100% online MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security

A new route to career success.

A career-focused master’s in computer science with cyber security for £6,000

  • Apply By: 24 April 2025
  • To Begin: 05 May 2025

180 credits

2 years part-time

£6,000 total fees

Key benefits

  • 100% online master's within 24 months
  • Study anytime, anywhere, on any device
  • Degree not required for admission, work experience considered
  • Earn while you learn
  • £6,000 total fees, option to pay per module
  • Full academic support
  • Top 10 in the UK for ‘Teaching Quality’*
    *The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024

Learn the cyber security skills that are in high global demand

The skills gap in the cyber security sector is vast and is growing all the time. A study by Frost and Allen with Booz Allen Hamilton projected that by 2022 there would be a worldwide shortage of 1.8 million cyber security professionals. With cybercrime showing no sign of slowing down, those skilled in system security and information security are increasingly sought-after in today’s job market.

A smarter way to get ahead in cyber security

The 100% online MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security is designed to provide a new way for busy working professionals to gain a qualification in this high-demand and well-remunerated field. It is entirely flexible, studied part-time so you can continue to work full-time, earn while you learn, and apply what you learn to your current role. Course materials can be accessed anytime, anywhere and on a wide range of devices.

Designed for ambitious individuals from a range of backgrounds

This master’s degree is designed both for ambitious individuals who are not from computer science or cyber security backgrounds and want to launch a career in this area, as well as for individuals who currently work in the sector and are looking to fast-track their career with a high quality qualification.

What you will learn

The programme is designed to build the key professional competencies and skills of a computer scientist. It is also designed to build a robust understanding of computer security, cyber security and network security.

Core modules cover key elements of cyber security and computer science, including:

  • Secure software development
  • Digital forensics
  • Ethical hacking
  • Machine learning
  • Data structures and algorithms
  • Systems engineering

The programme has a ‘real-world’ focus and includes a mixture of interactive theory work as well as deep technical and practical teaching and exercises. The programme also includes a 45-credit research project, where you will work on a specialist topic with relevant supervision.

Experts in flexible learning

More than half of our students study part-time and as a result we have considerable expertise in flexible study. This completely online MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security programme has a flexible design enabling you to study at your own pace, on your own terms. With six starts per year, you’re not restricted to the traditional academic year and can start within weeks. There are flexible payment options and, for those that are eligible, there are postgraduate government loans to cover the full programme cost.

Career-centric cyber security Masters for the real world of work

This MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security is industry-led and career-focused, reflecting the culture and capabilities of North Wales Management School as a part of Wrexham University. Our deep relationships with major employers have fed into the programme content and have helped shape a master’s programme that is built for career enhancement across a wide range of sectors in the modern-day work environment. It is this approach that has seen us ranked in the top 10 UK universities for employability for part-time students in employment.

Entry requirements for home and international students

  • You should have or be about to complete an undergraduate degree in with a minimum grade of 2:2 (or equivalent qualification). We will also accept master’s degrees or equivalent.
  • We may also accept applicants who do not have these qualifications based on relevant work experience.
  • If you earned your undergraduate degree outside the UK, you should check that it is equivalent to a 2:2.

English language requirements

  • If English isn’t your first language, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept:
    • IELTS at 6.0 overall with no individual component below 5.5
    • TOEFL overall minimum 60
    • PTE Academic overall minimum 50
    • Cambridge (CAE & CPE) overall 169 with minimum scores of 162 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
    • A degree qualification taught in English
    • Evidence that you work in a company where English is the first language
    • High school qualifications in English
    • Completion of a Duolingo test with an overall score of 105 with no subscore less than 95 in the language section.

Fees

North Wales Management School online MScs are designed to be affordable, saving time and money. Tuition fees are calculated per eight-week module. You can enrol in and pay for each consecutive session as your studies progress. Payment is accepted through the online student portal and must meet the payment deadline.

  • Total programme fees £6,000
  • Per 15-credit module £500

Modules

Modules
Critical Research for Postgraduate Study

This module develops the critical reading, thinking and writing techniques you will need throughout the taught programme of study. From effective literature searching, analysis and review, through fact-checking and conflict-resolution, to producing written reports, it perfects the knowledge and skills necessary to start your journey as an efficient researcher.

