Cyber security courses in the UK
Square1 Ai is an online school, registered in Sri Lanka. It runs three live cyber security bootcamps (Cybersecurity, AI Security and Red-Teaming and Cloud Security Engineer), each twelve weeks on Zoom with one instructor and 10 projects you keep, for £119; self-paced courses start at £24. UK cohorts meet on weekday evenings from 7 PM UK time, with full-day sessions at weekends.
Founding price, half the £239 standard, until 1 December. Self-paced courses from £24.
What security roles pay in the UK
Annual base salary in the UK, from Payscale (read 22 October 2026). The range is the middle half of reported salaries, and each row shows how many salary profiles it rests on.
| Role | Median a year | Middle half | Train for it |
|---|---|---|---|
| DevOps engineerPayscale143 salary profiles | £51,900 | £40,500 to £69,100 | LLMOps, Cloud Engineer with AI |
| Security engineerPayscale77 salary profiles | £39,100 | £30,500 to £55,000 | Cybersecurity, Cloud Security Engineer |
| Information security analystPayscale79 salary profiles | £36,600 | £29,800 to £49,400 | Cybersecurity |
| Cyber security analystPayscale138 salary profiles | £36,500 | £29,800 to £45,700 | Cybersecurity, AI Security and Red-Teaming |
| Penetration testerPayscale40 salary profiles | £36,200 | £30,900 to £49,600 | Cybersecurity, AI Security and Red-Teaming |
Salaries are what employers in the UK report paying, not what Square1 Ai students earn: the first cohorts have not graduated.
Bootcamps that fit a working week in UK.
Twelve weeks each, weekday evenings and weekend days, 25 spots a cohort. Reserving a seat holds the founding price.
Cyber security courses in the UK, side by side
Cyber security courses you can take in the UK in 2026, with their length, how they are taught and the fee each provider lists.
| Course | Length | How it is taught | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation Certificate in Cyber Security (QAFCCS)QA Ltd | 5 days | live online (virtual classroom) | From £3,540 + VAT |
| Cyber Security Essentials Bootcamp (QACYSEC)QA Ltd | 4 days | live online (virtual classroom) | From £2,795 + VAT |
| National Security and Cyber: Hackers, Artificial Intelligence and SurveillanceUniversity of Oxford Lifelong Learning | 6 weekly lectures, 27 Oct to 1 Dec 2026 | live online (Zoom) | £75.00 |
| Live cyber security bootcamps (3 tracks)Square1 Ai | 12 weeks, about 15 hours a week | Live online, weekday evenings from 7 PM UK time and weekend days | £119 (founding price) |
Fees and lengths as each provider lists them on its own site, checked 22 October 2026. Ask the provider for the current intake before you pay.
Four ways into cyber security in the UK
Each fits a different person. The right one depends on whether you need a degree, a university name, a free start or a portfolio.
- Route 1
A degree or master's
Fits when You want a formal qualification in cyber security, or the theory in depth.
Watch for Years of study and a large fee; check how much of it uses the tools teams work with now.
- Route 2
A university or institute short course
Fits when You want a known name on a short cyber security course, online or on campus.
Watch for Most are a few weeks and teach concepts; ask whether you build and deploy something.
- Route 3
A free or funded programme
Fits when You want to try cyber security before paying for anything.
Watch for Good for basics; nobody reviews your work, so you still need projects to show.
- Route 4
A live online bootcamp
Fits when You are working and want a job-shaped portfolio in twelve weeks, taught live on UK time.
Watch for Square1 Ai's bootcamps are new and not accredited: the first cohorts have not graduated, so there is no placement rate yet.
Questions people in the UK ask about cyber security
Which cyber security course is best in the UK?
It depends on what you need. QA Ltd's Foundation Certificate in Cyber Security (QAFCCS) lists from £3,540 + VAT and QA Ltd's Cyber Security Essentials Bootcamp (QACYSEC) lists from £2,795 + VAT; the table above lists each one's length and fee. If you are working and want a portfolio an employer can check, Square1 Ai's twelve-week live bootcamps are £119 at the founding price.
How much does a cyber security course cost in the UK?
A Square1 Ai live cyber security bootcamp is £119, the founding price until 1 December (the standard price is £239), and a self-paced course is £24. Other providers' fees are in the table above.
What does a security engineer earn in the UK?
Payscale puts the median base salary for a security engineer in the UK at £39,100 a year, with the middle half between £30,500 and £55,000, from 77 salary profiles.
Which cyber security certification should I start with?
If you are new, ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) or CompTIA Security+ are the usual first certifications; Microsoft SC-900 suits people heading into Microsoft 365 and Azure work. Square1 Ai's free practice for each tells you where you stand with a 20-question diagnostic before you study.
Can I learn cyber security online in the UK while working full time?
Yes. UK cohorts meet on weekday evenings from 7 PM UK time, with full-day sessions at weekends. The work between sessions is graded by Nova, Square1 Ai's AI tutor, whenever you submit it. Plan for about fifteen hours a week across the twelve weeks.
Is it a regulated qualification, or a government-funded Skills Bootcamp?
Neither. Square1 Ai's bootcamps are not Ofqual-regulated qualifications and are not part of the Department for Education's Skills Bootcamps, so they are not government funded. You leave with 10 deployed projects and a recorded defence of your work.
Does the bootcamp guarantee a job?
No. No placement rate is published because the first cohorts have not graduated. You leave with 10 projects an employer can open and run, a recorded defence of your work, and a hiring plan worked through with your instructor.
How do I pay?
Reserving a seat is free and takes your name, email and country. Nothing is charged until the start date is confirmed and you say yes.
25 spots a cohort. Hold one on UK time.
Pick a bootcamp, reserve with your name and email, and hear the start date first. Nothing is charged until you confirm.