Cloud and Network Security (MSc)

Are you interested in a career in it security? Our msc in cloud and network security offers the postgraduate skills and knowledge you'll need to advance your career in computer management or seek a leading technical or managerial role in a data-dependent organisation. 

Course Overview

• The University of Bolton's MSc in Cloud and Network Security offers graduates with a background in networking, system administration or cloud computing the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of security and operations of computer systems. By studying for your postgraduate degree with us, you can extend your knowledge of cloud and network security while experiencing life at our supportive, student-focused, multicultural campus in the heart of the North West of England.
• You'll have the opportunity to study the latest methodologies and development techniques and develop a detailed understanding of computer operating systems, virtualisation and networking. Our dedicated team will support you as you acquire the capacity to adapt and learn new skills, ready to respond as the computer industry evolves throughout your career.
• The programme has been designed collaboratively with industrial partners, allowing you to equip yourself with valuable professional skills and understand the ethical and environmental issues you'll encounter in your professional life.
• Your coursework will be based on realistic scenarios covering technical issues, proposals, and reports designed to prepare for a successful postgraduate career. We'll also support you in gaining lifelong learning skills, which will help you take ownership of your professional development for the future, maximising your potential for success.
• We also offer this course with an 18-month duration with a January start date. For details of the 18-month course, please visit our full-time MSc Cloud and Network Security: 18 months course search web page. Alternatively, to find out more and apply for our 2-year part-time course, please visit our part-time MSc Cloud and Network Security course search web page.

Highlights

• We continually monitor and update the content of our MSc programmes so they offer the best preparation for the employment marketplace.
• All our teaching staff have comprehensive industry experience, enabling them to offer practical insights to students grappling with real-world problems.
• During the course, you'll have the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to scale from small infrastructure to major cloud infrastructure applications.
• We take pride in our approach to our students, taking time to give all individuals the help and support they need to succeed.
• Our commitment to providing the best possible learning environments has seen us make significant investments in our IT facilities.

Key Features

• Free or significantly reduced software is available to our students from our educational partners, including RedHat, Fedora, Adobe and Microsoft.
• You'll benefit from access to vendor qualifications from Cisco and RedHat through our unique access to the RedHat academy.
• You'll have access to our server architecture, enabling you to develop your cloud computing skills both on and off campus.
• Industry partners provide relevant, up-to-date input to our teaching and live student projects.
• Dedicated laboratories, servers and end hosts with industry-standard hardware and software support our MSc programme.
• Our lecturers take time to build strong personal relationships with all students, enabling questions to be answered quickly and easily.
• By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.

Entry Requirements

• Normally, you should have successfully completed an honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject and have appropriate work experience.
• We'll be happy to consider your application if you have non-traditional entry qualifications and relevant experience or a suitable portfolio of work that we deem a reasonable substitute for the qualifications we typically accept for this course.
• We'll consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
• You’ll be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
• If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.

Career Opportunities

• Computer networks underpin almost every aspect of modern business. Their successful management and oversight are crucial to a company's success, so graduates who can fulfil this role are highly sought-after by organisations in every sector. This course is for those wishing to pursue a career in the network and cyber security industries or take a leading technical or managerial role in a data-dependent organisation.
• This course covers some of the security issues that affect fixed and wireless networks and some of the solutions used to address them. It will also support you to develop key employability skills such as teamwork, time management, analysing and solving problems, retrieval of information and communication skills.
• It's important to remember that the field of cloud computing and network security changes very rapidly. Technologies will change, and the global industry will adopt new developments, languages and devices throughout your career. Learning how to learn is the most important skill you can acquire.

What can I do with this qualification?

• As a graduate of this master's degree, you could pursue a career in network and internet security, network development, or technical support. Other possible areas of employment include network engineering, management, telecommunications engineering, and crime and computer forensics.
• This postgraduate course offers valuable skills that will support you in developing your career. As a graduate, you'll be able to seek more senior managerial roles in the IT sector or take advantage of a wide range of other opportunities in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
• You may also pursue further study in a specialist field or research at the doctoral level. If you're interested in studying for a PhD, please discuss this with our tutors, as we may be able to support your aspirations by supervising you at the doctoral level.

Alternative career options

• Graduates can also use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. 

Some examples include:

• Information management
• Digital communications
• Mobile communications
• Cyber security
• Teaching and education
• Consultancy
• Research and development
• Software project management
• Commerce
• Electrical engineering
• Quality management
• Public services and local government
• Self-employment

Teaching & Assessment

• We use online, blended and face-to-face learning and teaching methods to give you the best possible chance of success. During your studies, you'll be expected to participate in lectures, seminars, tutorials and critiques. You'll also experience laboratory and workshop sessions and undertake self-directed learning, e-learning, and online sessions.
• You'll have the chance to acquire and enhance your practical skills through technical introductions and support, workshop sessions, demonstrations, and activity-based assignments.
• We'll provide regular written feedback on your work, with assessments usually completed by the end of each module. Assessment is varied and can include methods such as assignments, projects, exams, and presentations. Most of your overall grade will be based on coursework.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

• Professional Practice
• Research Methods
• Penetration Testing and Forensics
• Cloud Solutions and Implementation
• InfoSec
• DevOps
• Enterprise Network Architecture
• Project