School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences

MSc Cyber Security with Professional Practice

MSc Full-time 18 months

MSc Cyber Security with Professional Practice offers a unique opportunity for international and home students to gain relevant work experience within an external business or organisation, giving you a competitive edge in the job market.

MSc Cyber Security with Professional Practice offers a unique opportunity for international and home students to gain relevant work experience within an external business or organisation, giving you a competitive edge in the job market.

Award
MSc
Start date(s)
13 January 2025,16 September 2024
UCAS Code
Course specifications
Course length
Full-time (18 months)
Campus location
Wolverhampton City Campus
UCAS points calculator

Why choose this course?

The University of Wolverhampton has been named “Cyber University of The Year” at this year's National Cyber Awards 2022. 

MSc Cyber Security with Professional Practice offers a unique opportunity for international and home students to gain relevant work experience within an external business or organisation, giving you a competitive edge in the job market.

The placement is undertaken between the taught part of the course and the dissertation; and will usually be 4 months in duration from May/June to September.  Our MSc Cyber Security with Professional Practice offers the option of going on a placement, which can be paid or unpaid.  Placement students are valuable to employers and many of our placements are paid.  All applications are on a competitive basis and students secure positions through their own efforts. Some assistance in preparation for applying for placements will be provided, however the employer has the final say. The work undertaken by the student must be of an adequate standard in an area of work strongly related to the content of the MSc Cyber Security with Professional Practice Programme and the appropriateness of any placement will be assessed and approved by a member of the academic team on an individual basis.  Your placement will enable you to boost your learning with hands on experience and apply your theoretical knowledge to real life work experience

Although the placement is not guaranteed, the University maintains links with a wide network of organisations who offer placement opportunities. 

The exponential increase in mobile devices, converged applications and Cloud technologies, initiatives such as Bring your Own Device (BYOD) / Choose Your Own Device (CYOD) and the advent of digital information technologies, has increased the proliferation of threats in our vibrant and active cyber-physical-natural environment diluting further its perimeter. Our cyberspace is constantly increasing its size almost linearly to its value recognising Cyber Security as a global response to the challenges posed by constantly evolving systems which are harder to secure. The MSc Cyber Security seeks to address the increasing demand for Cyber Security related domains in both academic, vocational qualifications and projection for an increased shortage of Cyber Security professionals in the industry. The course has been designed by a team of leading experts, researchers and trainers in the field and gives the opportunity to the students to be exposed to cutting-edge technologies, tools and techniques in cyber exploitation and defence.

What happens on the course?

You will undertake a wide range of learning activities including:

  • Computer-based learning 
  • Supported learning using the University VLE (CANVAS) as a learning tool, for
  • information and interactive communications
  • Lectures
  • Tutorials (smaller group/one-to-one)
  • Workshops
  • Case studies
  • Structured laboratory exercises
  • Individual structured assignment-based learning
  • Directed study
  • Individual or group exercises
  • Research project investigations

Assessment methods will include:

  • Written reports
  • Essays
  • Literature reviews
  • Professional practice
  • Exams
  • Presentations

Students will also have the opportunity to engage in formative assessment throughout the course, especially during exercises in the practise sessions where their tutors will give feedback on progress and performance for each of the tasks allocated. The assessment strategy for this course is designed around a holistic evaluation on knowledge and skills acquired with a strong emphasis on the requirements for this mode of delivery and diverse skills, background and expectations of the target audience. All assessments used in the course are in perfect alignment with University requirements, regulations and policies. Coursework assignments typically incorporate formative feedback so that students can gain an insight into whether their work is meeting the necessary thresholds and focus on meaningful remarks to improve both their performance and understanding in the subject matter. Students will also get the opportunity to be engaged in guest lectures from leading experts in the area and be taught by active researchers and trainers in all modules as part of the programme.

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

As a student in this course, you will have a learning journey underpinned by our innovative research projects and strong links with the government and industry. You will have access to our team at the Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute (WCRI) to learn with a first-hand experience how we address the unique complexity and challenges associated with cybersecurity in a constantly evolving threat landscape.

The diverse skill set around management of security as delivered in the course will equip you with a meaningful GRC knowledge and relevant experience to excel your career prospects. This is quite prominent due to the problem recruiters have to get hold of security managers with these skills. Interactive sessions in the form of demos will also be delivered by the teaching staff and guest speakers to further leverage understanding and stimulate attention towards relevant and pragmatic issues in the area.

