Coventry University - Cyber Security MSc

Coventry University

Cyber Security MSc

The MSc in Cyber Security aims to provide you with the knowledge and necessary skills in several core areas of cyber security. The course aims to provide a comprehensive and deep understanding of security principles, as well as the practical techniques used in solving security problems and addressing relevant issues.

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Provisionally certified by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the course has been designed to give you the opportunity to equip yourself to work at a professional level, developing a range of industry-informed knowledge and skills in areas such as network security, secure design, cryptography, risk assessment, ethical hacking, digital forensics and incident response. Running in a research-driven environment, the course also aims to build foundations for further research at Doctoral level in cyber security for students from a wide range of undergraduate degrees.

The course will also provide the opportunity for recent graduates and early to mid-career practitioners in the computing industry to enhance their knowledge or move into cyber security.

Work placement option

This master's programme provides you with the additional option to apply for a 'work placement' opportunity during your first semester with us. The 'work placement', which if secured, is designed to further develop your skills, knowledge and professional experience with the aim of maximising your employability prospects. Please note that the optional placement modules incur an additional tuition fee of £4,000.

Entry Requirements

An applicant will normally be expected to possess at least one of the following:

  • A minimum of a second class honours degree in a relevant subject such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics or Engineering;
  • A relevant professional qualification of an equivalent level;
  • A lower qualification plus appropriate and relevant experience at a professional level;
  • Satisfactory independent evidence of working for several years in a position that would normally be occupied by an honours graduate, in a relevant area (such as the IT sector), which would lead to gaining benefit from the course.

This course requires IELTS of 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5. Pre-sessional English is available if required.

Career Prospects

The course will provide an opportunity for recent graduates and early to mid-career practitioners in the computing industry to enhance their knowledge or move into cyber security.

It is designed to equip you to work at a professional level and develop a range of industry-informed knowledge and skills. The Cyber Security Research Group at Coventry University currently has strong links with a number of industries and government bodies.

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and aim to give you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university's Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career. 

Where our graduates work

Upon successful completion of this course, you may have the opportunity to be employed in the cyber security industry in a variety of roles such as a penetration tester, SOC security analysis or digital forensic investigator, to name a few.

Course Details

The Cyber Security MSc seeks to provide a postgraduate education covering the main theoretical and practical aspects of the field.

The overall aim of the course is to develop:

  • A deep and comprehensive understanding of current cyber security issues, concepts and technologies;
  • Technical skills in assessing systems security, detecting and mitigating security incidents; and
  • An understanding of the changing cyber threat landscape and the developments in cyberspace.

 

A student who successfully completes the course will have achieved the following Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the legal frameworks, ethical and professional issues of cyber security.
  2. Perform systematic risk assessment, identification and analysis in accordance with international standards and demonstrate an ability to deal with complex issues.
  3. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of network and information systems secure communication technologies and protocols and their application to contemporary Internet and mobile-based solutions and technologies.
  4. Evaluate and justify a suitable methodology and tools for vulnerability assessment of a system. Conduct and report an ethically based security audit and test to a professional standard, recommending and specifying suitable countermeasures.
  5. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the theoretical concepts and implementation of current security frameworks and architectures as well as cryptographic protocols and algorithms. Be able to assess systems’ security requirements and apply secure design methodology and formal methods in systems design, implementation and testing.
  6. Apply appropriate technological solutions and processes in the detection, management and investigation of information security incidents, and document a digital investigation from a legal and professional standpoint.
  7. Demonstrate a critical awareness of current issues and new technologies in cyber security, which are informed by leading edge research and/or practice in the field.
  8. Extrapolate from existing research, scholarship and/or fieldwork findings to identify new or revised approaches to practice.
  9. Conduct rigorous research / formal enquiry into cyber security issues that require familiarity with a range of technologies, research sources and appropriate methodologies, and for such to inform the overall learning process.

Semesters without work placement pathway

Semester 1
Ethical hacking
Network security
Secure design and development
Cryptography

Semester 2
Intrusion detection and response
Digital data acquisition, recovery and analysis

Plus two of the modules in the pathway you have chosen:
Plus one of the following pathways:
Pathway A:
General cyber security
Security of emerging connected systems
Digital security risk and audit management
Pathway B:
Automotive cyber security
Automotive cyber security
Information security management
Pathway C:
Technical cyber security
Security of emerging connected systems
Automotive cyber security
Pathway D:
Cyber security management
Information security management and Digital
Digital security risk and audit management

Semester 3
Cyber security individual project

Semesters with work placement pathway

Semester 1
Ethical hacking
Network security
Secure design and development
Cryptography

Semester 2
Intrusion detection and response
Digital data acquisition, recovery and analysis

Plus two of the modules in the pathway you have chosen: plus one of the following pathways:
Pathway A:
General cyber security
Security of emerging connected systems
Digital security risk and audit management
Pathway B:
Automotive cyber security
Automotive cyber security
Information security management
Pathway C:
Technical cyber security
Security of emerging connected systems
Automotive cyber security
Pathway D:
Cyber security management
Information security management and digital
Digital Security risk and audit management

Semester 3
Work placement (Part One)

Semester 4
Work placement (Part Two)

Semester 5
Work placement (Part Three)

Semester 6
Cyber security individual project

*The information’s are correct at the time of publishing, however it may change if university makes any changes after we have published the information. While we try our best to provide correct information, It is advisable to call us or visit university website for up to date information.

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