Cyber Security Masters/MSc

UK

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What will I learn?

Computing infrastructure is now vital for communication, government, commerce, and control of our physical environment, and is a potential target of terrorist and criminal attacks. Graduates who understand the technologies and practices that underpin secure computer systems are in great and ever-growing demand.

Cyber security is about designing systems that resist attack. As computers become ever more prevalent and ever more connected with each other, the opportunities for attackers become even greater, and the need to resist them becomes more urgent.

This Cyber Security Masters/MSc programme will give you the skills you need to deal with current and future cyber security threats. It provides a solid foundation for graduates to pursue a career in the software industry or research.

This is a one-year full-time degree programme for graduates in a computing-related discipline. It will allow you to obtain the knowledge and expertise to evaluate, design and build secure computer systems, processes and people that are involved in cyber security. It covers the theory and practice of designing and building secure systems and gives you a firm grounding in cryptography, network security and secure programming, as well as optional modules in topics such as hardware and embedded system security, operating systems and incident management and forensics.

The programme also gives you practical experience with technologies and toolkits for building internet-based software. All students undertake a large, personally supervised project in the final months of the course.

Our curriculum has been developed with the involvement of key individuals in the cyber security industry. As well as advising us on the skills they seek when recruiting graduates, they also contribute directly to the MSc programme through guest lectures and project supervision. In recent years, we have had guest lecturers from Microsoft, Vodafone, Siemens, IBM and Hewlett Packard.

Employability

The MSc in Cyber Security is a new programme, but graduates of the MSc in Computer Security have gone on to work for Companies including Accenture, IBM, Price Waterhouse Coopers, BT and Delcam.

Our students gain the knowledge to become leaders in the field of cyber security and to shape the technologies that will be developed in the future. They are equipped to work on secure software development within the software and IT industry, or to become cyber security consultants. They may also choose to move on to PhD research.

A dynamic, fast-moving sector that offers exciting careers and excellent rewards.

The term computing covers every kind of digital technology that we use to create, store, communicate, exchange and use information. This makes it the foundation for small and large businesses to build their strategies and grow. It is also the key to making our personal lives easier and more fun: mobile phones, online shopping, social media – we owe them all and a lot more to computer science.

Which department am I in?

School of Computer Science

Study options

Full Time (1 year)

Tuition fees
£31,410.00 (34,22,314) per year
This is a fixed fee

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

September 2025

Venue

University of Birmingham

Edgbaston,

Birmingham,

B15 2TT, CENTRAL ENGLAND, England

Full Time (1 Year)

Tuition fees
£31,410.00 (34,22,314) per year
Insurance - 80

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

September 2025

Venue

University of Birmingham

Edgbaston,

Birmingham,

B15 2TT, CENTRAL ENGLAND, England

Entry requirements

For international students

Students need to have a 2:1 Honours degree in a relevant subject (eg, Computer Science or a closely related discipline) or international equivalent in Computer Science or a closely related discipline. A solid foundation in programming and knowledge of data structures and algorithms, in particular, knowledge of object-oriented programming will be a strong asset. Students need to have an IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band is equivalent to: TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 21 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing; Pearson Test of English (PTE): PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

Pathways options

Offered by other partners

This university accepts pathways courses from
  • Kaplan International College (KIC) London - Kaplan UK
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About University of Birmingham

The university is known globally for its pioneering research - students benefit from trailblazing discoveries that impact international society.

  • One of the world’s top research-intensive universities
  • Based in Europe’s youngest city
  • 5 colleges offering hundreds of study options
  • Plenty of dedicated international student support