MSc/PgDip Cyber Security, Threat Intelligence and Forensics

Data security breaches are on the rise, but you can become part of the solution. With this specialised postgraduate degree, you can enhance your existing computing knowledge, and develop applied skills ready to build a career in the exciting and in-demand cyber security and intelligence field.

Available with full and part-time study routes, this BCS-accredited course provides learners with specialist cyber security knowledge, and a hands-on skillset, ready to fight cyber-crime. Start dates are available each January and September.

During your studies, you will learn about attack (red team) and defence (blue team) strategies. You will consider established attack surfaces (networking, social engineering) and modern issues (IoT, Cloud). You will also examine trade-offs between security and availability, and between privacy and audit.

The University of Salford is a leading regional study centre for computer science - and a great place for you to further your cyber security journey. We are excited to be part of the GM Cyber Foundry, the Greater Manchester city region's blueprint to be a global leader in cyber and digital research and intelligence.

You will:

• Develop practical and real-world skills in all major areas of cyber security
• Engage with industry experts and active cyber security researchers during your studies
• Build cyber threat intelligence to learn how to fight against Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)
• Gain advanced knowledge of penetration testing, cyber forensics, malware reverse engineering, privacy, and risk management

EMPLOYMENT

There is a significant worldwide skills shortage in this area, particularly for graduates with the in-depth cyber security technical knowledge.

Course graduates will be ready to find work in a wide variety of technical security roles within business, banking, software, networking, government, consultancy, etc. Typical roles could include malware analyser, penetration tester, information security manager, security consultant or security programmer.

CAREER LINKS

Salford leads an industrial liaison committee to gain advice on our computing programmes and course content. Companies involved in this initiative rely on IT and data for their operations. This approach ensures we understand industry needs from multiple perspectives and helps us to nurture graduates with strong employability and transferable skill sets.

This course has contacts with local industry such as software companies (such as Web Applications UK), infrastructure providers (such as UKFast) and security consultants (such as KPMG). These companies will provide you with a real-world perspective to help you appreciate the barriers that exist and the compromises that must be made to manage conflicting demands (known as the C-I-A triad).

Students can also exit with PGDip award.

The minimum entry requirement is a 2.2 honours in computer science, or a related subject with coverage of programming and IPv4 networking, preferably with experience of command line usage. We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.