M.Sc in Cyber Security

Through this course you will be geared up for a professional career in cyber security. You will gain a practical understanding of issues surrounding the design, analysis and implementation of modern secure IT systems in an industry context.
 

Along the way you will develop an appreciation of commercial and open source cyber security equipment, software and services based on industry standard technologies  In addition, you will discover how cyber security systems are designed and constructed, and the impact this technology has on organisations.
 

You will gain the skills you need to work effectively in a business environment, and provide a solid basis for cyber security research and development.
 

The course is taught by an academic team with extensive research and professional practice directly in cyber security. All the tutors have the academic and industry knowledge and experiences to support your development. A strong supportive culture exists among the course tutors which enables you to grow and succeed.
 

We use a variety of teaching methods including lectures, seminars, laboratory work and report writing, to help you make the most of your learning experience. You will also have access to laboratories and dedicated ICT suites with specialist networks and software, plus ample space for private study and meetings.
 

The School of Computing and Engineering has strong industry links, creating opportunities for industry projects, work placements and internships for our students.

Extended Masters option

If you have an undergraduate degree, but do not quite meet the entry criteria for this course, you may qualify for our Extended Masters. You will take two extra modules to prepare you for the course, which will extend your total study time by 3-4 months. You must study for the Extended Masters full time. We also provide English-language support if you need it. Once you complete these two modules, you can progress directly onto the regular Masters course.
 

Enhanced Extended Masters option

The Enhanced Extended Masters offers a comprehensive learning experience, you will study four modules over a full semester:

• Advanced Study Skills
• Critical Thinking
• Analysis and Evaluation
• Statistics and Business English.
   

Core to this offer is Business English, which will incorporate a wider range of learning material to allow you to gain a full understanding of this critical subject area. The applicability of Business English has been seen as key, allowing a seamless transition into the teaching methodologies of the Master’s courses offered at the University of West London. 
 

Internship

You can also choose to take this course with an eight week internship at a relevant organisation. If you choose this option you can gain workplace experience, develop new skills and connect with potential employers.

You need to meet our English language requirement - a minimum of IELTS 6.5, with a minimum of 5.5 for each of the 4 individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening), TOEFL iBT at score 90 or above, Pearson PTW Academic at score 58 or above, or an equivalent English language test.
 

We offer pre-sessional English language courses if you do not meet these requirements.
 

Find out more about our English Language courses.
 

You also need Level 6 qualifications at the same level as UK applicants. In some countries where teaching is in English, we may accept local qualifications. Check for local equivalents.
 

Extended Masters Degree

To study the Extended Masters programme you will need:

• a Bachelor's degree
• international students need to meet our English language requirements of IELTS 6.5 or above and a minimum of 5.5 for each of the individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening). We will also consider you for this course with IELTS between 6.0 and 6.5 - in this case you would need to complete an English language course during your first semester, which we provide at no additional cost.

The fee above is the cost per year of your course.
 

If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year. If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
 

Government regulation does affect tuition fees and the fees listed for courses starting in the 2023/24 academic year are subject to change.
 

If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.
 

Funding your studies

We offer scholarships for international students including International Ambassador Scholarships worth up to £5,000. 
 

Further information about funding and financial support for international students is available from the UK Council for International Student Affairs.

On completion of the course you have clear routes into a number of career opportunities especially in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry and in organisations that are data and knowledge intensive. Employers require information security officers at all levels including the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), network and computer security engineers, security managers and consultants, penetration testers, cyber security analysts, security investigators and security researchers to name a few of the roles. Additionally some security experts find themselves working in media, writing articles for magazines and papers etc. 
 

Typical job titles include:

• Network or Computer Security Technician • Computer or Network Security Officer • Penetration Tester • Identity and Access Management Officer • Threat and Incident Response Analyst • Data Privacy Officer • Network Forensics Analyst • Data Protection Advisor • Security Operations Analyst • ISO27002 Lead Auditor • Cloud Security Architect • Security Consultant •IT Security Manager • Business Continuity Manager • Information Risk Manager • Information Governance Manager • Cryptographer/Cryptologist • Security Software Developer • Source Code Auditor • Virus Technician
 

Outstanding graduates have gone on to further study at the level of MPhil and PhD at UWL and at other institutions.
 

We actively encourage students with potential for research to make their interest known early on in their course.