12 months (15 months with option of three month internship)
Full-time: £10,000
Full-time: £20,000
Northampton Square
This course is designed for graduate students and IT/ICT professionals who want to prepare for a successful career in computer, network and information security. It will help you to develop your specialist analytical, operational and development skills in both technical and socio-technical areas of cyber security.
This Masters programme will particularly suit students who have completed a first degree in a computing subject, such as computer science or business computing. It will also suit graduates who have completed a numerate subject with a significant computing component, such as applied mathematics, engineering or physics.
The Cyber Security MSc aims to help you:
The course features real-life scenarios and a cyber-security challenge to provide you with hands-on experience in testing and analysing computing systems:
Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
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.
If you do not qualify for direct entry, you may wish to follow a Graduate Diploma pathway to the programme through one of our partners.
If you do not meet the entry requirements, INTO City, University of London offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help you prepare for study at City, University of London. You will learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre.
These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry. To prepare for this degree course, learn more about the Graduate Diploma in Informatics.
City works in partnership with Kaplan International College (KIC) London to provide preparatory courses for international students. Pre-Masters courses at KIC London offer you comprehensive support to help you complete your postgraduate study at City. Progression to this degree is guaranteed if you complete the KIC London Pre-Masters course at the required level.
If you are an applicant whose first language is not English, the following qualifications are required:
For information about the various English Language tests City accepts please see the English language requirements. Please note though that the scores listed there are equivalent to IELTS 5.5.
Don't meet the English language requirements? INTO City, University of London offers English language programmes to help prepare you for study at university. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to degree courses.
If you are not from the European Economic Area / Switzerland and you are coming to study in the UK, you may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study.
The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:
For more information see our main Visa page.
Thank you for having decided to apply to study a postgraduate course at the School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering. Please note that the deadline for applications for the 2020/21 academic year is 31st August 2020, however we may close earlier if all places are filled.
You will be expected to submit the following:
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.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7040 0248
Email: smcsepg@city.ac.uk
Postgraduate Courses Office, A302
School of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London
EC1V 0HB
Fees in each subsequent year of study (where applicable) will be subject to an annual increase of 2%. We will confirm any change to the annual tuition fee to you in writing prior to you commencing each subsequent year of study (where applicable).
If a student leaves City after commencing but before completing their course, City reserves the right to charge the student the tuition/course fee for the full academic year (or full course for capacity limited post-graduate courses - up to a maximum of 2 years fees) in question. The student may be charged the full fee for that year or course as applicable unless the student is able to present justification that exceptional and unforeseeable reasons for their withdrawal exist.
City has introduced an instalment payment scheme which is available to certain categories of students, including taught postgraduate students. For students following the normal academic year, the annual fee may be paid in two equal instalments: the first on registering, the second on 31st January. If you wish to pay your fees by instalment you must pay the first instalment at or before registration, by cheque or credit/debit card. You must also supply your bank details or credit card details for payment of your second instalment which will be deducted automatically from your bank or credit card account on 31st January.
The School offers a range of generous scholarships, bursaries and prizes to applicants for this course, including:
My story in 3 objects: Elizabeth van Deventer
Elizabeth van Deventer has chosen to study the MSc in Cyber Security at City, University of London. She’s an international student from South Africa. Here Elizabeth shares her story through 3 objects, symbolising her past, present and future.
As a postgraduate student on a Computing and Information Systems course, you will have the opportunity to complete up to six months of professional experience as part of your degree.
Our longstanding internship scheme gives you the chance to apply the knowledge and skills gained from your taught modules within a real business environment. An internship also provides you with professional development opportunities that enhance your technical skills and business knowledge.
Internships delivered by City, University of London offer an exceptional opportunity to help you stand out in the competitive IT industry job market. The structure of the course extends the period for dissertation submission to January, allowing you to work full-time for up to six months. You will be supported by our outstanding Professional Liaison Unit (PLU) should you wish to consider undertaking this route.
Our internship scheme helps you to:
The Department of Computer Science has invested in the design and implementation of a virtual laboratory (CybSec) for the purpose and needs of the Cyber Security course. CybSec is a virtual networked lab where hacking, penetration testing, malware analysis and security monitoring take place in a controlled and isolated environment without violating City's IT Policy. In addition, the security analysis of practical cryptosystems requires high computational power and resources that are used for code breaking. CybSec lab supports our teaching efforts and enhances our research strengths.
We offer a variety of accommodation options and support services for postgraduate students.
Read more about our postgraduate halls.
Our Accommodation Service can also help you find private accommodation.
We offer a free language course for City, University of London students.
Course timetables are normally available from July and can be accessed from our timetabling pages. These pages also provide timetables for the current academic year, though this information should be viewed as indicative and details may vary from year to year.
