Northumbria University (London)

Additional information

Overview

With the dramatic increase in high-profile cyber security incidents reported in the media, the demand for highly skilled security professionals is growing significantly as businesses across the globe seek to protect their networks and data. Our MSc Cyber Security provides you with a critical understanding of information governance and assurance, combined with technology risk management practices.

In addition to developing the key skills for handling security incidents, you will learn how to identify new and existing threats and the methods by which to reduce them.

Key facts

• Develop key skills which are highly in demand by employers
• Enhance your ability to handle and minimise security threats and incidents
• Northumbria University’s Cyber Security Master’s degrees are recognised as among the best in the country after receiving full certification from the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of GCHQ
• Northumbria University is recognised as a Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACEs-CSR) by the National Cyber Security Centre
• Also available as a part-time programme
• Upon completion of your programme, you will be eligible for the QA Professional Pathways programmes which will enable you to further develop your skills with one of the UK’s largest providers of IT and project management training
• The Advanced Practice stage of this programme provides you with the opportunity to undertake a 12-15 week internship, allowing you to put your learning in to practice, enhancing your learning and further developing your employability

What will I study?

The programme aims to provide you with advanced and specialist knowledge and skills in the field of cyber security. Your MSc Cyber Security will cover topics such as

• Information Governance and Security
• Information Assurance and Risk Management
• Wireless Networks and Security
• Network Security
• Ethical Hacking for Cyber Security.

You will also develop your research and project management skills, in particular, to support your preparation for your MSc project. In your final semester, you will complete a major individual project, where you will receive one-to-one tuition and supervision from a relevant academic supervisor.

This project will provide you with a platform to undertake a substantial piece of individual research. To do this you will utilise appropriate advanced research, critical evaluation and synthesis techniques.

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.

This programme is also available part-time or as MSc Cyber Security with Advanced Practice which includes either an internship, consultancy project or research project.

Ultimately, as a graduate of MSc Cyber Security you will be able to:

• Demonstrate complex, specialised knowledge and skills and appreciate innovations, advances and major issues in the field of cyber security
• Deal with complex issues both creatively and systematically, and show originality in tackling and solving problems
• Work both individually and as a member of a team, recognising different team roles and multi-cultural environmental issues
• Communicate balanced judgements effectively (in writing and verbally) at the appropriate business and technical level with users, management, customers and technical specialists, justifying work in the context of wider theories and practice, including when considering incomplete or ambiguous data
• Critically understand computing systems in relation to cyber security issues
• Act in a professional and ethical manner in the development and use of computing systems
• Satisfy the educational requirements of the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for professional membership

How will I be taught and assessed?

Throughout the course, you will be able to trial new approaches and processes in a safe environment, working on real-life scenarios and case studies.

• Teaching is delivered through tutorials, lectures and practicals, totalling between 12-13 hours per week.
• You will also be expected to engage in independent study, around 29 hours per week.
• Assessment includes a mix of coursework methods.
• Taught by experienced lecturers and academics who use their industry experience to demonstrate how theories translate into real-life situations.
• Technology-enhanced learning is embedded throughout the course to guide your preparation for seminars and independent research
• Benefit from weekly academic support sessions designed to build your ability and confidence as an academic learner
• You will be assigned a guidance tutor at induction who you will meet with regularly during your studies

Careers and further study

For those with high career aspirations, this programme can give you an extra edge in today’s competitive job market. Graduates from the programme will be equipped to work in a variety of careers in the IT industry or to progress to academic or research-orientated careers. Job roles, including roles in leadership and management, could include working in, for example, software engineering, network design and management, network security, artificial intelligence or IT consultancy.

This programme will prepare you to meet the educational requirements of the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the further learning academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.

Advanced Practice stage

The Advanced Practice version of this course offers you a valuable opportunity to secure a work placement or research placement, giving you the experience of the workplace environment or live Cyber Security issues, and an excellent way to put your learning into practice. This stage of the programme will take place between your second and final semester, and is a semester-long (12-15 weeks approx.) in duration. Internships as part of the Advanced Practice stage may be paid or unpaid. The alternative research placement allows you to work on a research project to carry out active research. Whether you choose the internship or research project, you will successfully develop your cyber skills and further enhance your employability.

Upon successfully completing your course, you may undertake further professional development and training through Professional Pathways programmes. This additional training is offered to our graduates for free, from our partner, QA and provides you with an excellent opportunity to undertake professional training at the end of your Masters from one of the UK’s leading corporate training providers, further enhancing your professional development and employability skills. Find out more about Professional Pathways and your eligibility.