MSc Cyber Security

Whether you decide to progress to further study or to a career in industry, one of the most important skills expected of an effective graduate in Computer Science is the ability to work creatively under the appropriate guidance of an organisation. It is therefore essential that you use and develop the skills and knowledge gained from other modules and from your wider educational and./or working background in a major integrative exercise. This dissertation module is the ideal vehicle for this purpose. You will be expected to develop an idea (guided by a member of academic staff) and demonstrate your ability to develop it further, producing a suitable artefact by applying your technical, analytical, practical and managerial skills in an integrated manner. Because this is demonstration of not only your research and technical skills, but also your professional ones of project management and your role to ensure that what you produce has considered social, ethical and legal issues.

This module provides in-depth knowledge and practical skills in ethical hacking, penetration testing and vulnerability assessment. Students will explore the principles of offensive security and learn how to identify, analyse and exploit vulnerabilities in systems, networks and applications in a lawful and controlled manner. Students will develop skills in reconnaissance, scanning, exploitation, post-exploitation and security evaluation. The module also highlights the importance of understanding human factors, including social engineering and attacker behaviour. Through lectures and hands-on lab activities, students will apply penetration testing methodologies to realistic scenarios, gaining experience in identifying weaknesses and recommending appropriate mitigation strategies. Ethical, legal and professional considerations are embedded throughout the module to ensure responsible practice in offensive cybersecurity.

This module introduces the principles, tools and practical techniques used to apply generative AI and automation in cybersecurity. Students will explore how large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, agentic AI and local AI tools can be used in threat intelligence, vulnerability analysis, defensive security operations and security testing. Through lectures, labs and applied tasks, students will apply and evaluate generative AI approaches in practical cybersecurity contexts. The module also addresses the risks, security challenges and responsible use of AI-enabled cyber systems.

This module provides you with the knowledge and practical skills required to manage, respond to, and investigate cybersecurity incidents in modern organisational environments. You will explore the full incident response lifecycle, from preparation and detection through to containment, recovery, and post-incident learning. You will work both individually and collaboratively, taking on defined professional roles within an incident response team (e.g., Incident Manager, Forensic Analyst, Legal Advisor). Through realistic scenarios, you will apply digital forensic techniques, analyse evidence, and make decisions under pressure while considering legal, ethical, and organisational constraints. The module emphasises industry practices, teamwork, and professional responsibility, preparing you for roles in security operations centres (SOCs), CERT teams, and digital investigation units. You will also develop communication skills through reporting and presenting findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

This module explores how organisations protect, govern and assure information in modern digital environments. You will study how information-related risks are identified, assessed and managed across systems that store, process and transmit data. The module introduces the core principles of information assurance, including confidentiality, integrity, availability, authenticity and non-repudiation, and shows how these are applied through governance, risk and compliance practices. You will examine the policies, standards, frameworks and regulatory requirements that shape information assurance in contemporary organisations. The module also considers how assurance applies beyond technical controls alone, including legal, organisational, physical and human factors. Through case studies and applied activities, you will learn how to evaluate information assets, classify risks, and propose suitable assurance and governance measures for complex and evolving environments such as smart systems, critical infrastructure and interconnected digital services. By the end of the module, you will be able to connect theory with practice and develop informed, responsible and risk-aware approaches to protecting organisational information and supporting secure decision-making.

This module prepares you to design, plan, and justify a substantial Masters level project in a computing related discipline. It introduces the principles of research design, academic and professional enquiry, and project planning in areas such as Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Cyber Security. You will learn how to identify and refine a suitable research or development problem, review and evaluate relevant literature, formulate research questions or project aims, and select appropriate methods for investigation. The module will also help you develop the professional skills needed to manage a project effectively, including planning, risk awareness, ethical consideration, communication, and reflective practice. Alongside research methods, the module explores professionalism in computing, including ethical and responsible practice, legal and regulatory awareness, data and AI ethics, cyber responsibility, and professional standards expected in industry and research environments. You will consider how computing professionals design and conduct work in ways that are rigorous, responsible, and aligned with the needs of stakeholders. The assessment for the module is a research proposal in which you will define and justify a project idea, demonstrate awareness of relevant literature and methods, and present a realistic project plan. This will help prepare you for your final MSc project and for professional practice in technical and research led roles.

This module introduces you to the security of interconnected devices and cyber-physical systems, combining concepts from Internet of Things (IoT) and Operational Technology (OT) environments. You will explore how devices, sensors, and industrial systems interact to support modern applications such as smart homes, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. You will examine vulnerabilities across device, network, and system levels, and learn how weaknesses in IoT components can impact larger operational environments. Through practical activities, you will design and evaluate secure solutions using embedded systems and communication technologies, while considering real-world constraints such as safety, availability, and resilience. The module also addresses ethical, legal, and privacy considerations, particularly in contexts where digital systems interact with physical processes. By the end of the module, you will be able to critically assess risks and implement appropriate security measures across both IoT and cyber-physical systems, reflecting current industry challenges.

This module introduces the principles, technologies and practical techniques used to protect modern digital and networked infrastructure. Students will explore how secure communication, perimeter defence, access control, threat modelling, intrusion detection, wireless security and trust services contribute to multiple layers of protection across organisational environments. Through lectures, workshops and applied coursework, students will examine threats, vulnerabilities and security controls, develop appropriate mitigation strategies for realistic organisational scenarios, and justify security decisions with reference to relevant legal and ethical requirements.