Please note that all academic timetables are subject to change.
We offer an extensive support network during your time here at City, University of London – from Learning Support (including disability support) and counselling to financial and career advice – leaving you free to enjoy every opportunity campus life has to offer.
Find out more about the different types of student support available.
Chat to our current students and read their blogs to gain an insight into studying at City and learn more about our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
To make sure that you can begin or continue your studies with us during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have reviewed and adapted our courses to ensure a safe learning environment for our students and staff. We have modified the way some of our courses are delivered, with many programmes being made available online.
Contact us to find out more about how our programmes will be delivered.
The MSc in Cyber Security is a one year full-time course. On completion of eight taught modules and an individual project you will be awarded a Master of Science (MSc) degree.
The teaching and learning methods used increase the levels of both specialisation of content and autonomy of learning as you progress through the programme. This progress will be guided by active researchers in cyber security, culminating in an individual project, an original piece of research, conducted largely independently with appropriate academic supervision.
The standard format is that taught modules are delivered through a series of 20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of tutorials/laboratory sessions.
Lectures are normally used to:
Tutorials are used to help you develop skills in applying the concepts covered in the lectures of the relevant module, normally in practical problem-solving. Laboratory sessions serve a similar purpose as the tutorials, helping to demonstrate application of concepts and techniques through the use of state-of-the-art software development tools and environments.
You will be expected to undertake independent study and substantial coursework assignments for each module, amounting to approximately 120 hours per module. The coursework takes many forms, including programs, theoretical work, and essays, and is primarily formative, but also contributes to module assessment.
Coursework will be used across all of the security specific modules to ensure that you get appropriate hands-on operational experience of relevant aspects of cyber security, including testing and analysis. Some of the coursework may be organised in ways that shadow larger scale exercises, such as the Cyber-Security Challenge.
The individual project (full time) is carried out over the summer period, and if done without a placement, lasts approximately 14 weeks or 600 hours. If undertaken within an industrial or research placement, the project period extends by up to six months.
The assessments focus on activities that you need to undertake either as part of your role or to support you in developing your professional practice. The assessment for the project module is in the form of a traditional dissertation reporting your work.
Full-time students attend all taught modules during Term 1 (Oct-Dec) and Term 2 (Jan-Mar), and then complete their Project over 3 months (Jul-Sep), within the 12-month period of the degree (18-months for the intership route). This assumes they pass all the modules.
Students will usually need to attend three or four days a week. Teaching is generally during day (09:00 to 18:00), but some elective modules may be taught in the evening. Students may take an internship route, in which they are given an extra three months for an internship-based Project.
You will cover areas of Masters-level computer science, such as research methods and scientific presentation and analysis skills. There are eight taught modules in total, comprising five core modules, two security elective modules and one general elective module. In addition, there is a full-time individual project completed over the summer.
If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an elective module, this may not be offered. Typically, one or two of our elective modules do not run due to low interest or unanticipated changes in timetabling, including scheduling clashes, room and staff availability. If an elective module will not be run, we will advise you at the beginning of each academic term or as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
The taught modules are delivered through 20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of tutorials/laboratory sessions. Coursework assignments for each module, amount to approximately 120 hours per module. The individual project (full time) is carried out over the summer, and if done without a placement, lasts approximately 14 weeks or 600 hours.
The core modules enable you to specialise in areas of cyber security, such as cryptography, network security, information security management, security audit and certification. You will engage with researchers to develop your scientific knowledge and skills.
You will choose security electives to tailor the programme to your chosen career path, developing your expertise in areas of cyber crime, such as digital forensics and the socio-technical aspects of security.
You will choose a general elective to complete your rounded skillset for a career in the field of computer, network and information security.
The programme specification contains more information on how the course is organised, the requirements for progression for each part and credits required for awards.
This MSc is geared towards preparing you for a successful career in the field of cyber security, providing you with highly sought-after specialist analytical, operational and development skills in both technical and socio-technical areas.
As a result, our graduates move into a range of careers in the IT/ICT sector, as well as the telecommunications and banking industries.
Careers in information security are particularly popular with course alumni.
Our graduates have gone on to work in the following roles:
Top students may also be considered for an internship programme, in which companies sponsor you during your research project.
To help you fulfil your future career goals, our Careers, Student Development & Outreach service provides support, advice and assistance every step of the way.
Thank you for having decided to apply to study a postgraduate course at the School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering. Please note that the deadline for applications for the 2020/21 academic year is 31st August 2020, however we may close earlier if all places are filled.
You will be expected to submit the following:
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.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7040 0248
Email: smcsepg@city.ac.uk
Postgraduate Courses Office, A302
School of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London
EC1V 0HB
Find out more about City and all our postgraduate degree programmes.
