Cyber Security MSc (PGCert PGDip)

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Top reasons to study this course

• Course content that meets international standards and aligns with the Cyber Security Body of Knowledge (CyBOK), making your skills relevant to global industry.
• Option to study the two-year route with a 12-month work placement or research placement.
• Develop in-demand skills in cyber threat intelligence, malware analysis and incident response, and an understanding of risk management, governance, law and regulation.
• Specialist facilities, including a CISCO-certified networking and cyber security lab, usability lab, virtual reality (VR) suite, and robotics and autonomous systems lab.
• Practice-focused learning – you’ll learn through applied exercises and realistic scenarios that reflect the integration of AI with contemporary cyber security practice.
• Graduate with skills that prepare you for roles such as cyber security analyst, SOC specialist, security engineer and threat intelligence analyst.
• Work with staff who are expert researchers in cyber threat intelligence (CTI), artificial intelligence (AI) for cyber security and threat modelling.

Syllabus

Modules

Core modules

• Emerging Topics in Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security

  This module introduces current and developing themes in artificial intelligence (AI) and explores how AI approaches are being applied to real contexts and in cyber security. You’ll look at security and privacy challenges in AI systems, including data protection, ethics, model robustness and adversarial attacks, alongside the use of AI techniques, for example, threat detection, defence and automation. You will build the skills to evaluate recent advances, research directions and wider implications of AI.

• System and Network Security

  This module provides a practical foundation in securing modern computing environments. It covers operating systems and virtualisation, network security principles and vulnerabilities in software and web applications. Through hands-on ethical hacking and defensive exercises, you will learn to identify, exploit and mitigate security weaknesses, developing the skills needed to design and protect resilient systems.

• Risk Management and Governance

  You will examine the organisational, human and regulatory areas of cyber security in this module. It covers risk management and governance frameworks, the impact of human factors on security practice and the legal and regulatory environment that is shaping cyber security. You’ll learn how to align technical security measures with organisational strategy, compliance requirements and ethical responsibilities.

• Cyber Threat Intelligence and Security Operations

  In this module, you will develop practical skills in understanding, analysing and responding to cyber threats. It covers malware and attack technologies, adversarial behaviours and the collection and use of cyber threat intelligence to support security operations. You will gain experience in incident detection, response and management, learning how intelligence-driven approaches enhance organisational resilience against evolving cyber attacks.

• Major Project

  The Major Project enables you to demonstrate your capacity to work independently at masters level within an area of computing. You will be able to show your ability to identify, justify and follow a recognised development process to develop a software artefact, ranging from a software prototype to an executable software application.

Options*

• Industrial Placement

  This module is an opportunity for you to undertake a minimum of 24 weeks work experience (48 weeks international students) within the subject area of computing and data analytics. You will put into practice the skills and knowledge learnt from the taught modules and reflect upon these in a business context so you can develop teamwork and leadership skills. Successful completion of this placement module is designed to improve your employability.

• Research Project

  This module will give you the opportunity to undertake an in-depth piece of independent research, enabling you to take responsibility for the content, style and direction of your own learning. The module will provide a structure within which you can explore theories, concepts, methods and technologies in your specialist field.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Placement or research year

Placement

The placement option offers a year of work experience to enhance your career opportunities and deepen knowledge of your specialist area.

You’ll be given feedback throughout the year to give you the chance to reflect on your experience and help prepare you for your future career.

Research

You will undertake in-depth independent research aligned with the expertise of the course team and distinct from taught modules and final project. You will critically analyse complex concepts theories and evidence and gain advanced research skills preparing you for further study or research-led professional roles.

You’ll be encouraged to produce research that is suitable for peer review, focusing on topics that are strategically aligned with conferences and journals, so that you might be published when you finish your course. 

Staff profile

Dr Michalis Pavlidis, course leader 

“My main research focuses on the engineering of secure and trustworthy systems that ensure data privacy. My research interests are in the area cyber threat intelligence (CTI), artificial intelligence (AI) for cyber security, threat modelling and security requirements engineering. I study methods, tools and techniques that support engineers in the development of systems that are secure and protect data privacy.”

Find out more about Dr Pavlidis

Course fees

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2026–27.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or the Consumer Price Index (RPI), whichever is higher.

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international postgraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

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