any of them as an international student , UK home student , a student interested in DMU , Health Science , Computer Science or the city of Leicester in general, then pop a message down below and we can have a chat!

Cece✨
Energy Engineering student
De Montfort University
(edited 5 months ago)

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