Secure Software Development

This module enables you to understand and apply the theory and practice of exploiting vulnerabilities in software as well as key skills of design and implementation of secure software. You will learn the ability to implement secure systems and environments to support software security. You will also explore the use of secure programming languages and the effects on secure software. The uses of obfuscation and encryption in the protection of software are also examined.

Digital Forensics

Introduces you to the principles of digital forensics to gather and analyse evidence from computer systems and communications. You will learn the techniques, technologies and tools required to gather information within practical environments, and effectively report the results for consideration within legal and commercial situations.

Ethical Hacking

Aims to give you a robust and professional level of competence in the field of ethical hacking. This is led by the coverage of tools, techniques and systems that allow penetration testing to be carried out on computer systems and networks. Module material follows the footsteps of a would-be intruder and thus includes coverage of the communication and social side of computer attacks as well as the technological.

Having been taught how systems, software and devices can be vulnerable to unwanted penetration, you will then investigate countermeasures and organisational strategies to mitigate these risks.

Security and Risk Management in a Digital Environment

This module focuses on the identification and exploration of security risks, the application of risk control and risk management measures and regulations. You will gain an appreciation of security technology and a critical understanding of security policies, standards and practices as well as the legal, ethical, and professional issues in security management.

Data Structures and Algorithms

This module gives you a thorough grounding in the theories and application of computer algorithms, abstract data types, underlying data structures and their integration to produce efficient programs. It enables you to develop the knowledge and skills to be able to analyse problems and design, implement, and analyse effective algorithmic solutions.

Machine Learning

This module provides you with a 360 degree understanding of machine learning techniques, key concepts, methodology, and applications to real-world problems. It covers fundamental concepts in machine learning – a branch of artificial intelligence – including curve fitting, lazy learning methods, artificial neural networks, linear models and kernel methods, ensemble methods and dimension reduction. You will have hands-on experience of how to apply techniques to solve engineering and business case studies. You will learn to link real-world problems to machine learning techniques, suggest the most suitable machine learning method, apply it using a software package and evaluate its performance.

Systems Engineering

In this module, you will identify, explore, and evaluate concepts of analysis and design and a range of traditional and contemporary methodologies to enable you to appreciate the nature of information and its role in the system’s engineering process.

It provides you with the knowledge to develop a professional approach to practice and evaluate the impact of systems design, development and implementation on society. It includes consideration of professional, ethical, legal, political, cultural and sustainability issues.

Virtual and Cloud Computing

This module introduces the concepts of virtualisation and cloud computing, including the networking principles, algorithms and technologies that are used within the architecture of the Internet. By the end of this module, you will be able to: explain the different devices, software and protocols used within online environments; select approaches appropriate to the network stack level; and justify the choices made implementing physical and logical networks.

Applied Research Methods

In this module you will develop the skills necessary to undertake a research project. These include how to conceive, structure and execute a research study, questionnaires and surveys, implementation, testing and statistical analysis. Also included is good practice for presenting your own research coherently in the form of an academic publication.

You will undertake a small research case-study, before producing a full proposal for your dissertation.

Dissertation

This module supports and aids you in carrying out an independent project allocated or chosen through consultation with programme team staff. The dissertation allows you to demonstrate mastery of a specific area of the subject. You will undertake a concentrated review of literature in a chosen subject area and apply knowledge and expertise gained during the taught element of the programme. The dissertation enables you to exhibit deep research and technical skills.

Choose North Wales Management School

  • Top 10 university in UK for employability for UK-based graduates from part-time first degrees (Source: HESA PI E1b 2015/16)
  • 99.1% were in employment or further study 6 months after completing their studies (Source: HESA PI E1b 2015/16)
  • QAA-assured, industry-led programmes, incorporating deep knowledge and expertise of employer partners and tailored to the needs of the modern job market
  • Close links with leading local and regional employers, including Toyota, Kellogg’s, Brother Industries and the BBC
  • Expertise in flexible learning – more than half of our students study part-time
  • Dedicated Student Success team supports you every step of the way – from enrolment right through to graduation
  • International university of many cultures
  • Programmes suitable for a wide range of academic backgrounds
  • 10% fee reduction for graduates of Wrexham University