Forensic Computing & Cybercrime Investigation

This programme is open to members of LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ONLY with a minimum of 5 years Law enforcement experience. This includes employees of any organisation that has responsibility for the enforcement of national or local legislation including but not limited to: Police Forces, International law enforcement organisations (Europol, Interpol, etc), Fisheries, Border control, Immigration, Tax/Revenue & Customs, Regulatory enforcement, Military (Army, Navy, Air Force etc). The programme is flexible enough to accommodate both experts and beginners in the field of digital forensics and cybercrime investigation.



This is a programme for LAW ENFORCEMENT ONLY. It aims to provide high quality forensic computing and cybercrime investigation training and formal education. It is also designed to deliver cutting-edge, up-to-date cybercrime investigation techniques, strategies and tactics that allow students to understand and tackle emerging trends in cybercrime. Over the past 17 years, we have brought in specialists from around the world to review and advise on the content considering the needs of digital forensic investigators and computer crime specialists. The UCD School of Computer Science (CS) and UCD Centre for Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Investigation (CCI) are working closely with law enforcement agencies and industry practitioners in seeking solutions to technologies-related crime. CS and CCI staff also collaborate with the scientists from European Cybercrime Training and Educational Group at Europol (ECTEG).



Course delivery

THIS COURSE IN ONLINE WITH IN-PERSON EXAMS EACH SEMESTER. Lectures are pre-recorded and provided online via a virtual online learning environment. Exercises, reading, assignments and projects are conducted online and in our virtual labs. Students are required to come to Dublin or another UCD exam centre each year to complete in-person examinations. All modules are examined in December and May in one of our five exam centres internationally. Please note that an exam centre venue will be subject to availability and demand.



A wide range of modules is available at beginner and advanced levels. On successful completion of the programme, depending on the module taken, students will be able to:



- Understand methods used to conduct forensic analysis of digital devices including computer systems and mobile devices

- Identify, collect, process, analyse and present digital forensics evidence

- Use common network investigation techniques

Develop critical thinking in analysing and performing cybercrime investigation

- Understand the cybercrime business model and how to perform the financial fraud investigations

- Conduct research into novel forensic and cybercrime investigation problems

Investigate cases of child sexual exploitation on the Internet

- Tackle the forensic analysis of future technologies (both hardware and software) through the development of new applications.

- Understand the current threat landscape and accurately assess the severity and ramifications of a given compromise.

- Consider and explain the foundational concepts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity relevant to AI pipelines.

Stage 1 Options - A) Min 7 of:

Select from the following: Students select 90 credits of modules over 1 year.

COMP40100 Computer Forensics Autumn 10

COMP40110 Network Investigations Autumn 10

COMP41430 Linux for Investigators Autumn 10

COMP41650 Malware Investigations Autumn 10

COMP41660 Live Data Forensics Autumn 10

COMP47370 Data & Database Forensics Autumn 10

COMP47420 Online Fraud Investigations for Irish Law Enforcement Autumn 5

COMP47430 Mobile Devices Investigation Autumn 10

COMP47440 Legislation regarding Fraud & Economic Crime Autumn 5

COMP47450 Financial Fraud Investigation Autumn 10

COMP40120 Programming for Investigators Spring 10

COMP41580 VoIP and Wireless Investigations Spring 10

COMP41590 Advanced Computer Forensics Spring 10

COMP41750 Advanced Malware Analysis & Threat Intelligence Spring 10

COMP47510 Financial Investigation Techniques - Following the Money Spring 10

COMP47630 OSINT Collection & Analysis Spring 10

COMP47640 Online Child Abuse Invest. Spring 10

COMP40150 Case Studies Summer 10

COMP40160 Research Project in Forensic Computing and Cyber Crime Investigation Summer 30

All applicants must be current employees of a law enforcement organisation (LE) working in an investigative role. You do not have to be a sworn officer. LE includes any organisation that has responsibility for the enforcement of national or local legislation such as:



Local, National, or Federal Police Forces

Government law enforcement agencies

Immigration & Border Control, Revenue & Customs

Defence forces including military police

International Police organisations (Europol, Interpol, etc)

Regulatory Enforcement agencies etc

Public prosecutors / Attorney General's office



If you do not have the required 5 years minimum employment in law enforcement, but you have been working in the field of digital forensic investigations in law enforcement for more than 2 years and you have successfully completed advanced training, then we will consider this in compensation, at the discretion of the course directors. We prefer applicants with a primary degree in computer science but it is not compulsory.



In cases where applicants have less than the required length of employment experience we may ask you to take 3 single modules as CPD (Continual Professional Development) and if you achieve grades of B- or higher you may be allowed to transfer to the MSc programme.



Please note that in some countries, a Masters degree is not recognised unless you also have an undergraduate degree and do a major piece of research as part of your Masters.



Each applicant will be assessed on a case by case basis.



Students are also required to fulfil UCD’s English Language Requirements (see http://www.ucd.ie/international/study-at-ucd-global/ucdenglishlanguagerequirements/)



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/

Apply online



Who Should Apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EU) applicants: Yes



Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EEA) applicants: Yes

1 year full-time (T146) or 2 years part-time (T025).

Delivery: Online.

MSc Forensic Computing and Cybercrime Investigation (T025) Part Time

EU/NONEU fee per year - € 4835


MSc Forensic Computing and Cybercrime Investigation (T146) Full Time

EU fee per year - € 9670

nonEU fee per year - € 9670


***Fees are subject to change


Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. The cost of examination trips is not included in the tuition fee and students are expected to support themselves while attending examinations and other events. Tuition fees are the same for EU and non-EU students.

T146 Forensic Computing & Cybercrime Investigation (Master of Science) Full-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught



T025 Forensic Computing & Cybercrime Investigation (Master of Science) Part-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

For law enforcement officers, having this qualification has the additional advantage of adding credibility to their testimony as expert witnesses. Career development possibilities in this field are excellent. Graduates include senior staff at Europol and INTERPOL, members of national and regional police forces and police training colleges, government ministries and agencies with Law Enforcement (LE) powers, defence forces, specialist cybercrime agencies, revenue, customs and border protection.