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As the world grows increasingly technology-reliant, cyber security and digital forensics have become recognised as two incredibly important areas for organisations to manage.
Cyber security differs significantly from cybercrime – with the latter being used to describe the illegal and/or harmful behaviours carried out online.
While students of our MSc Cybercrime will strive to understand the driving forces behind online criminal activity, cyber security deals with the process of predicting, avoiding, and reacting to these acts. With this Master’s course, you’ll also learn key techniques to investigate digital crimes and security breaches, and help safeguard your organisation’s success.
6 start dates per year: January, March, May, September and November
Next welcome week: 18 September 2023
Next course start date: 25 September 2023
Application deadline: 11 September 2023. Apply as soon as possible to secure your place.
Duration: 2 years (part time).
Format: Online, with optional face-to-face events. You can also study an MSc in Cyber Security and Forensic Information Technology on campus.
Total course fees: £10,500 (including a £250 acceptance fee)
Tailored support: Contact our course adviser team today for application advice
Application form: Start your application for September 2023 now.By taking this course, you’ll develop a systematic understanding of cyber security and forensics concepts, including how to securely protect and investigate an organisation’s digital assets and systems.
In addition to learning from our experienced academics, you’ll also be given remote access to our dedicated Forensic IT and Cyber Security laboratories. With this, you can gain firsthand experience with specialist software and forensic tools.
You’ll also have the opportunity to attend an online court hearing with a judge presiding as part of your assessments.
Our Master’s emphasis on providing students with real-world insights and practical skills will allow you to effectively and immediately apply your learnings to your career.
On this course, you’ll:
Watch the Q&A to gain an insight on the impact the course is having on a current students' career:
Your studies for this module will provide a strong grounding in mobile systems architecture, mobile applications, and mobile forensic analysis. The coursework will encourage you to consider the wider business and social contexts in which mobile devices are used and abused.
As part of this module, you will learn about MSAB XRY software. This is a verified mobile forensics tool accepted in a court of law to perform logical and physical data acquisition from mobile devices.
Your Master’s Study Project will give you the chance to apply your learnings to research and address a real-world problem. For example, you can choose to take on a specific cyber security challenge faced at your current organisation.
Previous dissertation topics by our on-campus students include:
All assessments for this course are based on coursework submitted online. Your performance is assessed through:
You'll also receive formal and informal tutor feedback to help you improve future work.
I’m a Principal Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth. My research interests include network security, multithreaded architectures, mobile networks and business process modelling, mobile intelligent agent technology, IoT forensics, and general aspects of digital forensics and cyber security.
"Students will maximise their career potential through developing knowledge and skills in digital forensics and cybersecurity. They'll also build research skills and techniques that will help them undertake a PhD or research- and teaching-related jobs.”
Discover the key terms professionals in the field need to know:
You can study an MSc in Cyber Security and Forensic Information Technology on campus:
To join this course, you must have:
When applying, you’ll also be required to submit:
Not sure if you’re eligible to apply? We know everyone’s path to postgrad study is different, so please phone our Course Adviser team on +44 (0)23 9400 3692, or email info@study-online.port.ac.uk if you think you'd be a good fit.
Our MSc Cyber Security and Digital Forensics is designed to equip you with the research capabilities and subject expertise needed to help safeguard businesses from online crime.
The soft skills that you can also expect to develop, from open communication to collaboration, will allow you to integrate into a variety of different teams and work environments.
Combined with the support you can receive from our exceptional Careers and Employability Service, these qualities will help position you as a valuable hire to employers across the world.
Additionally, following graduation you can look forward to joining our international Alumni Association. You’ll be able to network with other cyber security professionals and form valuable professional connections – sharing and gaining useful insights and potential career opportunities.
Get more detail on career opportunities an MSc in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics could unlock:
Got a question about our courses? Complete the form below and a member of our course adviser team will contact you shortly.
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