MSc Cyber Security with Professional Practice

Program Overview

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Program Overview

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MSc Cyber Security with Professional Practice

MSc Full-time 18 months

Enhance your cyber security expertise and gain valuable industry experience with our MSc Cyber Security with Professional Practice. This 18-month program combines advanced cyber security education with a 4-month professional placement, giving you a competitive edge in the job market.

Award

• MSc

Start date(s)

• 15 September 2025

UCAS Code

• Not specified

Course specifications

• View course spec

Course length

• Full-time (18 months)

Campus location

• University: City Campus

School

• Computing and Mathematical Sciences

UCAS points calculator

• Open Points Calculator

Overview

By doing a fun activity learning techniques that professionals in the cybersecurity industry use every day so this is an introduction to the field in a fun way, this gives you a learning tool about what is to come for you if you choose this career path.

Marie Daniele

Why choose this course?

MSc Cyber Security with Professional Practice offers a unique opportunity for international and home students to gain relevant work experience within an external business or organisation, giving you a competitive edge in the job market.

• Combine advanced cyber security education with real-world work experience
• Opportunity to secure a paid placement in the cyber security industry
• Develop practical skills and industry connections during your placement
• Same high-quality cyber security curriculum as the standard MSc, with added professional practice
• Support in preparing for placement applications and interviews

Although the placement is not guaranteed, the University maintains links with a wide network of organisations who offer placement opportunities.

What's unique about this course?

• Award-Winning Program: Offered by the "Cyber University of the Year 2022" (National Cyber Awards).
• Professional Practice: Unique 4-month placement opportunity, potentially paid, between taught modules and dissertation.
• Industry Experience: Apply theoretical knowledge to real-world cyber security challenges during your placement.
• Competitive Advantage: Gain hands-on experience, making you more attractive to potential employers.
• Flexible Placements: Options for paid or unpaid positions, secured through a competitive application process.

What happens on the course?

You will undertake a wide range of learning activities including:

• Computer-based learning
• Supported learning using the University VLE (CANVAS) as a learning tool, for information and interactive communications
• Lectures
• Tutorials (smaller group/one-to-one)
• Workshops
• Case studies
• Structured laboratory exercises
• Individual structured assignment-based learning
• Directed study
• Individual or group exercises
• Research project investigations

Assessment methods will include:

• Written reports
• Essays
• Literature reviews
• Professional practice
• Exams
• Presentations

Students will also have the opportunity to engage in formative assessment throughout the course, especially during exercises in the practise sessions where their tutors will give feedback on progress and performance for each of the tasks allocated. The assessment strategy for this course is designed around a holistic evaluation on knowledge and skills acquired with a strong emphasis on the requirements for this mode of delivery and diverse skills, background and expectations of the target audience. All assessments used in the course are in perfect alignment with University requirements, regulations and policies. Coursework assignments typically incorporate formative feedback so that students can gain an insight into whether their work is meeting the necessary thresholds and focus on meaningful remarks to improve both their performance and understanding in the subject. Students will also get the opportunity to be engaged in guest lectures from leading experts in the area and be taught by active researchers and trainers in all modules as part of the programme.

Course Modules

Year 1

• Ethical Hacking
• Incident Management and Response
• Information Assurance
• Internet of Things Security
• MSc Project Cyber Security
• Proactive Network Defence
• Research Methods in Computing

Year 2

• MSc Project Cyber Security
• Professional work experience and development

Potential Career Paths

• Information Security Analyst
• Penetration Tester
• Information Systems Manager
• Security Architect
• Intrusion Analyst
• Lead Security Auditor

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

Why Wolverhampton?

As a student in this course, you will have a learning journey underpinned by our innovative research projects and strong links with the government and industry. You will have access to our team at the Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute (WCRI) to learn with a first-hand experience how we address the unique complexity and challenges associated with cybersecurity in a constantly evolving threat landscape.

The diverse skill set around management of security as delivered in the course will equip you with a meaningful GRC knowledge and relevant experience to excel your career prospects. This is quite prominent due to the problem recruiters have to get hold of security managers with these skills. Interactive sessions in the form of demos will also be delivered by the teaching staff and guest speakers to further leverage understanding and stimulate attention towards relevant and pragmatic issues in the area.

The unit ‘Research Methodologies and Project Management’ in particular requires you to work in a team to apply a current project management methodology that embraces all of these knowledge areas related to Cyber Security. You will be exposed to all stages of planning, execution and project control; you will work as part of a team, take responsibility and make autonomous decisions that impact on the project team performance.

The course has been designed in close consultation with Information Security industry experts and utilises unique tools and platforms to deliver its core elements, skills and capabilities required in the field.

We also continue to invest in world-leading facilities including our £9 million cyber centre. Our Midlands Quarter – Centre for Cyber Security is a bespoke Cyber & Security ecosystem, which blends industry and innovation with academic excellence and expertise. The centre is a joint venture between the University of Wolverhampton and Herefordshire Council. The 2,000 square metre building will provide significant resources for research and development across three cyber laboratories, advanced training facilities as part of the University’s Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute and additional business space for up to 16 cyber companies.

What skills will you gain?

You will enhance critical understanding and synthesise skills regarding security processes, techniques and methodologies around cyber security in a blended learning environment with strong hands-on explication using cutting- edge software and hardware. The course will cover cyber defence elements and state-of-the-art in exploitation techniques, threats and security risks in both targeted and multi-stage cyber-attacks in the cyberspace.

You should be able to identify and mitigate security violations across the cyberspace with a strong emphasis on Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) frameworks and standards; and the importance of automation and orchestration of security operations in highly volatile and sensitive environments to develop better and more efficient security controls.

You will be exposed to formalised security principles and protocols and expand your ability and capabilities in strong system administration and modelling of threat landscapes in a variety of different organisational contexts. Since this programme has been developed concerning the requirements of cyber security professional bodies, it aims to produce postgraduates with subject- specific and transferable knowledge and skills suited to a career in the cyber security industry or other related IT disciplines

Course Fees and Finance

Location | Mode | Fee | Year
---|---|---|---
Home | Full-time | £9794 per year |
Home | Full-time | £10098 per year |
International | Full-time | £16950 per year |
International | Full-time | £ per year |

These fees relate to new entrants only for the academic year indicated for entry onto the course, any subsequent years study may be subject to an annual increase, usually in line with inflation.

Entry Requirements

Please note this course is currently only open to INTERNATIONAL applicants

A lower second honours degree in Computer Science or equivalent.

A Postgraduate Certificate in Computer Science or a related subject with a minimum grade C or 50% in all modules

Alternatively:

Evidence of industrial certifications in Information security such as CISSP, CEH, BCS will also be considered for suitable candidates with a minimum of 3 years working experience in related industries. An interview process will also be utilised to verify suitability for the course for candidates with non- standard academic backgrounds but with demonstrable industry experience in the field.

Your qualifications need to be deemed equivalent to the above entry requirements.

• English Language requirements are normally IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each area (unless otherwise stated) or equivalent accepted qualification English Language Requirements
• For further information relating to overseas qualification please use the following link

Funding

Postgraduate Loan(Home Fee Status):

You may be able to get a postgraduate student loan from Student Finance England of up to £12,858 to help pay for a Master’s degree. Applications are made through Student Finance England and more information on the regulations and eligibility criteria can be found at Masters Loans gov.uk.** Any RPL will invalidate your eligibility as you must study a minimum of 180 credits

Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as Overseas (International) students for fee purposes. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) ****Postgraduate Loyalty Discount:**

You can get 20% discount on a taught on-site postgraduate course if you’re a University of Wolverhampton Graduate.

The University offers a generous 20% Loyalty Discount to students progressing from an undergraduate programme to a taught postgraduate programme, where both courses are University of Wolverhampton Awards.

There is no time limit on how long ago you completed your degree as long as this is your first Masters level qualification.

The discount applies to the first year of enrolment only. Students who receive a loyalty discount are not entitled to any further tuition discount or bursary. For full terms and conditions click here.****Self-funded:

If you are paying for the fees yourself then the fees can be paid in 3 instalments: November, January and April. More information can be found by clicking here.****Sponsored - Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

Your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment , confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.

Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.

Charitable Funding:

You might also want to explore the possibility of funding from charitable trusts. Please contact Association of Charitable Foundations, Directory of Social Change or Family Aid. Most charities and trust funds offer limited bursaries targeted to specific groups of students so you will need to research whether any of them are relevant to your situation.

You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.