The unit ‘Research Methodologies and Project Management’ in particular requires you to work in a team to apply a current project management methodology that embraces all of these knowledge areas related to Cyber Security. You will be exposed to all stages of planning, execution and project control; you will work as part of a team, take responsibility and make autonomous decisions that impact on the project team performance.

The course has been designed in close consultation with Information Security industry experts and utilises unique tools and platforms to deliver its core elements, skills and capabilities required in the field.

We also continue to invest in world-leading facilities including our £9 million cyber centre. Our Midlands Quarter – Centre for Cyber Security is a bespoke Cyber & Security ecosystem, which blends industry and innovation with academic excellence and expertise.The centre is a joint venture between the University of Wolverhampton and Herefordshire Council. The 2,000 square metre building will provide significant resources for research and development across three cyber laboratories, advanced training facilities as part of the University’s Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute and additional business space for up to 16 cyber companies.

You will enhance critical understanding and synthesis skills with regards to security processes, techniques and methodologies around cyber security in a blended learning environment with strong hands-on explication using cutting-edge software and hardware. The course will cover cyber defence elements and state-of-the-art in exploitation techniques, threats and security risks in both targeted and multi-stage cyber-attacks in the cyberspace.

You should be able to identify and mitigate security violations across the cyberspace with a strong emphasis on Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) frameworks and standards; and the importance of automation and orchestration of security operations in highly volatile and sensitive environments to develop better and more efficient security controls.

You will be exposed to formalised security principles and protocols and expand your ability and capabilities in strong system administration and modelling of threat landscapes in a variety of different organisational contexts. Since this programme has been developed concerning the requirements of cyber security professional bodies, it aims to produce postgraduates with subject-specific and transferable knowledge and skills suited to a career in the cyber security industry or other related IT disciplines

Location Mode Fee Year
Home Full-time £8883 per year 2022-23
Home Full-time £8883 per year 2022-23
Home Full-time £9328 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £9328 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £9794 per year 2024-25
International Full-time £15450 per year 2022-23
International Full-time £15450 per year 2022-23
International Full-time £16450 per year 2023-24
International Full-time £16450 per year 2023-24
International Full-time £16950 per year 2024-25

These fees relate to new entrants only for the academic year indicated for entry onto the course, any subsequent years study may be subject to an annual increase, usually in line with inflation.

Please note this course is currently only open to INTERNATIONAL applicants

A lower second honours degree in Computer Science or equivalent.

A Postgraduate Certificate in Computer Science or a related subject with a minimum grade C or 50% in all modules

Alternatively:

Evidence of industrial certifications in Information security such as CISSP, CEH, BCS will also be considered for suitable candidates with a minimum of 3 years working experience in related industries. An interview process will also be utilised to verify suitability for the course for candidates with non-standard academic backgrounds but with demonstrable industry experience in the field.

Your qualifications need to be deemed equivalent to the above entry requirements.

Postgraduate Loan (Home Fee Status):

You may be able to get a postgraduate student loan from Student Finance England of up to £12,167 to help pay for a Master’s degree. Applications are made through Student Finance England and more information on the regulations and eligibility criteria can be found at Masters Loans gov.uk.

* Any RPL will invalidate your eligibility as you must study a minimum of 180 credits


Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as Overseas (International) students for fee purposes. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) click here.


Postgraduate Loyalty Discount:

You can get 20% discount on a taught on-site postgraduate course if you’re a University of Wolverhampton Graduate.

The University offers a generous 20% Loyalty Discount to students progressing from an undergraduate programme to a taught postgraduate programme, where both courses are University of Wolverhampton Awards.

There is no time limit on how long ago you completed your degree as long as this is your first Masters level qualification.

The discount applies to the first year of enrolment only. Students who receive a loyalty discount are not entitled to any further tuition discount or bursary. For full terms and conditions click here.


Self-funded:

If you are paying for the fees yourself then the fees can be paid in 3 instalments: November, January and April. More information can be found by clicking here.


Sponsored - Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

Your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


Charitable Funding:

You might also want to explore the possibility of funding from charitable trusts; please see the following websites Association of Charitable Foundations, Directory of Social Change or Family Action. Most charities and trust funds offer limited bursaries targeted to specific groups of students so you will need to research whether any of them are relevant to your situation.


You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

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