This course is for 2025/26 entry.
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The School of Science & Technology's Dr Michal Krol shares details about the MSc Cyber Security Apprenticeship programme at City, University of London.
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Based on the MSc Cyber Security programme certified by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) signifying our high-quality education in Cyber Security.
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Your course features real-life scenarios that you will work in our Cyber Security laboratory.
Cyber Security Apprenticeship MSc Course overview
Benefits of this course
You will build knowledge of the cyber security field, explore cryptography, network security and digital forensics, as this is of high value to employers within the sector.
You will also have access to our virtual cyber-security lab where you’ll work on cyber attack and defence tasks based on real-world scenarios.
Award
You can select to apply for one of the available exit points for this course.
- Master of Science (MSc)
Who is this course for?
This course is an apprenticeship, and to apply you must be employed at a company that supports your enrolment on the scheme, or you’ve received a job offer with a firm that wishes to employ you as an apprentice.
You should have a curiosity and interest in cyber security with a strong desire to learn new techniques to boost your career.
Structure
Master of Science (MSc)
Duration:
- Part-time: 27 months (up to 30 months)
Total credits: 180
Modules:
- Core modules: 8
8 core modules plus dissertation
Modules
Students take the course part-time, with half the modules during Term 1 and 2 in the first year, and half in the second year. You will need to attend one day a week. Teaching is during the day (09:00 to 18:00).
You then complete your individual project over 6 months (Jul-Dec), within the 27-month period of the degree.
This assumes you pass all the modules. At the end of the MSc component you will complete an end point assessment, based on work-based assessments and project to fulfil the requirements of the level 7 apprenticeship qualification.
Core modules
Through all core modules you will develop the Graduate Attributes, five core skillsets that will help you launch a successful, fulfilling career. Find out more about the Graduate Attributes.
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Information Security Fundamentals (15 credits)
This module presents information security from a strategic perspective, giving you the appropriate knowledge and skills to discuss, communicate with and function in executive and managerial roles within organisations.
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Network Security (15 credits)
This module covers solutions to three major problems in network security: (a) protocols built on cryptography to communicate securely over unsecure networks (b) remote attacks carried out through networks (c) network-based defences to detect and protect against cyber attacks.
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Research Methods and Professional Issues (15 credits)
This module aims to equip you with a theoretical understanding of research methods, practical skills in carrying out research, design, evaluation and dissemination, and an awareness of the professional contexts within which research is used.
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Cryptography (15 credits)
This module explores modern cryptographic (code making) and cryptanalytic (code breaking) techniques. You will learn how cryptographic mechanisms and protocols can be used within larger security systems, and the ways in which cryptographic mechanisms can fall vulnerable to cryptanalysis in deployed systems.
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Digital Forensics (15 credits)
This module will introduce you to computer crimes and incidents, relevant legislation and regulations, digital forensic tools and procedures available for proper incident response. You will develop the basic knowledge and skills required to detect incidents, investigate them and mitigate their consequences.
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Cyber Crime and Sociotechnical Risk (15 credits)
This module provides an introduction to cybercrime and cyber terrorism and how they impact business, governments and individuals and the human and social factors that shape these activities and vulnerability to them.
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Executive Development (15 credits)
This module is designed to develop your ability to meet the challenges in senior IT roles in terms of personal strategies and skills for success in a professional IT environment. The focus will be on building personal knowledge and capabilities to enhance your impact in the workplace.
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Project Management (15 credits)
This module aims: to provide you with an understanding of the major concepts and methods involved in project management; to develop your appreciation of and competence in the skills required; to provide you with a taster session using project management software.
Dissertation
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Work Based Individual Project (60 credits)
This module is a self-directed study, which offers you the opportunity to clearly identify a problem or requirement, justify why it is worth exploring or implementing, develop a method suitable for the work, apply this method, analyse the results and evaluate their implications.
Programme specification
The programme specification contains more information on how the course is organised, the requirements for progression for each part and credits required for awards.
Download course specification:
Teaching and assessment
You will learn through lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions taught by leading experts in the cyber security field.
In lectures you will learn theoretical concepts that underpin a subject and information on additional topics for private study.
Tutorials will help you develop skills in applying the concepts covered in the lectures.
Laboratory sessions will help demonstrate the application of concepts and techniques by using state-of-the-art software development tools and environments.
You’ll be expected to study independently and do coursework assignments. These may be programs, theoretical work and essays.
