MSc Cyber Security

The Internet has changed our lives forever. It is arguably one of the most exciting and transformative developments of recent years. We now have unprecedented access to information, like-minded individuals and a whole host of potential problems. Our MSc in Cyber Security will give you a well-rounded appreciation of the issues facing our hyperconnected society, and some of the technological, legislative and social issues that we now face. You will also meet and be taught by practitioners from industry who will inform you of current issues and how these are being addressed.

Whether you are interested in the technical, human or legislative side of the subject, the MSc Cyber Security at UEA will give you the chance to develop a knowledge and understanding of the key areas. You will explore the many contributing factors that shape this complex and exciting subject. You will develop core cyber security knowledge along with essential intellectual skills such as communication, critical thinking and research that will be with you for the rest of your life. You will also gain important insights into the practical reality of cyber threats and security from industry practitioners.

About

Cyber security is a dynamic and constantly evolving area that is going to play an increasingly pivotal role in all of our lives, as the world continues towards a highly connected society. The MSc Cyber Security degree at UEA provides an exciting and challenging journey through the ethical, societal, cultural and technological aspects of the subject.

This is a course that is perfect for anyone with a curious mind and the drive to shape the future of society.

You will develop a range of skills to encourage critical and analytical thinking and help you communicate your ideas. When you graduate you will be well-equipped to work in a range of industries, or to continue to develop your knowledge with further study.

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Course Reference Number: 1543993

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.

Assessment for Year 1

You will be assessed on the basis of coursework and, for some modules, project and examination results. For each module you will undertake “formative” assignments that aim to give you constructive feedback and feedforward to take onto related “summative” assignments. That assignment might be a coursework essay or project or an exam. After your exams, over the summer, you will undertake a specialised dissertation on a cyber security related topic of your choosing.

The balance of assessment by coursework and exam depends on the modules you choose, but on average the MSc is 80% coursework and 20% exam.

Feedback

You will get feedback on your practice assignments from your tutors. The purpose of the feedback is to help you improve your work before your final formal or “summative” assignment and we encourage you to discuss your feedback with your teachers.

For practice assignments we always aim to give you with feedback within 10 working days of hand-in. For formal assignments we aim for within 20 working days of hand-in.

Structure

Semester 1

During the first semester you will be introduced to the core concepts in cyber security, which will help develop the fundamental ideas within a security. This will include an applied introduction to the various technical skills and knowledge that are required. Additionally, you will study the human aspects of cyber security (e.g. social engineering), methods for investigating and analyzing cyber crime, as well as gaining an understanding of the legislative side of cyber security by considering things such as the computer misuse act, GDPR and issues around the internet (e.g. social media, net neutrality and privacy and surveillance).

Semester 2

The second semester will allow you to develop a deeper understanding of cyber security, with a focus on real-world challenges faced by a variety of sectors. This semester then gives you the opportunity to specialise depending on your interests. The options include network security, developing secure software, privacy and cryptography. These choices allow you to focus on the areas of cyber security that really matter to you.

Semester 3

The final semester will allow you to specialise even further in your dissertation. This project allows you to explore an area of cyber security of your choice.

Teaching and Learning

You will be taught be experts in the field, with a wealth of experience both in academia and industry. Your learning will take the form of lectures, seminars, lab sessions and guest lectures. Your lectures will provide an excellent background in the subject and give you all of the theoretical tools that you need. Each module will have seminars, labs or a combination of the two to give you the chance to apply what you have learned. This kind of active learning is one of the best ways to cement the knowledge you gain throughout the course. The seminar sessions will allow you the opportunity to discuss your thoughts and ideas in small, focused groups and are an excellent place to develop and discuss your own thoughts. Lab sessions give you the opportunity to put the skills that you have learned into practice in a technical setting.

During the taught phase of your MSc Cyber Security you will typically have around 12 hours of contact time per week, typically consisting of:

Six hours of lectures
Six hours of labs/seminars

Independent study

In addition to your contact hours you will also spend time carrying out independent study, whether that is working in the Cyber Security Lab or researching in UEA’s state-of-the-art library.

The degree provides an excellent grounding in cyber security, but it will also give you much more. The course will give you an excellent balance of critical thinking, research, independent thinking and study skills that will allow you to develop as self-motivated learner and researcher. You will develop excellent time management skills and become organised and confident through self-directed study. Throughout your degree you will receive support, guidance and constructive feedback to allow you to develop to your full potential.

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Assessment for Year 1

The balance of assessment by coursework and exam depends on the modules you choose, but on average the MSc is 80% coursework and 20% exam.

Feedback

For practice assignments we always aim to give you with feedback within 10 working days of hand-in. For formal assignments we aim for within 20 working days of hand-in.

