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Cyber Security MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert

Study the latest cyber security principles, practices, tools and techniques in preparation for a role in the sector protecting our society, economy and critical infrastructure.

Overview

You will study a diverse range of modules, including Cyber Threat Intelligence, Malware Analysis, and Penetration Testing and Incident Response, providing the fundamental knowledge needed to work in the sector. You will also produce a substantial piece of individual work in your third semester, with the support of your academic supervisor, investigating a topic tailored to your own area of interest.

The involvement of the Industrial Advisory Group (Airbus, BT, Deloitte UK and Rolls-Royce) in designing the course and supporting its delivery ensures the teaching remains current and supportive of the real challenges faced by cyber security specialists.

You will be taught by recognised experts in cyber security and will develop your professional skills within the Cyber Technology Institute (CTI), with its purpose-built cyber security and forensics laboratories.

We expect graduates to find employment as cyber security specialists within law enforcement, government, commercial IT departments and security consultancies. Previous graduates have gone on to work for cyber security specialist organisations including Capgemini.

Key features

  • DMU has been named a gold standard ‘Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education’ by the leading authority on cyber security in the UK, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) - part of GCHQ. DMU is the first university in the East Midlands to achieve this prestigious status.

  • This course is certified by the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre). and DMU is recognised as an Airbus Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security, demonstrating the relevance of the course content and its value to the industry. 

  • Our CTI has been named as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research, thanks to its pioneering research in incident response and cyber threat intelligence, industrial control systems and sociotechnical security. 

  • Study on a course which is assessed 100% by coursework, where you will take part in group and individual assessments, written essays, presentations, projects and reports, all with a strong emphasis on real-world problems. 

  • Access our cyber security laboratories, equipped with high-spec, specially customised PCs configured with multiple operating systems, virtualisation and removable hard drives, as well as specialised servers, wired and wireless networking equipment and other hardware and software components. 

  • Boost your career prospects through an optional one-year placement* where you can build industry contacts and gain experience in your area of interest. Previous Cyber Security students have undertaken placements with McAfee, as well as local and national consultancy and accounting firms.

  • Meet like-minded people and get hands-on experience by joining our student societies, including DMU Hackers, an ethical hacking society that meets weekly to share skills and enter competitions. 

  • The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – a part of GCHQ – has fully certified DMU’s MSc in Cyber Security and MSc in Cyber Technology in recognition of their excellence in providing students with a broad foundation of skills.

 

“By partnering with DMU, we are able to offer a degree that will play an extremely important role in enabling highly relevant, real-world skills and cyber management capabilities. These will be essential to dealing with cyber risk, a matter that is high on the agendas of boardrooms and government.” 

Nick Seaver, Head of Financial Services Cyber Risk for Deloitte UK

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The Cyber Technology Institute is proud to be an Airbus Centre of Excellence in SCADA cyber security and forensics and an invited member of RITICS (Research Institute in Trustworthy Inter-Connected Cyber-Physical Systems), funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

*Country restrictions apply

Case studies

Dr Allan Cook, Cyber Risk Director at Deloitte UK, has been appointed a visiting professor at DMU. He joins the university’s Faculty of Computer Science, Engineering and Media, to help integrate cyber security into all areas of the curricula. 

He said: “Cyber security impacts every aspect of our digital lives and there is greater awareness today of how our information is accessed and controlled. As the cyber threat evolves, and methods become increasingly sophisticated, it is an exciting time to integrate cyber security into the wider computer science, engineering and media curricula.”

 

#DMUresearch is helping us to be safer online

More courses like this:

Computing MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert 

Cyber Technology MSc

 

News stories

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PhD student on mission to stop phishing attacks awarded funding from Alan Turing Institute

Leading experts recognise DMU's cyber security education with Gold award

World-leading cyber security research praised as DMU named Academic Centre of Excellence

 

  • UK
  • EU/International

Programme code: I10078

Location of study: De Montfort University campus

Start date: January, September 

Duration: One year full time.

Fees and funding

2023/24 full-time fees for UK students: £17,050 per year.

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

 

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Book an Open Day

Submit a study-related enquiry

Programme code: I10078

Location of study: De Montfort University campus,

Start date: January, September

Duration: One year full time.

 

Fees and funding

For 2023/24 full-time fees for international students: £18,780 per year

Find out more about course fees and available funding.

 

How to apply

Application guidance document

Order a prospectus

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

You should have the equivalent of a British Honours degree (2:1 minimum) in a relevant subject.

We are happy to consider equivalent qualifications from anywhere in the world. 

If you have no formal academic qualifications but do have extensive industry experience we will consider your application on an individual basis.

 

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

Academic expertise

 

 

First semester (September to January)

  • Foundations of Cyber Security
  • Cyber Threat Intelligence
  • Host and Network Security
  • Penetration Testing and Incident Response

 

Second semester (February to May)

  • Cyber Engineering
  • Digital Forensics Principles and Practice
  • Malware Analysis
  • Legal, Ethical and Professional Practice

Third semester (June to September)

  • MSc Cyber Security Project/Dissertation

 

See detailed module descriptions

 


Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

 

 

 

Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials and laboratory work. A strong emphasis is given to real world problems. Assessment is by a combination of coursework, projects and laboratory-based assessments.

You will be taught and supported by experts in cyber security including staff from DMU's Cyber Security Centre, as well as professionals from Deloitte UK. 

 

The time allocated to study is around 30 hours per week, carried out in block teaching.

 

The course teams within the Cyber Security Centre have unrivalled expertise in cyber security. The team includes former Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) of large telecommunications companies, internet banks and cloud service providers, an ex-vice president of one of the largest cyber security companies in the world, information assurance specialists with extensive experience working in various UK defence organisations, leading digital forensics experts and respected government advisors. Several of the team are regular media commentators on forensics and security. Professional input throughout the course will come from Deloitte UK and their cyber security professionals. 

 

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Facilities and features

 
Placements
Placements
Placements
Placements
 

Facilities

Our Cyber Security Laboratories are among the best equipped facilities of this type in the UK. Developed in consultation with leaders in the industry, they are designed to meet the highest forensics and security standards.

The laboratories contain high-spec, specially customised PCs configured with multiple operating systems, virtualisation and removable hard drives, as well as specialised servers, wired and wireless networking equipment and a wide variety of other hardware and software components.

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including Blackboard, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.


 

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
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Placements

During this course you will have the option to complete a work placement*, an invaluable opportunity to put the skills developed during your degree into practice. This insight into the professional world will build on your knowledge in a real-world setting, preparing you to progress onto your chosen career.

Our Cyber Security MSc students have secured placements with companies such as McAfee.

Our Careers Team can help to hone your professional skills with mock interviews and practice aptitude tests, and an assigned personal tutor will support you throughout your placement. 

*Country restrictions apply

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DMU Global

This is our innovative international experience programme which aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world.

Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

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Graduate careers

Cyber security is one of the fastest-growing careers in the country with vacancies often outstripping available talent. The National Cyber Security Centre – a part of GCHQ – has fully certified DMU’s MSc in Cyber Security in recognition of its excellence in providing students with a broad foundation of skills.

Dr Ali Al-Bayatti, Associate Professor, said: “It will help  prospective students to make the right  choice when looking for a  highly-valued qualification that will give them the edge when seeking a career in cyber security.”

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