MSc Cyber Security (Part-Time)
2 years (15.5 weekends) Part-time blended learning
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Response to Covid-19: Our focus is on providing a safe and welcoming learning environment and ensuring continued access to learning.
As a result of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and resulting social distancing requirements, we are intending to teach this course using a mix of on-campus and online learning activities. We continue to be guided by the Government to ensure our campus is Covid-secure. More information about our response to Covid-19 and FAQs are available here.
All information is accurate at the time of sharing. Courses starting in 2022 are offered as a mix of face to face and online learning. We continue to monitor government and local authority guidance in relation to Covid-19 and we are ready and able to flex accordingly to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff. Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with additional restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors, potentially to a full online offer, should further restrictions be deemed necessary in future. Our online activity will be delivered through Blackboard Ultra, enabling collaboration, connection and engagement with materials and people.
The issue of cyber security continues to be a major issue for both individuals and large corporations. It has been reported by the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2018 that over four in ten businesses (43%) and two in ten charities (19%) experienced a cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months.
For businesses, it is no longer a question of if a cyber-attack will occur but rather when, and as such, the demand for qualified IT security professionals has risen exponentially. Northumbria University’s part-time MSc Cyber Security has been designed to give you the skills to meet this increased demand, including how to handle security incidents, identify new and existing threats, and determine methods to minimise them.
Incidents of cyber-crime have increased in the UK by 48% from 2013-14 according to PwC’s Global State of Information Security Survey 2015, costing the UK up to £27bn a year. While their 2016 survey has reported a significant shift in the way organisations are taking action, including their willingness to invest in security.
Our MSc Cyber Security will teach you how to handle security incidents, identify new and existing threats and determine methods to minimise them. We will also provide in-depth coverage of the fundamental concepts, principles and technologies for network security. Going beyond just theoretical theory, you will be given a practical understanding of governance and assurance, along with technology risk practices.
Our MSc Cyber Security has been awarded provisional certification in Cyber Security from the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre). This places us in an elite group of postgraduate providers which have achieved this standard.
Our MSc Cyber Security is designed to allow you to fit your studies around your working life and is assessed through modular assignments, exams and a final dissertation.
Cyber security has become an increasingly recurring issue for businesses, governments and the public. Recent hacks include the US presidential election, Yahoo’s ‘biggest data breach in history’ and the continual release of information by WikiLeaks, the financial cost to business is estimated to be as high as $6 trillion by 2021. Given this, businesses and governments alike have significantly invested in their cyber security systems.
With all this investment, there are a plethora of career options following completion of this course, typical roles include:
From your Programme Leader, Hamid Jahankhani:
Cyber Security reading:
Part-Time study:
If you do not have the required technical expertise from either previous study, professional qualifications or work experience, you may find the MSc Cyber Security Technology more suitable.
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Please visit our entry requirements page for country-specific qualifications.
All modules on this course are core and 20 credits unless otherwise stated.
In this module, you will learn about the information governance and cyber security principles that underpin the management of an organisation’s information assets. You will critically analyse the key concepts, theories, standards and frameworks of information governance and security, including risk management.
It will enable you to evaluate an organisation’s current approach to information governance and cyber security. You will have the expertise to advise on the design and implementation of an appropriate strategy for managing an organisation’s information (ensuring all assets meet legal, regulatory, organisational and/or societal needs for information governance and
The main objective of this module is to provide you with in-depth coverage of the fundamental concepts, principles and technologies for network security. This module will provide you with a theoretical and practical understanding on two important aspects related to security namely, data security and network security.
The module will cover a number of topics including cryptography, classical systems, IP protocol security, private and public-key cryptography, cryptographic protocols, hash functions, authentication, signature schemes, email and web security, viruses, and firewalls. The concepts introduced in lectures are reinforced with the help of extensive hands-on laboratory workshops.
You will also have the opportunity to develop practical networking skills by using Cisco IOS, a configuration of firewalls, switches and routers. You will also explore the wider impact of security via a consideration of related legal, ethical and social issues.
This module is designed to be suitable for a variety of networking professional roles including those wishing to gain a deeper understanding of 802.11 protocols, security and enterprise deployment. You will study enterprise wireless deployment elements and methodologies. Basic RF characteristics for mobile systems. 802.11 protocol operation and technologies wireless security issues and attack vulnerabilities.
This module will provide students with in-depth knowledge of the processes used in assuring the security of information during use, sharing, storage, transmission and disposal. It will cover the protection of the integrity, authenticity, availability and confidentiality of all classes of information. The module is designed to provide a comprehensive framework for ensuring the resilience of business activities during threats and disruptive events thus enabling the assessment of potential risks to the business which could result from disasters or emergency situations.
This module will enable learners to develop a deep understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of Ethical Hacking. An essential part of a modern organisation’s e-security includes rigorous testing and analysis to determine vulnerabilities. Carrying out such work requires a special skill set, which crosses, legal issues, psychology, computer networks along with a detailed understanding of system vulnerabilities and exploits. Additionally, you will be exposed to a collection of industry-standard hacking tools and will learn how to apply these in an ethical manner to determine system vulnerabilities.
Throughout the world of science, engineering, technology and business, the ability to pursue research is seen as a requisite for continued career progression in the appropriate subject discipline. This module introduces students to the nature of research and the processes involved in carrying out research. General research approaches and methods for research will be introduced including literature searching, evaluation and reviewing. This general introduction will be followed by the inclusion of topics specifically designed to meet the requirements of the students’ programme of study.
The aim of this module is to enable you to undertake a substantial academic research project at Masters Level and present the results from this work in both written and oral forms. Your project itself will be a major piece of independent and original research centred at the forefront of your programme discipline within the wider sphere of the computer science and digital technologies field.
Please note that your tuition fees do not include the cost of course books that you may choose to purchase, stationery, printing and photocopying, accommodation, living expenses, travel or any other extracurricular activities. As a Northumbria University London Campus student, you will have full access to our online digital library with over 400,000 e-books and 50,000 electronic journals.
The modules you will study do not require you to purchase additional textbooks although we recommend you allow an additional £200-250 for the duration of your studies should you choose to purchase any additional reading materials.
Your tuition fees cover far more than your time in class with our expert academics, it covers the cost of providing you with excellent services and student experience.
We offer an interest-free monthly payment plan available to all self-funded students after payment of your deposit.
Please note that self-funded students are required to pay a deposit of £2,450.
If you are a UK/Home student, you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan of up to £10,000+ from the UK Government. Click here to find out more about the loan and whether you are eligible to receive it.
Our Early Application Discount is awarded to you when you submit your application and holding deposit, before the deadlines specified on our dates and fees page. The discount is applied to your remaining fees after you pay your full deposit. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer – please contact us for more details on eligibility.
Enquire now to find out more information about the course, studying with us, the application process, and to ask any other questions you may have.
Once you’re ready to apply, you can apply online to study the part-time MSc Cyber Security programme. This method allows you to upload your supporting documents at the time of application and automatically receive your student application number.
We strongly recommend that you submit your application as early as possible to allow you to complete all of the preparations needed to study your programme. Please refer to the Dates and Fees page.
Supporting documents
For us to assess your application in a timely manner, it is important that you provide us with the following documents:
You can check more information on how to apply here, including guidelines for the application forms.
Postgraduate
UK/Home Fee: £8,400
2:2 honours degree, or equivalent, from a recognised university in a related subject or professional qualifications that are equivalent to an honours degree
Part-time blended learning
2 years (15.5 weekends)
Coursework and exams
Not available
Available
Available
January, April, July, October
Next application deadline