STUDY
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Institution code: | S82 |
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UCAS code: | N/A |
Start date: | September 2024 |
Duration: | One year full-time Two years part-time |
Location: | Ipswich |
Typical Offer: | Applicants are expected to hold an undergraduate degree of 2:2 or higher, or equivalent industrial experience. |
Institution code: | S82 |
---|---|
UCAS code: | N/A |
Start date: | September 2024 |
Duration: | One year full-time Two years part-time |
---|---|
Location: | Ipswich |
Typical Offer: | Applicants are expected to hold an undergraduate degree of 2:2 or higher, or equivalent industrial experience. |
Overview
The MSc Cyber Security degree is a conversion course programme of study that trains a graduate in a new subject and prepares them for a specific profession. In the case of our MSc Cyber Security, we'll give you the tools and knowledge needed for a successful career in the cyber security field. Whether you have recently graduated with a non-computing degree or have experience working in industry and are looking to retrain, our conversion MSc in Cyber Security will cover a range of cyber security topics essential to any organisation of the 21st Century. Our course is one of a small number that consists entirely of Cyber Security modules, and it uniquely provides explicit training in the human side of cyber security through the study of Social Engineering. Furthermore, our course will give students a generalist background in cyber security – this has long been recognised as something that is lacking in industry, and our graduates will be well placed to contribute to organisations at a variety of levels and roles (not just the technical ones).
In the 2022 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study, nearly 12,000 cybersecurity professionals worldwide were surveyed, and a global cybersecurity workforce gap of 3.4 million people was identified. The employment market for cyber security professionals has never been stronger. As a graduate of our exciting MSc in Cyber Security course, you will be equipped with both the technical and strategic business skills required to build an exciting career in cyber security, at all levels. Cyber security is a multi-disciplined field, incorporating elements of technology, psychology, business strategy and information management, and you will be exposed to all of these areas of study. The depth of study will also prepare you for further academic research if you so wish, making this course ideal for graduates from any discipline, or those with equivalent work experience, to enhance their career prospects or even facilitate an entire career change.
The content of the course has been developed with a strong reference to the CyBOK standards, which identify the core skills and knowledge needed to be an effective cyber security professional or researcher, and which are also essential skills relevant for future accreditation by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Foundational skills in both Computing and Cyber Security are developed in early modules, providing the essentials needed for subsequent study of core subjects such as network security, penetration testing, Open Source Intelligence, Social Engineering, forensics, malware analysis and strategic cyber security. A final dissertation provides students with the opportunity to carry out much deeper investigations into a topic of interest, and the research skills needed to do so are introduced progressively right from the beginning of the course.
Every industry sector that makes use of technology for their business will need cyber security expertise. The content of this course will thus provide you both with the necessary skills to join a dedicated cyber security team, or alternatively to be part of a software development team where you could be the local security expert, guiding the development and maintenance of systems and software with a strong focus on security requirements. Local potential employment opportunities include BT, MSC, Gallagher Insurance and Willis Towers Watson, and there are many opportunities in the wider sectors based in London, which is a short commute. The skills you will acquire on this degree are truly international in nature, and you will be well equipped to work anywhere across the globe.
This degree is not designed for those with previous qualifications in computing. Instead, please view our MSc in Computer Science.
Course Modules
The course aligns with CyBOK standards for effective cyber security professionals, essential for future NCSC accreditation.
Early modules build foundational computing and cyber security skills, leading to advanced topics like network security, penetration testing, and more. A final dissertation fosters in-depth investigations, with progressive research skills introduced from the start.
Full downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record.
![](https://pxl-uosacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/1964x1744/filters:quality(70)/prod01/channel_2/media/uniofsuffolk/website/content-assets/images/studentsx2fstaff-on-campus/studying-and-learning/course-images/games-developmentx2fcomputing/robots-copy-629X705.jpg)
This module provides the essential aspects of computer science that are required to support subsequent study in cyber security – for example the basics of system and software design and development, file systems and operating systems, essential programming and fundamental mathematics required for cryptography.
The basic elements of cyber security are covered here – from relevant terminology to common areas of study, tools and techniques, including an introduction to cryptography. Case studies will be utilised to illustrate concepts.
Cyber Security is not just about technology – organisations have objectives and strategies that require security governance, policies and controls which align with those objectives. This module covers standards, legislation and governance tools that provide a risk-based approach to cyber security at an organisational level and discusses issues of privacy.
