Cyber Security

Cyber security is a growing concern – there’s a significant skills gap and global demand for cybersecurity professionals. Our MSc, provisionally accredited by the National Cyber Security Centre, develops the skills you need to pursue a career in the industry. The course covers various topics, including information security, digital forensics and other fundamental concepts. It also incorporates transferable skills applicable to professional development and finishes with a substantial independent project.



This course is provisionally certified by: National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

Modules

To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits.



Stage 1 (120 credits)

120 credits from:

Compulsory modules/Credits

Information security (M811) 30

Digital forensics (M812) 30

Systems security (M817) 30

Network security (T828) 30



Stage 2 (60 credits)

Either 60 credits from:

Module/Credits

Research project (T802) 60

Or

30 credits from:

Module/Credits

MSc project: researching in context (T803) 30



Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module T847.



And 30 credits from:

Option Modules/Credits

Data management (M816) 30

Project management (M815) 30

Software development (M813) 30

Software engineering (M814) 30

Strategic capabilities for technological innovation (T849) 30

Technology and innovation management (TB801) 30



Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules T848 and U810.



You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you. Note, in particular, you can count the credit from the following modules towards only a single qualification: Research project (T802); MSc project: researching in context (T803).

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.



Although this qualification has no entry requirements, we recommend you have:

• a UK honours degree (or equivalent) in a computing or cybersecurity discipline or relevant industry experience

• minimum IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores of:

§ Reading: 5.5

§ Writing: 5.5

§ Speaking: 5.5

§ Listening: 5.5

§ Overall: 6.0.



Our free course, Succeeding in postgraduate study (https://www.ielts.org/), helps you develop the skills and confidence to manage the requirements and demands of postgraduate study.

3 years part-time study.



How long it takes

Most students study the MSc in Cyber Security part-time, completing 60 credits a year over three years. Typically, this means 12–13 study hours each week.



You can also complete this qualification in two years if you study the Stage 1 modules concurrently: two from November to April and two from May to October.



You must complete the MSc in Cyber Security within six years.

See Course Web Page link for next start date.

Career relevance

The modules in the postgraduate cyber security programme are for professional security specialists, computer specialists, engineers, technical managers and scientists who need to develop or update their skills and knowledge in the area of cyber security and gain a recognised qualification to develop their careers. They have been developed to combine theoretical and practical aspects of cyber security, to enable you to become an effective professional in the industry.



In addition, they aim to encourage you, through the provision of appropriate educational activities, to develop study and transferable skills applicable to your employment and your continuing professional development.