Cyber Security MSc

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

The School of Computing delivers the course. You can study one year full-time, or two years part-time.

The course has three phases.

Phase one

In phase one (60 credits) we introduce core knowledge and skills through modules. These modules are taught in intensive block mode. Each block consists of 20 credits - four weeks of lectures and lab classes during the day.

Phase two

In phase two (60 credits) we emphasise analysis, research and communication skills, including a team project.

Phase three

Phase three (60 credits) is an individual research or development project with a cyber security focus undertaken with personal supervision. This includes opportunities for industry-orientated projects.

Recent projects have involved original work in areas such as:

• privacy and security aspects of artificial intelligence
• security of smart infrastructure
• privacy-enhancing technologies

Phase two and phase three overlap.

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Design or creative project
• Dissertation
• Essay
• Professional skills assessments
• Oral examination
• Practical lab report
• Report
• Written exercise

Project work

Your five-month individual project gives you an opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in depth, and to work in a research or development team. You'll be supervised by experienced member of the faculty, as part of their research groups.

The project, with a cyber security focus, can be carried out in:

• one of the research groups at Newcastle University
• an industry laboratory
• your place of work

The School of Computing has a dedicated Wellbeing Advisor who understands the needs of our students.

They can be a confidential listening ear and provide guidance on a range of wellbeing issues.

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

The Cyber Security MSc is hosted by the Secure and Resilient Systems group. Staff from across the school contribute to specialist topics, including:

• dependability
• human-computer interaction
• machine learning

The Degree Programme Director is Dr Essam Ghadafi, a Senior Lecturer in Cyber Security in the School of Computing. He has expertise in many areas of cyber security, including:

• cryptography
• provable security
• data privacy
• blockchain
• AI security and privacy

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.