It is often said that humans are the weakest link in any system – Social Engineering techniques aim to exploit this, but from an ethical perspective the strategies can be used for defence purposes as well. OSINT covers tools and techniques for gathering intelligence that is publicly available, when investigating for example potential human rights abuses, deepfakes and fake news. Penetration testing is the ethical side of ‘hacking’ - the same techniques are used to test defences and recommend mitigations, and you will gain practical experience of doing this.
This module covers the essentials of the forensic analysis of computer systems, including legal and procedural requirements, practical investigation of sample machine images, and essential malware analysis techniques such as static, dynamic and more advanced topics.
Focuses on the low-level aspects of security, examining network essentials and protocols, with a focus on defence techniques such as firewalls, encryption and secure network design.
Running throughout the course, this module provides instruction on the essentials of Research Skills that are needed to propose and develop an Extended Project, resulting in an in-depth dissertation study.
Course Modules 2024
The course aligns with CyBOK standards for effective cyber security professionals, essential for future NCSC accreditation.
Early modules build foundational computing and cyber security skills, leading to advanced topics like network security, penetration testing, and more. A final dissertation fosters in-depth investigations, with progressive research skills introduced from the start.
Full downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record.
![](https://pxl-uosacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/1964x1744/filters:quality(70)/prod01/channel_2/media/uniofsuffolk/website/content-assets/images/studentsx2fstaff-on-campus/studying-and-learning/course-images/games-developmentx2fcomputing/robots-copy-629X705.jpg)
This module provides the essential aspects of computer science that are required to support subsequent study in cyber security – for example the basics of system and software design and development, file systems and operating systems, essential programming and fundamental mathematics required for cryptography.
The basic elements of cyber security are covered here – from relevant terminology to common areas of study, tools and techniques, including an introduction to cryptography. Case studies will be utilised to illustrate concepts.
Cyber Security is not just about technology – organisations have objectives and strategies that require security governance, policies and controls which align with those objectives. This module covers standards, legislation and governance tools that provide a risk-based approach to cyber security at an organisational level and discusses issues of privacy.
It is often said that humans are the weakest link in any system – Social Engineering techniques aim to exploit this, but from an ethical perspective the strategies can be used for defence purposes as well. OSINT covers tools and techniques for gathering intelligence that is publicly available, when investigating for example potential human rights abuses, deepfakes and fake news. Penetration testing is the ethical side of ‘hacking’ - the same techniques are used to test defences and recommend mitigations, and you will gain practical experience of doing this.
This module covers the essentials of the forensic analysis of computer systems, including legal and procedural requirements, practical investigation of sample machine images, and essential malware analysis techniques such as static, dynamic and more advanced topics.
Focuses on the low-level aspects of security, examining network essentials and protocols, with a focus on defence techniques such as firewalls, encryption and secure network design.
Running throughout the course, this module provides instruction on the essentials of Research Skills that are needed to propose and develop an Extended Project, resulting in an in-depth dissertation study.
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WHY SUFFOLK
2nd in the UK for Career Prospects
WUSCA 20243rd in the UK for spend on academic services
Complete University Guide 20254th in the UK for Teaching Satisfaction
Guardian University Guide 2024![A student sitting with a laptop](https://pxl-uosacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/826x826/filters:quality(70)/prod01/channel_2/media/uniofsuffolk/website/content-assets/images/studentsx2fstaff-on-campus/studying-and-learning/Digitech_student-(2).jpg)
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Entry Requirements
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Career Opportunities
Every industry sector that makes use of technology for their business will need cyber security expertise.
The content of this course will provide you both with the necessary skills to join a dedicated cyber security team, or alternatively to be part of a software development team where you could be the local security expert, guiding the development and maintenance of systems and software with a strong focus on security requirements.
Local potential employment opportunities include BT, MSC, Gallagher Insurance and Willis Towers Watson, and there are many opportunities in the wider sectors based in London, which is a short commute.
The skills you will acquire on this degree are truly international in nature, and you will be well equipped to work anywhere across the globe.
Facilities and Resources
Module sessions will be a mixture of lectures and practicals, with teaching split across the University of Suffolk campus and the multi-million-pound DigiTech Centre at Adastral Park, DigiTech provides state of-the-art technical facilities in a dedicated Cyber Suite, allowing students to hone their practical cyber security skills in a completely safe environment.
This course also offers a range of webinars and live sessions, providing valuable opportunities for students to enhance their learning experience. Join us and find out more about our latest webinar.
Unibuddy: Chat to our Students and Staff
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