There will be coursework across all the security specific modules to ensure you get hands-on operational experience of relevant aspects of cyber security, including testing and analysis.
Your progress throughout your course will be guided by active researchers in cyber security, culminating in an individual project, an original piece of research, conducted independently with appropriate academic supervision.
At the end of the MSc component, you will complete an end point assessment, based on work-based assessments and project to fulfil the requirements of the level 7 apprenticeship qualification.
Fees and funding
Fees for academic year 2025/26
Master of Science
(MSc)
Part-time
(full course fees)
Home/UK: £21,000
Part-time (full course fees)
Home/UK: £21,000
Where applicable, tuition fees for City's programmes will be subject to inflationary increases in each year of study. Our policy for these increases is set out in our terms and conditions of study.
Apprenticeship levy
The course is funded under the apprenticeship levy scheme.
Larger employers: companies with an annual payroll of £3m+, and therefore liable to pay the apprenticeship levy from May 2017, will be able to fund up to 100% of a degree apprentice’s tuition costs from their levy contribution.
Smaller employers: can claim 95% of the degree apprenticeship costs from the government, leaving them to pay only 5% themselves.
Additional expenses
Some of our degrees may involve additional expenses which are not covered by your tuition fees. Find out more about additional expenses.
Career
This unique Cyber Security Apprenticeship MSc will help you add value to your company through both your technical and leadership skills.
You’ll be able to expand your company’s cyber security capability as well as becoming a leader in the cyber security field, managing large scale projects and providing high level strategy and direction.
The programme will provide you with analytical, operational and development skills in both technical and socio-technical cyber security areas, making you highly employable.
Our graduates have gone into a range of careers in the IT sector, as well as the telecommunications and banking industries.
Other roles you could pursue include:
- cyber security manager/architect
- security analyst
- information security
- cyber security consultant
- information security officer.
How to apply
Entry requirements
UK
You should hold at least an upper second-class honours degree from a UK institution (or the equivalent from an international institution) in Computer Science or a related discipline with some mathematical content. Relevant industrial experience may also be considered for entry to this course.
You will require:
- Level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics (usually GCSE)
- Employment within an organisation that support your enrolment in the degree as part of your Digital and Technology Solutions Specialist (Cyber Security Technology Specialist) training.
You must be a UK or EU national with the right to work in the UK. The Apprenticeship Levy covers roles in organisations in England.
You must either be employed at a company that supports your enrolment in the programme or have received a job offer from a firm that intends to hire you as an apprentice.
English language requirements
All applicants require a Level 2 qualification in English. This is usually met by an English Language GCSE or A-Level for UK students. School-level qualifications in English from other countries may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Please note that SELTs such as IELTS and TOEFL cannot be used to meet the English language requirement for this course due to the Education and Skills Funding Agency regulations that govern apprenticeships in the UK.
Those without a Level 2 qualification are required to complete Level 2 Functional Skills qualifications as part of their apprenticeship.
Application process
You will be expected to submit the following:
- For all applicants, please upload your degree certificate and transcript of marks from your first degree (if you do not have your final results at the time of making your application, please upload a provisional certificate/interim transcript of marks). A transcript is required in order to have your application processed.
- If your first language is not English, or you require a Student Visa to study in the UK, please upload a Proof of English Proficiency if you have already obtained it. A list of accepted qualifications can be found on our entry requirements page.
- Please upload a detailed personal statement outlining why you wish to study this specific course, at City, University of London, as well as explaining how your past studies have prepared you for this course and how it will help you to progress in your career. If you require a Student Visa, please note that the quality of your personal statement will be taken into account by the visa issuing authorities when deciding whether to grant you a student visa or not
- Please upload a copy of your current CV/resume.
- Please request that your employer sends an email to SSTPGTAdmissions@city.ac.uk confirming that they are willing to sponsor you for the duration of the course and evidence that your contract is permanent or extends until after the course end date.
Please note: Academic references are not required when you submit your application. However, the admissions tutor may request them at a later date to help make a decision on your application.
Further information about this apprenticeship
If you would like more information about this programme, please contact our STEM Apprenticeship team.
September 2025 entry
Contact the postgraduate team
Telephone: 020 7040 8877
Email: sstpgtadmissions@city.ac.uk
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What's happening
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Event
Feb 05
Postgraduate Open Evening
Join us at our Postgraduate Open Evening to learn more about our postgraduate courses and discover all the benefits of studying at City, University of London.
, 17:00 – 19:00
Location: Northampton Square
Audience: Prospective students
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