Cyber Security MSc
Study level: Postgraduate
The MSc in Cyber Security aims to provide you with the knowledge and necessary skills in several core areas of cyber security.
Year of entry
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Sandwich
Duration
1 year full-time
Course code
EECT029
Start date
September 2023
January 2024
May 2024
Course overview
The course aims to provide a comprehensive and deep understanding of security principles, as well as the practical techniques used in solving security problems and addressing relevant issues.
- Fully certified1 by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the course has been designed to give you the opportunity to equip yourself to work at a professional level, developing a range of industry-informed knowledge and skills in areas such as network security, secure design, cryptography, risk assessment, ethical hacking, digital forensics and incident response.
- Running in a research-driven environment, the course also aims to build foundations for further research at Doctoral level in cyber security for students from a wide range of undergraduate degrees.
- The course will provide recent graduates and early to mid-career practitioners in the computing industry opportunities to enhance their knowledge or move into cyber security.
- You will have the option to apply for a ‘work placement’ opportunity2, designed to further develop your skills and knowledge with the aim of maximising your employability prospects. See modules for more information.

Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects
Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2023Why you should study this course
The overall aim of the course is for you to develop:
- a deep and comprehensive understanding of current cyber security issues, concepts and technologies.
- technical skills in assessing systems security, detecting and mitigating security incidents.
- an understanding of the changing cyber threat landscape and the developments in cyberspace.
The delivery is based on a combination of face-to-face sessions and online learning, with a substantial opportunity for practical ‘hands-on’ activities. This is supported by specialist ethical hacking, digital forensics and networking laboratories, as well as a virtual cyber security lab. This provides you with the opportunity to apply the theoretical aspects you learn across the course’s modules, as well as to design, implement and evaluate a variety of real-world examples and case studies.
Research project opportunities could be available for you to further develop your skills. Current work covers a range of topics such as security for low-powered embedded systems, software defined networking, enhancing security through machine learning, protocol analysis, IoT security, crypto algorithms, vehicle security and security Industry 4.0 environments. Research project opportunities may be subject to availability.
The Cyber Security Research Group at Coventry University currently has strong links with several industries and government bodies, including companies in cyber security and forensics, automotive, Internet-of-Things (IoT) and others, both in supporting our curriculum and learning, as well as research and development addressing real world problems.
Accreditation and professional recognition
This course is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
NCSC fully certified. For more information visit the NCSC website.
What you'll study
Your main study themes are:
- Network and system security: A fundamental aspect of security is the service and communication infrastructure. The course makes use of our specialist labs and equipment to give people as much hands-on experience as possible to help make the theory understandable.
- Cryptography: It’s obvious that secure communication is underpinned by cryptography, but it is also essential in areas such as proof of identity and ownership; escrow; password storage and more.
- Secure design and development: In addition to how to build systems from off-the-shelf components securely, analyse and breach systems, the course looks at the ways in which software is designed and built to be secure. From formal methods to code review, you will have the opportunity to examine how industry tackles the problem of insecure software.
- Ethical hacking: A practical approach to testing security and also one of the best ways to learn the finer points of how systems are constructed is through penetration testing. The course encourages students to explore in a safe environment and provides a number of carefully constructed scenarios and challenges as well as the opportunity to take part in international competitions with our CTF (Capture the Flag) team, the Ethical Slackers2.
- Intrusion detection and incident response: Security is essential, but no matter how much time and money is spent on it, breaches happen. New vulnerabilities and attack vectors are discovered regularly and it’s critical that an organisation knows how to respond once a breach occurs.
- Digital data acquisition, recovery and analysis: Data recovery and analysis covers a wide range of activities, from log analysis to identifying misuse or data exfiltration to gathering evidence suitable for prosecution and even the most basic tasks of recovering from system failure.
- Security of emerging connected systems: The Internet of Things (IoT) is a term we see more often than ever now, and it refers to the tide of devices that are interconnected and tapped into the Internet that we have in our homes and workplaces. Manufacturers of consumer electronics are fast converting their products to become ‘smart’, often without understanding the security implications that software developers in traditional firms hopefully do. A number of interesting security vulnerabilities have come to light recently and the expectation is that this will grow rapidly. Outside of the home, the industrial application of connected devices is just starting to become more commonplace and the security issues of IoT are about to become problematic there, too.
- Automotive cyber security: Automotive security is a major challenge to connected and autonomous vehicles coming from the increase in the use of digital and software components on connected platforms. This requires deep understanding of the complex nature of the challenge with a systematic threat assessment and attack analysis, and design paradigms for assurance, privacy and regulatory compliance.
With work placement pathway
The ‘With work placement’ opportunity2 enables you to apply in semester 1 for an optional work placement of up to 12 months, extending the duration of your master’s to 24 months. The placement provides an opportunity for you to develop expertise and experience in your chosen field with the aim of enhancing your employability upon graduation. The work placement would take place in semesters 3, 4 and 5.
Please note that the optional placement modules will incur an additional tuition fee of £4,000. Placement opportunities may also be subject to additional costs, visa requirements being met, subject to availability and/or competitive application. Work placements are not guaranteed but you will benefit from the support of the Talent Team in trying to find and secure an opportunity. Find out more about the work placement option.
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
How you'll learn
Modules may be delivered as a combination of lectures, computer laboratory sessions, online learning, problem classes, seminars, discussions and tutorials.
The course adopts a combination of a lab-rotation model and flipped-classroom of teaching and learning, with a combination of online/in-class lectures, online/in-class tutorials and in-class discussions and presentations. These are designed and set by the module leaders reflecting the specific topics with the aim of maximising attainment and learning.
Teaching contact hours
A 15-credit module will typically have about 30 hours of contact time associated with it. This will include a combination of, but may not be limited to, lectures, small-group sessions, laboratory sessions and support sessions. In addition, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study each week of around 35 hours, depending on the demands of individual modules.
The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Assessment
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.
Assessment methods may include:
- Formal examinations
- Phase tests
- Essays
- Group work
- Presentations
- Reports
- Projects
- Coursework
- Exams
- Individual Assignments
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
International experience opportunities
Throughout the programme, we will refer to international case studies and examples such as Edward Snowden, Julian Assange or the Russian involvement in the US election. You may also have opportunities to collaborate with students from other international universities on Collaborative online international learning (COIL) projects and be given an opportunity to participate in an international internship.
Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guaranteed2.
Entry requirements
Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.
Fees and funding
2023/24 tuition fees.
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | £11,200 | £15,200 (with prof. experience) | Not available |
EU | £11,200 | £15,200 (with prof. experience) per year with EU support bursary** £20,050 | £24,050 (with prof. experience) per year without EU support bursary** |
Not available |
International | £20,050 | £24,050 (with prof. experience) | Not available |
For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.
We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.
The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
- Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
- Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).
*Irish student fees
The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.
**EU support bursary
Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in-line with that of UK students. Students studying a Degree with a Foundation Year with us are not eligible for the bursary.
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How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.
If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.
Facilities
Our aim is to offer you sector-leading facilities4.

Cisco lab
The Cisco lab is used for working with general networking and towards accreditation by Cisco.

Virtual labs
Our virtual labs provide a cutting-edge environment to create entire virtual networks, complete with services, users and even attackers. Students can access this environment from anywhere on or off campus.

Games Technology lab
This lab contains high-end gaming PCs with the capacity to run industry standard games engines and programming environments.
Careers and opportunities
On successful completion of this course, you will be able to demonstrate:
- A critical awareness of the legal frameworks, ethical and professional issues of cyber security;
- A comprehensive understanding of network and information systems secure communication technologies and protocols and their application to contemporary Internet and mobile-based solutions and technologies;
- A thorough understanding of the theoretical concepts and implementation of current security frameworks and architectures as well as cryptographic protocols and algorithms; and
- An awareness of current issues and new technologies in cyber security which are informed by leading edge research and/or practice in the field.
You will also be able to:
- Perform systematic risk assessment, identification and analysis in accordance with international standards and demonstrate an ability to deal with complex issues.
- Evaluate and justify a suitable methodology and tools for vulnerability assessment of a system.
- Conduct and report an ethically based security audit and test to a professional standard, recommending and specifying suitable countermeasures.
- Assess systems’ security requirements and apply secure design methodology and formal methods in systems design, implementation and testing.
- Apply appropriate technological solutions and processes in the detection, management and investigation of information security incidents, and document a digital investigation from a legal and professional standpoint.
- Extrapolate from existing research, scholarship and/or fieldwork findings to identify new or revised approaches to practice.
- Conduct rigorous research/formal enquiry into cyber security issues that require familiarity with a range of technologies, research sources and appropriate methodologies, and for such to inform the overall learning process.
Where our graduates work
Upon successful completion of this course, you may have the opportunity to be employed in the cyber security industry in a variety of roles such as a penetration tester, SOC security analysis or digital forensic investigator, to name a few.
How to apply
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UK students
To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online.
For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form.
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International students
International codes:
EECT029Full-time international students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degree view our International hub.
You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.
Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.
Chat with our admissions team.
Complete our contact form.
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Disclaimers
Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.
1Accreditations
The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
2UK and international opportunities
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.
3Tuition fees
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.
For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
4Facilities
Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2023/24 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
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