Cyber Security, Threat Intelligence and Forensics (MSc/PgDip)

This programme is now closed to international applications for january 2025. The next application window for international applicants will be september 2025. Data security breaches are on the rise, but you can be part of the solution. 

• With our Cyber Security, Threat Intelligence and Forensics postgraduate degree, you can expand your existing computing knowledge, and develop an applied skill set, ready to build a career in this exciting, in-demand intelligence field.
• Available with full and part-time study routes starting each January and September, this Chartered Institute for IT (BCS) accredited course will provide you with both a specialist cyber security knowledge base and real-world skills, so you are ready to fight cyber crime. 
• During your studies, you will learn about attack (red team) and defence (blue team) strategies. You will consider established attack surfaces (networking, social engineering) and modern issues (IoT, Cloud). You will examine the trade-offs taken between security, privacy and availability.

You will:

• Develop practical and real-world skills in all major areas of cyber security
• Engage with industry experts and active cyber security researchers during your studies
• Build cyber threat intelligence to learn how to fight against Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)
• Gain advanced knowledge of penetration testing, cyber forensics, malware reverse engineering, privacy, and risk management  

This is for you if.

• You're a computing graduate keen to build a career in cyber security management
• You have a curious mind and want to learn how criminals infiltrate data networks
• You want to use your programming and networking skills to learn how to combat cyber attacks

Our Cyber Security, Threat Intelligence and Forensics postgraduate degree course is delivered through a range of highly-focused modules. The 180-credit MSc award comprises four taught modules, plus a research dissertation.  The 120-credit PgDip award comprises four taught modules.

Flexibility is at the heart of our learning approach. You can choose to study this postgraduate course full-time or part-time on campus, with start dates in January and September:

• Full-time students will complete taught modules in each of the first two trimesters, and complete the 60-credit dissertation project in trimester three
• Part-time students will complete taught modules in years one and two, and complete the dissertation project in year three

Learning experience

• Our course explores cyber security from both attack and defense (red and blue issues) positions, so you can develop comprehensive subject knowledge. We regularly review module content with our industry partners to ensure your acquired knowledge and skillset reflects trends and needs within professional and business communities.
• Current course topics include cyber forensics, information security, privacy and network security and threat intelligence. Knowledge is delivered using activities that will sharpen your computer science skills, and help you to develop both a strategic mindset and an analytical approach. Learn more about the current course modules in the section below.

Course team

• The Cyber Security, Threat Intelligence and Forensics postgraduate course is delivered by an academic team with extensive industry experience and research connections.

Modules

• Cyber Forensics
• Information Security in Practice
• Privacy and Network Security
• Cyber Threat Intelligence
• Project

Teaching

• The majority of teaching and learning is delivered through tutorial and seminar groups. You will benefit from the supply of a range of high-quality teaching materials and software. Interaction is face-to-face wherever practical, but we also use web-based learning support packages (databases of materials, discussion boards etc.) and there is a strong focus on guided self-learning.
• Group activities develop your team working and professional skills (though all assessment is individual). Supervised work in computer laboratories puts into practice principles you have covered in supporting lectures.

Assessment

Projects and assignments used in the course assessment strive to apply your learning to a realistic problem. We aim to develop your independent learning skills and your ability to make decisions in uncertain situations. Professionalism and ethics are woven throughout the programme, and the identification of these issues is an integral part of all assignments and projects.

• Practical work (33%) where you will use some offensive and defensive tools and write a report critiquing your strategy.
• Coursework (33%) where you will receive a research-oriented task with a longer deadline to assess your considered and in-depth response to a larger problem.
• Project (34%) where you will work independently, to plan a significant activity and, in carrying out the plan, demonstrate originality in the application of your knowledge. You will have flexibility in choosing the Area of your project to match the areas of the course, or your future career plans.