MSc Cyber Security (Graduate Apprenticeship)

Our msc in cyber security graduate apprenticeship is focused on building this expert knowledge and the skills that industries need in the essential field of cyber security. As an it professional with a cyber security remit, with support from your employer, you’ll gain a masters degree whilst spending the majority of your time applying your learning to your professional practice and integrating your knowledge back into the workplace. 

Created in partnership with industry, our MSc Cyber Security combines academic knowledge with advanced skills development. You’ll learn the latest cyber security strategies, theories and techniques, focusing on how to protect and defend information systems from attack.

Why this course?

• Critical to an organisation’s cyber security protection is the ability to understand and articulate security threats, challenges, protection methods and security mechanisms, and to be able to differentiate between excellent security and snake-oil security.

Study with us

• Gain a masters degree whilst in paid employment
• Flexibility to work and study, with classes and learning structured to fit around work and other commitments - you don't need to be online at specific times
• Designed in partnership with industry, you'll learn from experienced, industry-facing cyber security academics and researchers
• Attend classes at our city-centre campus one day every three weeks to learn directly from our experts and network with peers

Chat to a student ambassador

• If you want to know more about what it’s like to be a Science student at the University of Strathclyde, a selection of our current students are here to help!
• Our Unibuddy ambassadors can answer all the questions you might have about courses and studying at Strathclyde, along with offering insight into their experiences of life in Glasgow and Scotland.

Course content

• Your studies will focus on integrating learning with the world of work. During the first 10 months, you’ll study three core modules followed by three specialised modules, alongside work-based learning.
• In the final eight months, you’ll undertake a research project and dissertation module. Beginning with six weeks of research methods training, this module will support you to develop your own research topic in an area related to your work as you continue to apply your academic knowledge and new skills within your workplace.

Core modules

• Information Security Fundamentals
• Advanced Information Security
• Advanced Topics in Information Security
• Information Security Research Project and Dissertation
• Work-based Learning in Information Security

Learning and teaching

• You’ll combine academic theory with professional practice, typically spending about 80% of your work time in your job, and 20% on developing expert knowledge and skills through a combination of online and on campus learning.
• You’ll be required to attend classes on campus one day every three weeks, with the dates for all classes across the academic year supplied in advance to support planning your work and learning commitments. In addition, you’ll undertake around 15 hours of flexible learning a week, through our award-winning Virtual Learning Environment complemented with learning directly in the workplace supported by our team of dedicated Learning Advisers. These advisers are employed by the University to facilitate and support the work-based learning and assessment elements of your MSc in Cyber Security.

Assessment

• Each module involves a range of formative and summative assessments, including online discussion contributions, online quizzes, practical laboratory exercises, and individual and group assignments, such as written reports, face-to-face and video presentations and reflective reports.

Support from the University

• As a MSc Cyber Security student, you’ll be a full University of Strathclyde student, with access to the same facilities, support services and learning resources as our students who study full-time on campus.

On enrolling, you’ll be given a laptop preloaded with the software required for the programme.

• You’ll also receive one to one support from a learning adviser, who’ll meet you twice per term in your workplace to discuss your portfolio of work-based learning activities, help you identify evidence for these, and monitor your progress.

Support from your employer

• We work directly with numerous employers who nominate current or recruit new employees, to undertake our MSc in Cyber Security. We also have students who join us directly, with the support of their employer.
• The Graduate Apprenticeship is a partnership between you, your employer, and the University - the full support of your employer is essential. You can read our employer guidance for the MSc Cyber Security.

Entry requirements

• Each application is assessed on a case by case basis. You will typically have a 2:1 BSc Honours degree in Computer Science or a related discipline. We also welcome enquiries from applicants with non-traditional qualifications and/or relevant work experience. 

You must:

• Be employed in a role with an aspect of cyber security, for a minimum of 21 hours a week. Furloughed staff are also eligible.
• Live and work in Scotland for the duration of the programme
• Have the agreement of your employer to undertake the MSc Cyber Security
• Successful candidates will be required to sign a tripartite agreement prior to registering for the MSc, between them, their employer, and the University. This ensures all parties are fully committed to the programme for its duration.

Annual revision of fees

• Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study and any annual increase will be capped at a maximum of 10% per year.