Compulsory Modules

INTRODUCTION TO CYBER SECURITY

Code CMP-7034A

Credits 20

This module will provide you with a broad understanding of the key topics and issues relating to cyber security. In the module we will use real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the importance of security. You will learn about a variety of cyber security topics including: the value of information and data, vulnerabilities and exploits, tools for defence and mitigation and the human elements of cyber security. Security is fast becoming an essential part of all aspects of our daily lives and this module will provide you with the fundamental skills and knowledge for working in a range of industries.

INTERNET LAW AND GOVERNANCE

Code LAW-7012A

Credits 20

Legal issues relating to Internet use are increasingly important. You are introduced to the key principles of Internet law, including competing views on its status and its relationship with other legal principles. You will also consider the question of the relationship between law and technology. You will explore case studies of alternative forms of governance, including international co-operation and stakeholder-driven processes, in the context of issues such as domain names, social networking and the regulation of Internet service providers. Current issues in Internet law are included on the syllabus each year.

DISSERTATION

Code CMP-7027X

Credits 60

In this module, each Masters student is required to carry out project work with substantial research and practical elements on a specified topic for their MSc dissertation from January to late August. The topic can be chosen and allocated from the lists of proposals from faculty members, or proposed by students themselves with an agreement from their supervisor and also an approval from the module organiser. The work may be undertaken as part of a large collaborative or group project. A dissertation must be written as the outcome of the module.

CYBER SECURITY IN INDUSTRIAL SETTINGS

Code CMP-7036B

Credits 20

This module is presents cyber security from an industrial perspective. This looks at how cyber security is considered in industry and how mitigation can be put in place.

Optional A Modules

(20 credits)

APPLICATIONS PROGRAMMING

Code CMP-7000A

Credits 20

The module aims to establish a clear understanding of Object Oriented Programming (OOP) and essential Objected Oriented Methodologies for developing application software. It teaches Java programming language and uses it as a vehicle to learn important concepts, such as objects, classes, inheritance, encapsulation and polymorphism. It also covers the Unified Modelling Language (UML) as a tool for object-oriented analysis and design, software development life cycle models, software testing strategies and techniques and version control.

ADVANCED PROGRAMMING CONCEPTS AND TECHNIQUES

Code CMP-7009A

Credits 20

You will cover advanced programming topics and state of the art software engineering concepts as part of medium to large software product development. More specifically, the following subjects are included: 1. Programming languages: Covering the vast array of programming languages, including older languages (both surviving and obsolete ones), current popular languages and new kids on the block. Different programming paradigms are discussed with code samples and applications to illustrate the underlying theoretical concepts. 2. Advanced software engineering including design patterns, modern iterative and incremental methods such as agile programming and software testing. 3. Program optimisation, parallel programming and high performance computing (HPC): Including underlying laws (Amdahl, Gustafson-Barsis), multi-threading, various languages and/or platforms, GPU programming (CUDA and OpenCL). 4. State of the art coverage of specific languages including C, F#, C#, C++11,14 etc. 5. Specific architectures such as Window’s .NET/CLR, DLL programming, templates and type systems.

Optional B Modules

(40 credits)

NETWORK SECURITY AND IoT

Code CMP-7037B

Credits 20

DEVELOPING SECURE SOFTWARE

Code CMP-7038B

Credits 20

This module will focus on the methods and techniques for delivering robust, maintainable and secure software. Students will learn about the importance of security when designing and developing software. The module will include a broad range of software security threats and vulnerabilities and methods of mitigating these issues. The module will cover ethical hacking, penetration testing and structured approaches to security testing.

THE PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF PRIVACY AND REPUTATION

Code LAW-7004B

Credits 20

In the intrusive, multi-faceted world that exists today, with 24/7 media and an ever-expanding internet, the potential for damage to reputation and interference with privacy has never been greater. This module focuses on the various ways in which the law protects rights to reputation and privacy and examines ways in which the law can be used to manage reputations in this complex world. You will focus on the law of defamation, the laws relating to the protection of privacy interests, and the developing interplay between law and technology. While the approach taken by English law will form a significant part of the module’s content, comparative study will also be made of the laws of America and other common law jurisdictions as well as the laws of the European Union and some specific European countries.

CRYPTOGRAPHY WITH ADVANCED TOPICS

Code MTHD7025B

Credits 20

Cryptography is the science of coding and decoding messages to keep them secure, and has been used throughout history. While previously only a few people in authority used cryptography, the internet and e-commerce mean that we now all have transactions that we want to keep secret. The speed of modern computers means messages encrypted using techniques from just a few decades ago can now be broken in seconds; thus the methods of encryption have also become more sophisticated. In this module, we will explore some of the mathematics behind cryptography and how to apply it. This includes standard material from elementary number theory, including primality testing and methods of factorization and their application to symmetric key and public key cryptography, including Diffie-Hellman Key exchange, RSA and ElGamal. The last section of the course will be on elliptic curve cryptography. There will be additional material on an advance topic, to be determined.

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Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.

MSc CYBER SECURITY