Cyber Security – MSC

The Benefits of Cyber Security

• Various statistics suggest cyber security will be one of the most in-demand fields. In fact, by 2022, the global cyber security industry can expect to have about 1.8 million unfilled posts. (Forbes)
• Furthermore, cyber security professionals with niche expertise in various related fields are likely to become high-income earning individuals. Currently, employers are offering 30% salary increments.
• Cyber security experts have employment opportunities in various industries in various roles. For example, MSC in Cyber Security leads to a career as a cyber security analyst, auditor, architect, consultant, specialist, network administrator, cybercrime investigator, engineer and more.
• Cyber security specialists are pivotal in the modern digital revolution as companies across the spectrum become increasingly reliant on internet technologies. They are the barriers between businesses and potential cyberattacks caused by cyber criminals.
• An MSC in Cyber Security in UK enables students to commit to an ongoing learning curve that allows them to keep up with changes in the digital world as they happen.

What is Cyber Security?

With a surge in modern digital technologies such as cloud technologies, artificial intelligence, remote networks, etc., the risk of the same technologies being used with the intention of damage increases.

Cyber security consists of processes and systems that are used to keep malicious software and cybercriminals at bay, keeping confidential data and critical infrastructure secure. an MSC in Cyber Security will enable you to monitor vulnerable points of control in the organization’s IT infrastructure and mitigate risks that could potentially cost millions of pounds in loss.

MSC in Cyber Security and Fee Structure

UK universities offer an MSC in Cyber Security under various names. Most degrees are a year-long if undertaken full-time. This is a postgraduate taught degree where students can pay extra to take advantage of placements/internship opportunities. You can apply for two-year part-time degrees if you are a working individual.

International students can expect to pay between £14,000 and £31,000+ to graduate with a cyber security MSc. Depending on the university, international students may be required to pay an upward of £40,000.

What Does Cyber Security Entail?

Increased connectivity and ubiquity of the internet have allowed businesses to grow and develop exponentially. However, the same developments in the wrong hands i.e. cybercriminals, hackers and terrorists, can pose a serious risk to confidential and critical data.

There are various examples of the monetary and overall business reputation repercussions of an incident when a business suffers a breach or cyberattack that compromises a client/customer’s private information.

An MSc in cyber security aims to equip professionals with technical skills that allow them to build systems and firewalls that prevent such cyberattacks. Students study both theories and learn practical programming skills along with network security, cryptography, operating systems, incident management, forensics, and more.

Most cyber security MSc programmes are designed to fill gaps with advanced knowledge that enables both IT and non-IT professionals to build mission-critical systems. It’s a versatile degree that benefits organizations in various industries including healthcare, FinTech, software development, hospitality, insurance, and more.

In addition to learning advanced cyber security and IT modules, an MSC in Cyber Security involves:

• Learning investigative penetration testing techniques
• Learning and practice using different software platforms
• Exploring data science
• Specializing in sociological and technical aspects of cyber security and digital forensics
• Develop tangible skills that cover a wide range of modules
• Learning how to analyze network traffic logs, detect and mitigate attacks, and resolving conflicts

When Should You Consider Taking Cyber Security?

Most cyber security MSc degrees offered by UK universities are meant for people with previous degrees in Information Technology or ICT. Graduates with exiting computing, network, and information security can also apply.

However, there are some cyber security MSc programmes that are meant for students without a computing degree. Graduates with numerate degrees can also engage in a Cyber Security MSc to gain specialist analytic and development skills for technical and non-technical cyber security aspects.

Some UK universities that cater to Cyber Security MSc programmes to non-IT applicants extend the typically one-year degree. Students can expect 2- to 3-year-long programmes where the first year or so focuses on foundational courses.

UK Universities for Cyber Security

Here are a few UK universities offering an MSc in Cyber Security to both UK and international students:

Abertay University

Located in Dundee, Abertay University offers an MSc in Cyber Security under the “Ethical hacking and Cyber Security” label. The university was the first to not only offer a degree in computer games but also Ethical Hacking, illustrating its expertise in this field.

The programme is offered on a full-time and part-time basis. Students get to engage in courses in digital forensics, penetration testing, information security management, malware analysis, password cracking, and more. Labs and practical classes and theoretical instruction are both parts of the programme.

Upon graduation, students with an MSc in Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security from Abertay work for leading firms such as Goldman-Sachs and Dell Secure Works.

University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham offers a one-year full-time Cyber Security MSc programme that is certified by GCHQ. The university has received an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research from the UK government.

The degree involved both taught and research courses such as;

• Algorithms
• Designing and managing secure systems
• Network security
• Forensics
• Malware
• Penetration testing
• Machine learning
• Data analysis
• Programing language principles

These courses are taught by trained and highly qualified cyber security and computing experts. Graduates can hope to find placement in leading tech companies such as Vodafone, Microsoft, HP, etc.

University College London

UCL is one of the leading UK universities offering an MSc in Information Security as a specialist programme. Highly competitive, the degree aims to equip graduates with technical cyber security engineering skills to fill the shortage gap in the UK.

The MSc in Information Security is certified by the National Cyber Security Centre or NCSC. Core modules include computer security, cryptography, cybercrime, malware, distributed systems and security, people and security, and more.

While difficult and competitive, a Cyber Security MSc can be rewarding and provide specialist skills that will allow you to protect the organization and its customers and clients from cybercrime. If you’ve chosen this path for your professional and academic career, we can help you apply for an MSC in Cyber Security in UK.