Explore our Cyber Security Management taught Master's degree.

P-H1SH

MSc

1 year full-time

2 October 2023

WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group)

University of Warwick

Cyber Security Management is designed for graduates looking to understand or apply cyber security in a consultancy, strategic, business or management context. With our expert guidance, you will learn to understand the cyber threat landscape, manage resources, implement solutions and effectively communicate these to senior decision makers. This course is certified by the National Cyber Security Centre (part of GCHQ).

Over the course of the year, you will develop a clear understanding of the cyber threat landscape and how a cyber incident may evolve. You will cover the key technologies required to defend and protect organisational information infrastructures from threats and attacks, and will learn how to manage and limit the impact an attack can have on a business.

You will focus on the strategic deployment and implementation of cyber security within an organisation: understanding the threat, managing resources, implementing solutions, and effectively communicating these to senior decision-makers, in order to support the strategic growth of a business. 

This course draws extensively on current professional practices, and benefits from teaching input by cyber security professionals currently working in their areas of expertise. It also draws extensively on our world class research experience. During the course of studies, you will have opportunities to participate in research projects with leading researchers.

This course is certified by the National Cyber Security Centre (part of GCHQ).

Warwick is an Academic Partner of CIISec and the MSc in Cyber Security Management is affiliated to CIISec

This course has two components – a taught component accounting for two-thirds of your time and effort and a research component accounting for one-third. 

For the taught component, we blend synchronous and asynchronous learning, delivered through lectures, seminars, lab work, syndicate exercises, simulations, and case studies. The majority of modules are taught in small classes to facilitate and encourage interaction.

Our module leaders have extensive industry experience. Guest speakers from industry also contribute regularly, bringing real-world insight into your learning experience.

In addition to your taught modules, you will undertake a major project as part of your Masters’ degree, which will develop your research and analytical skills and enable you to specialise. This is nominally 600 hours (60 CATS points) of learning, mainly taking place during the Spring and Summer terms. You will engage regularly with your Project Supervisor or Coach and to provide progress updates and drafts of your work to an agreed schedule.

Overall this course can accommodate up to 52 students, divided into two classes of 26 students for most modules.

Module delivery patterns vary, but most will be delivered in a short learning block of up to 4 weeks, allowing your focus to be on one module at a time. Each module nominally accounts for 150 hours, which includes scheduled classroom time and online sessions as well as your independent study and assessments.

The Study, Professional and Analytical Skills (SPA) Module also consists of 150 hours of learning and is purposefully designed to meet the complex learning and professional needs of postgraduate students. The module is taught across the year, and is composed of three interlinked yet distinctive learning strands: Study Skills, Professional Skills, and Analytical Skills. SPA is a blended module, which runs asynchronously and synchronously with the student learning journey, providing a programme of carefully designed learning activities, materials, and resources.

Modules are predominantly assessed by way of written Post Module Assignments (PMA), but assessment can also be in other formats. Most modules will also have a degree of In-Module Assessment (IMA), which will vary by module and may take the form of presentations, on-line tests, self-reflection or a range of other methods.

For the research component, you will undertake a major project.

Project submission is likely to include both a written and a presentation element, and accounts for 33% of your overall academic grade.

Reading lists

Most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library. If you would like to view reading lists for the current cohort of students you can visit our Warwick Library web pageLink opens in a new window.

Your timetable

Core modules will be allocated to students at the end of the first week of term - you will then be able to view your individual module schedule for the rest of the year via the WMG module selection system.

Elective modules will be bookable through the same system later in the term.

Modules will include scheduled classroom time and online sessions as well as your independent study and assessments, and will usually be delivered within a 4 week timeframe. Occasional classes and study skills sessions may be held at weekends or in the evenings.

As a Masters student, you are expected to manage your own time appropriately. On average, you are expected to commit 38-40 hours of study each week, in order to successfully achieve your Master’s degree.

This is a full-time postgraduate course - undergraduate term dates do not apply. Whilst there are no holidays as such, there will be no teaching scheduled when the University is officially closed, during the two weeks over Christmas and New Year.

2:i undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in IT, Computer Science, or a related subject.

Candidates with a UK 2:ii (or equivalent) may be accepted upon demonstration of relevant professional experience.

This course also caters for non-STEM graduates with a specific interest in cyber security. 

• Band A
• IELTS overall score of 6.5, minimum component scores not below 6.0

Candidates with professional experience should include their CV with their application.

Core modules are required modules that all students will complete whilst on this programme. For CSM, your core modules are:

• Proactive Cyber Defence
• Managing Cyber Risk, Audit and Compliance
• Digital Forensic Investigation
• Management of Cryptosystems
• Penetration Testing
• Cyber Security Consultancy
• Study, Professional, and Analytical Skills

Optional modules

Alongside your core modules, you should select one of the following elective modules:

• Cloud Native Computing
• Enterprise e-Commerce Solutions
• Programming and Fundamental Algorithms
• Machine Intelligence and Data Science

Read the module descriptions for this course on WMG's website.Link opens in a new window

Alongside your core modules, you should select one of the following elective modules:

• Cloud Native Computing
• Enterprise e-Commerce Solutions
• Programming and Fundamental Algorithms
• Machine Intelligence and Data Science

Read the module descriptions for this course on WMG's website.

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