Cyber Security (MSc)

There’s a high demand for talented professionals who can confidently navigate cybersecurity’s complexities and threats. With its forward-thinking teaching and practice-orientated approach, our cyber security msc prepares you to meet the challenges of this ever-growing landscape. 

You study rapidly developing topics such as cyber defence and information governance; learn from leading academics in our cutting-edge facilities; and gain real-world experience through hands-on projects and industry applications.

Why choose the School of Computer Science and Technology

• Our computing courses rank 4th overall in their subject field in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2024, with top 3 rankings across five survey areas (teaching, engagement, learning community, assessment and organisation).
• Our block delivery course structure gives you year-round entry points and intermediate qualifications so you can tailor your learning to fit around your life.
• The course is delivered by cybersecurity experts, active in networking and security research.

Course accreditation

• This course is accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS), the Chartered Institute for IT. You graduate with the technical skills and knowledge required for partial recognition as a registered Chartered IT Professional (CITP), demonstrating that you are a competent professional who meets the industry’s rigorous standards.

Facilities and specialist equipment

• High-tech Cisco Networking Academy computer networking and specialised Cybersecurity laboratory
• Use of Hak5 hardware for pentesting activities
• Modern STEM building with purpose-built laboratories, presentation rooms and group study spaces
• Industry-standard technology such as MATLAB simulation software and virtualised environments to reflect the most up-to-date practices

Student experience

• Learn from a team of highly qualified experts, who use their active involvement in research and consultancy to shape their teaching and keep you on top of the most pivotal developments in the field.  
• Expand your knowledge on subject-relevant field trips to sites such as Bletchley Park. 
• Gain specialist knowledge from interactive workshops and seminars delivered by external experts. 
• Prepare for the workplace through case studies, problem-based learning and hands-on sessions so you can apply your theoretical knowledge to real-world situations. 
• Enhance your employability with our focus on developing key transferable skills such as critical thinking; academic literacy; problem-solving; and effective leadership.  
• The course’s MSc Cyber Security research project allows you to explore your unique area of interest. 
• Expand your subject knowledge outside the normal MSc route by taking certain units as dedicated, credit-based short courses.

What will you study?

• Studying our Cyber Security MSc course will equip you with the core knowledge and skills around security processes, methodologies and practices. To advance your cyber security skills, you will discover key domains in cyber security management from a strategic and tactical perspective within an organisational context in our Tactical and Strategic Cybersecurity Management unit. You will be introduced optimised IT operations and information security programs used in critical business functions as part of their cyber security strategy.
• It is also important that you adhere to the frameworks, standards and strategies for managing an organisation’s information assets, and this is where our unit in Information Governance and Compliance will introduce you to the principles that govern modern information systems that align with legal and regulatory requirements within the field. More importantly, you will be equipped with the principles, methods and tools to prevent cyber-attacks and to identify them as quickly as possible in our Cyber Defence unit. Furthermore, you will examine network security mechanisms, information gathering techniques and analytics to build and evaluate threat intelligence programmes.
• Finally, you will complete an MSc Project in Cyber Security that will allow you to bring your acquired skills and knowledge together in practice. You can take this opportunity to work on a topic of interest to you that is relevant to your field of study. To help you with this, you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge around Research Methodologies and Project Management that will prepare you to engage with scientific work, data analysis, establishing hypotheses and understanding research. 

How will you be assessed?

• The assessment strategy used is predominantly written assessments with only two (2) formal invigilated examinations throughout the course. The method used will depend on the nature of the subject matter being taught in each of the units where the most appropriate method is chosen and analysed (See UIFs). Students will also have the opportunity to engage into formative assessment throughout the course especially during exercises in the practical sessions where feedback on progress and performance will be given by their tutors for each of the tasks allocated.
• The assessment strategy for this course is designed around a holistic evaluation on knowledge and skills acquired with strong emphasis on the requirements for this mode of delivery and diverse skills background and expectations of the target audience. All assessments used in the course are in perfect alignment with University requirements regulations and policies. Coursework assignments typically incorporate formative feedback so that students can gain an insight into whether their work is meeting the necessary thresholds and focus on meaningful remarks to improve both their performance and understanding in the subject matter. The assessment strategy has been designed with strong influence by the requirements and needs of the audience in PT mode of delivery for this course.

Careers

• On completing this course you are likely to progress into a career in the following areas: security associate; security analyst; information security and risk practitioner; penetration tester; security architect; intrusion analyst; DR/BCP manager; or security auditor.
• As a graduate of this course you will also have the opportunity for further study at MSc by Research or PhD level.