Cyber Security (MSc)

Develop the skills you'll need to protect and defend against cyber-attacks in our modern world, as well as adapting to new challenges arising through threat intelligence. 

Course summary

• Develop ethical hacking skills to fundamentally understand cyber-attacks. 
• Learn to deploy countermeasures that secure and protect computer systems. 
• Apply and manage information security in organisational frameworks.  
• Gain skills to undertake BSI ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certification. 
• During our MSc Cyber Security course, you’ll develop your knowledge and skills to prepare for a career as a computing security professional. With accreditation from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), you can be confident you’ll graduate with the Cyber-Body of Knowledge (CyBok), industry-standard techniques that so many employers are seeking.

How you learn

• This course explores the fundamentals in network security, where you'll learn to secure networks and detect intrusions through real-world case studies. Your tutorials and workshops will emphasise information security, covering cryptography, access control and risk management for robust cyber protection. 
• The course also focuses on ethical hacking, teaching you penetration testing techniques to identify and exploit system vulnerabilities. You'll gain expertise in cyber threat intelligence and digital forensics to understand attack vectors and compile evidence for law enforcement. We’ll also prepare you for the BSI ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certification, making sure you’re ready to implement and manage information security within organisational frameworks.
• Towards the end of the course, you’ll undertake a significant dissertation project where you’ll be researching a relevant topic. This allows you to tailor your learning towards a specific area – perhaps one you’re keen to pursue as a career.  You’ll be supported through your dissertation project by a supervisor, who themselves will be a domain expert. 

You learn through: 

• Tutorials 
• Workshops 
• Problem-solving activities 
• Practical projects 
• Teamwork 
• Reports 
• Demonstrations 
• Real-world case studies
• Discussions 
• Presentations 
• Structured walk-throughs

Key themes 

• You’ll start by building your knowledge and skills in network security, where you’ll learn how to secure networks and detect intrusions. This progresses into information security that provides further layers of cyber protection – including cryptography, access control and risk management. 
• You’ll then develop your ethical hacking / pen-testing skills to try and compromise those systems, to understand vectors of attack. This includes learning how to identify security vulnerabilities within operating systems, undertake password attacks, and exploit social engineering to gain system access. You’ll use platforms such as Hack The Box to safely practise and develop your skills in this area. 
• Once the fundamentals are covered, you’ll further your understanding towards security-measure compliance by working on case studies that reflect industry scenarios. This also prepares you for the Lead Auditor certification – for example, determining whether sensitive data is being properly managed with specific reference to Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (CIA). 
• Cyber threat intelligence is another important component of the discipline, where you’ll learn about frameworks – e.g. Mitre Att&ck – and adversary behaviour to help identify attack vectors. Once attacks have happened, you’ll use digital forensics to better understand their origin, compiling evidence to help protect from future threats, and to help law enforcement agents to tackle the source. 

Applied learning
Work experience 

• This course also has a work experience route that offers a placement in industry of up to 12 months. For further information, please see MSc Cyber Security (Work Experience).

Networking opportunities 

• We’re a member of the Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec) Academic Partner Programme. The CIISec is the only information and cyber security institution to have been granted Royal Charter status. This means you’ll be able to develop contacts within the cyber security community and with prospective employers, as well as gaining insights from  world-class speakers.  
• As part of our weekly cyber lecture seminar series, we have expert guest lectures  you can network with. These has previously included talks from law enforcement agents (e.g. South Yorkshire Police and FBI), security auditors, pen-testers and digital forensics experts.  
• Throughout the course, you’ll be able to develop your career through career fairs and workshops, employer presentations and visits, and by seeking guidance from professional advisers. 

Competitions

• Every year, the course runs a Capture the Flag event across UK universities. Using the Hack The Box platform, you’ll be tasked in teams to hack into vulnerable machines, against increasingly hardened devices that present more challenging problems. 

Future careers
The MSc Cyber Security course prepares you for a career in: 

• Pen testing 
• Information security 
• Security consultancy 
• Threat analysis 
• Risk management

Previous graduates of this course have worked for: 

• Airbus 
• Deloitte  
• HSBC 
• DataGuard 
• South Yorkshire Police 
• Regional Cyber Crime Unit 
• British Assessment Bureau 

Where will I study?

• You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

Equipment and facilities

• You’ll learn through teaching in lectures, tutorials and practical laboratory sessions – using the University’s specialist facilities in the Computing and Digital Technologies.  

You’ll have access to industry-standard specialist software such as: 

• Virtual learning cyber security platforms like Hack The Box 
• A dedicated red-blue team cyber security lab 
• Digital forensics tools like FTK, Encase, Axiom and Cellebrite

Modules

• Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

Final year

• Compulsory modules

Module Credits Assessment

• Cyber Threat Intelligence And Digital Forensics 40 Coursework (100%)
• Dissertation For Cyber Security And Computer Networks 40 Coursework (100%)
• Hacking Techniques And Countermeasures 20 Coursework(100%)
• Network And Information Security 40 Coursework (100%)
• Research Methods And Strategies 20 Coursework (100%)
• Standard Based Security Audit And Assessment 20 Coursework (100%)

Additional course costs

• The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

Why choose us?

• Teaching- We are Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for the outstanding quality of our teaching and student outcomes
• Accommodation- We guarantee to find you an affordable place to live that’s close to campus and comes with all bills included
• Employment- 95% of our UK graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey)