Description
Cyber security is a growing concern – there’s a significant skills gap and global demand for cybersecurity professionals. Our MSc, provisionally certified by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of GCHQ, develops the skills you need to pursue a career in the industry. The course covers various topics, including information security, digital forensics and other fundamental concepts. It also incorporates transferable skills applicable to professional development and finishes with a substantial independent project.
Key features of the course
- Brings together theory and practice and draws on your own background and experience.
- Provides a platform for further research studies.
- Enables you to study a broad range of cyber security topics relevant to career needs and professional interests.
The first two-thirds of this MSc is the same as our Postgraduate Diploma in Cyber Security (E96).
Planning your studies
To start this MSc, you will need a UK bachelors degree (or equivalent) in computing, cyber security or a related discipline, or relevant industrial experience in the area of cyber security. If you do not hold a bachelors degree, irrespective of your industrial experience, you will need to study a module from the Postgraduate Certificate in Computing (K22) to demonstrate your ability to study successfully at postgraduate level.
Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum overall score of 6 and minimum score of 5.5 in each of the four components: reading, writing, speaking and listening under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see the IELTS website for details.
Our badged open course, Succeeding in postgraduate study, will introduce you to the nature of masters-level study. It offers essential preparation for pursuing your learning at this level – and is free.
How long it takes
This qualification can be completed within two years. Most students will study this qualification over three years, completing 60 credits each year. The maximum time to complete this is six years.
Career relevance and employability
The modules in the postgraduate cyber security programme are for professional security specialists, computer specialists, engineers, technical managers and scientists who need to develop or update their skills and knowledge in the area of cyber security and gain a recognised qualification to develop their careers. They have been developed to combine theoretical and practical aspects of cyber security, to enable you to become an effective professional in the industry.
In addition, they aim to encourage you, through the provision of appropriate educational activities, to develop study and transferable skills applicable to your employment and your continuing professional development.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Accreditation
Provisionally certified by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of GCHQ.
Modules
To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits as follows:
Stage 1 (120 credits)
120 credits from:
Module |
Credits |
Next start |
- Information security (M811)
Explore the professional and technical skills necessary to understand, document, manage and implement strategic and operational aspects of your organisation’s information security.
See full description
|
30 |
Nov 2024 |
- Digital forensics (M812)
M812 covers the history of forensics, both criminal and criminal digital law, digital investigation techniques for desktop and mobile devices as well as forensic readiness.
See full description
|
30 |
May 2024 |
- Systems security (M817)
This module teaches how to apply a threat modelling approach to help design and implement secure system architectures, one of the essential technical areas of cyber security.
See full description
|
30 |
May 2024 |
- Network security (T828)
This module includes Cisco CCNA Security and Cyber Security Operations; explore information systems security management and secure internetworked systems.
See full description
|
30 |
Nov 2024 |
Stage 2 (60 credits)
You’ll choose either:
- a research route
- a professional route
Research route
60 credits from:
Professional route
30 credits from:
30 credits from:
Modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Data management (M816)
Discover the data management principles, practices and technologies required to develop policies, procedures and systems that control, protect, deliver and enhance the value of an organisation’s data asset.
See full description
|
30 |
Nov 2024 |
- Project management (M815)
This APM accredited module is ideal for aspiring project managers and practising project managers who wish to develop their knowledge and skills of managing technological projects.
See full description
|
30 |
May 2024 |
- Software development (M813)
Gain the fundamental knowledge and understanding, and analysis and synthesis skills that you will need to develop software artefacts fit for a real-world organisational context.
See full description
|
30 |
May 2024 |
- Software engineering (M814)
Explore the advanced concepts and techniques used throughout the software life cycle, for the effective production and management of large, complex, and long-lived software systems.
See full description
|
30 |
Nov 2024 |
- Strategic capabilities for technological innovation (T849)
This module draws on a range of theoretical perspectives from both strategic and innovation management to produce a multi-layered, practical, approach to strategic management of technological innovation.
See full description
|
30 |
May 2024 |
- Technology and innovation management (TB801)
This module examines innovation from a management perspective, enabling you to develop an understanding of how to contribute to the process and management of technological innovation.
See full description
|
30 |
May 2024 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules T848 and U810. |
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you. Note, in particular, you can count the credit from the following modules towards only a single qualification: Research project (T802); MSc project: researching in context (T803).
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at postgraduate level at another institution you may be able to transfer credit for this study and count it towards this Open University qualification. If you wish to apply to transfer credit you must do so as soon as possible as it may affect your choice of OU modules. If you are awarded credit for study completed elsewhere, you may find that you need to study fewer OU modules to complete your qualification with us.
Visit our Credit Transfer site for more information and details of how to apply for credit transfer.
On completion
On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our Master of Science in Cyber Security. You’ll be entitled to use the letters MSc Cyber (Open) after your name.
If your masters degree is awardable with a distinction or a merit, the qualification regulations explain how you can achieve these.
You’ll have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification