Information Security and Risk MSc
Overview
Scholarships and Bursaries
- Merit-based scholarships up to £1,500 available
- Loyalty Bursary Scheme available to City University London Graduates.
Concerns about cyber security and information risk have led to a growing market for technical specialists, but there is also a need for more senior professionals with an awareness of both the technical and the business issues who can bridge the gap between IT security and business risk. Such professionals would be responsible for drawing up organisation strategies for managing risk, identifying trade-offs between multiple risks and the cost of protection, and advising higher management on these issues. Typical roles might include Security Architect, Chief Information Risk Manager, or Chief Security Officer.
This Masters programme is aimed at IT professionals with about 5 years experience and is intended to provide them with the skills that they need to progress to a management role in information security and risk. It covers both technical issues such as information security, quantitative risk assessment, and assurance, as well as more business oriented issues such as information leadership, enterprise architecture, and professional skills.
We will be at Infosecurity Europe 2012 at Earls Court, 24-26 April 2012, come and see us on stand M74.
Watch this short clip in which Professor Robin Bloomfield talks about the new MSc information Security and Risk course at City University London:
Course Fees:
- Part-time EU: £5,000 (per year) (2012/13 fees)
- Part-time Non EU: £6,500 (per year) (2012/13 fees)
Start Date:
September 2012
Entry Requirements
You should have a first or second class BSc Honours Degree (or equivalent non-UK qualification). You should also have approximately 5 years of relevant professional experience (absolute minimum of 2 years in exceptional circumstances).
You should also have basic competence and familiarity with mathematics and good professional English.
English Requirements
For students whose first language is not English, one of the following qualifications is also required:
- IELTS: 7
- TOEFL (internet-based): 107
Visa Requirements
The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course at City, there are different rules for:
- Students on courses of more than 6 months
- Students on courses of less than 6 months
- Students on a pre-sessional English Language course
For more information see our main Visa page.
Course Content
The course supports the extra breadth of knowledge required by people with professional experience to progress towards target roles in management or consulting on security, assurance and risk. This extra breadth is in the directions of:
- principles of security and resilience
- understanding of risk as a socio-technical rather than technical issue
- a common framework for considering risks with technical and human, accidental and malicious causes
- analysis of assurance (systems and policies) beyond mere compliance with standards and rules
- as well as professional development and leadership
Course Structure
Modules providing Professional Skills
- Information Leadership
- Professional Development
- Enterprise Architecture
- Socio-technical Systems
Specialized Security and Risk Modules
- Information Security Management
- IT Risk and Resilience
- Quantitative Risk Analysis
- Assurance Cases
Students also take an independent individual project, which applies the technical contents of the course to a concrete problem. The project may be executed during an internship in an outside organisation, within a successful internship scheme.
Teaching and Assessment
The MSc is a part-time course typically lasting for 28 months. The course is assessed by a combination of examination and coursework that reflects and builds upon your experience. Students successfully completing eight taught modules and a final project will be awarded a Master of Science (MSc) degree.
The modules will be delivered in block mode, with students taking 2 modules per term
Modules can also be taken individually for Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Fees
- Part-time EU: £5,000 (per year) (2012/13 fees)
- Part-time Non EU: £6,500 (per year) (2012/13 fees)
Funding
For up-to-date information about tuition fees, living costs and financial support, visit Undergraduate Fees and Finance or Postgraduate Fees and Finance.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available for suitably qualified candidates.Career Prospects
This course will appeal to companies and professionals that need to develop or improve their capability in managing IT-related security, in order to enter markets with higher demands of dependability and security, comply with new regulations, or re-qualify for new roles. Graduates should be suitable for consideration as the CSO or Security Architects and Senior Information Risk Managers.
After the successful completion of the course candidates may also consider a PhD degree, towards an academic/research career.
Find out more about City University London
MSc in Information Security and Risk
We invite all suitable applicants living within a 200-mile radius of London to an open evening and/or interview session; these are held monthly between March and July. Overseas and more distant applicants are sent a questionnaire, which may be supplemented by a telephone interview or email discussion. Such students are welcome to visit the Department if they are in or near London at some stage.
Please read through the application guidance notes before you apply.
You should submit your application by one of the following two methods:
1. Completing the online form; or
2. Completing a hard copy of the application form and sending this to the address below.
Please ensure you include your supporting documentation with your application. If you are applying online you should note that confidential references are only acceptable as originals sent in signed and sealed envelopes by post to the address below. References attached as supporting documentation to an online application cannot be considered.
International students: it is important you submit your application to us in sufficient time for you to arrange your visa before the start of the course.
Online applications
Apply online for an MSc (part-time)
You will be able to attach electronic copies of your supporting documents. However, you will be required to submit your confidential references in hard copy (in signed and sealed envelopes) to the address below, together with any supporting documents you do not attach when applying online.
Postal applications
You can download and print off the paper application form here.
Alternatively, to receive an application pack in the post please contact the Programmes Office:
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7040 0248
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7040 0233
Email: pgenquire@soi.city.ac.uk
(The application pack includes the application form, application guidance notes and the School's postgraduate prospectus)
Please send your completed paper application form, together with supporting documents, to:
Programmes Office
School of Informatics
City University London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB