- Study Mode: Full time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Four Years
- Start Date: September 2022
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Cyber security is an increasingly important area to build a rewarding career in. We’ll support you from day one, ensuring that you leave BNU as a 'work-ready' graduate. To help you achieve your goals we have invested in well-equipped computer labs on our High Wycombe Campus.
An integrated master's degree allows you to gain the same funding as undergraduate students and stand out in a competitive jobs market. Employers are increasingly looking for employees with the advanced technical skills and expert understanding provided by an integrated master's degree course.




Open Days
We understand that when it comes to deciding where you’d like to study, there are a lot of things to consider. Come along to our Open Day and discover why BNU could be the place for you. You can find out more about your course, meet the course team, and get all your questions answered.

Application Guide
For everything you need to know about applying, check out our Application Guide. You can find useful information for each stage of your application journey – from before you even apply to what to do if you receive an offer, and everything in between.
Why study this subject?
If there ever was a time to enter the cyber security field, it’s now. The Internet, web, cloud and mobile applications have 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.
With cyber threats and attacks continuing to increase, there is a high demand for qualified cyber security professionals by business, government and law enforcement agencies across the globe.
Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?
This integrated master’s degree is a full time four years undergraduate course, which combines undergraduate and postgraduate study levels (Level 4 – Level 7). This degree gives you the opportunity to explore your interest and learning in greater detail and obtain a master’s degree at the end of your course.
This programme will equip you with state-of-the-art technical knowledge, intellectual know-how, management capabilities and practical skills that will enable you to successfully navigate through the cyber security challenges facing organisations today.
It is suitable for those from a computer science, engineering or information technology educational background. If you don’t have any formal studies in computer science, don’t worry – this course could still be for you, but we would need you to demonstrate significant interest in cyber security instead.
This programme will give you a well-rounded appreciation of the issues facing our hyperconnected society. You’ll explore the technological, legislative and social issues that impact organisations today. Alongside this you’ll meet and be taught by practitioners from industry who will provide insight into the current issues and how these are being addressed.
All modules have been designed with input from key industry governing bodies and experts such as the Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG), a group within the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), as well as Institute of Information Security Professionals (IISP) Information Security Skills Framework.
When you graduate you will have strong technical skills and strong business acumen, and well prepared to work in a range of industries in both public and private sectors, or to continue to develop your knowledge with further study.
You will get opportunities to expand your knowledge both inside and outside of the lecture theatre. Students have previously visited sites of historical importance, including Bletchley Park, to learn more about the history of computing and how it impacted the world.


What facilities can I use?
We have first class learning facilitates to equip you with the skills that match the requirements of the top employers in the industry.
Throughout the year you’ll have access to both our specialist computing suite in the Gateway building at our High Wycombe campus and our Cyber Resilience Centre at our Aylesbury Campus.
Our library is the perfect place to find the resources you need and a quiet place to study, filled with four floors of books, journals, computer suites and study rooms. Or, if you’d rather work off campus, e-Journals and resources are only a few clicks away using our Virtual Learning Environment.
You can also benefit from BucksAnywhere, a web service which provides access to many of the software applications we use for teaching and studying. BucksAnywhere can be used from your own Windows or Mac device or from a University owned PC or laptop, from any location.
What will I study?
Our MSci (Hons) Cyber Security programme combines three years of undergraduate study with an additional fourth year at postgraduate level, in a single course.
The integrated master’s degree is identical to the equivalent undergraduate course but provides you with the opportunity to delve deeper into your interest in the fourth year of study, enabling you to graduate with a master’s degree.
If you do not achieve the necessary standard of performance to continue onto the fourth year and complete the integrated masters, you can still graduate after three years with a Bachelor degree qualification.
This programme focuses on providing insight into the context of the needs of real organisations by exploring their current and future operating environments.
During the course, you’ll also learn to use a wide range of cyber security related tools and techniques, alongside specialist technical skills in computer programming, software engineering, cloud and database development.
You’ll learn modern technical system tools like network and software security, artificial inelegant systems security, cloud computing system security, and mobile systems security, as well as developing management skills in business continuity and disaster recovery, cyber security assurance and risk management, in addition to research techniques.
As you progress, you’ll gain a solid understanding of how to protect organisations, networks, IT systems and individuals against cyber-attacks and cyber threats.
You’ll be given the opportunity to become more effective and creative when solving cyber security problems, as well as analysing scenarios with a view to being able to advise individuals.

How will I be taught and assessed?
Our lecturers have extensive industry and academic experience. They’ll help you mix theory with practice, informing your teaching with their knowledge.
We attract many guest speakers from industry, who share their business acumen, inform on current practices, career opportunities, and help prepare you for working life as a cyber security professional.
We work closely with the professional bodies and regional employers to ensure you can maximise any opportunities to bolster your career prospects, such as networking sessions and seminars delivered by professional bodies.
We encourage problem-based learning through case studies and classroom-based exercises throughout our modules.
A major benefit of integrated master’s degree courses is the final year project which will help you to develop advanced technical and professional skills that are required for research or other practically-based careers.
Employability is at the heart of our MSci (Hons) Cyber Security course, and we will encourage you to prepare for your future career by:
- obtaining the relevant certifications that can help enhance their employability profile
- understand clearance requirements; as many jobs in cyber security may require a security clearance, students need to be mindful that past actions could affect their eligibility
- getting involved and demonstrating an interest in the cyber security field by developing professional relationships; staying abreast of industry trends by joining an association.
- building a portfolio; seeking opportunities to demonstrate their expertise by co-presenting at industry conferences and completing relevant projects
- seeking opportunities; looking for ways to obtain professional experience through summer internships, job shadowing or work-study jobs.
Placements Plus
BNU is a Placements Plus university. So, whatever degree you do, you can be sure there’ll be plenty of industry-relevant opportunities on offer, to help you get into your chosen field.
We’ll also prepare you for work beforehand, with special skills for work training, further boosting your CV, and building skills employers will value. In recognition of the value we place on these skills we have incorporated this experience into your study time.
Placements Plus is all about helping you get some valuable experience under your belt while you’re a student, to increase your choices later, and help you get the graduate-level job you want.
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 88 - 112
A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.
For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. Please refer to the Programme Specification at the bottom of the Course Details tab for the full breakdown of core and optional modules, as well as the credits needed to complete your degree. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
Year 1 Modules
Secure Systems
Cyber Threat and Risk Management
Computer Architectures
Networking
Programming Concepts
Application Programming
Digital Technologies & Professional Practice
Web Development
Year 2 Modules
Information Security
Cyber Security Management
Mobile Systems Security
Open Source Systems
Network Systems
Software Engineering
Database Design
Intro to Intelligent Systems (Team Project)
Year 3 Modules
Quality Assurance & Testing
Knowledge-Based Systems in A.I
Learning Machines and Intelligent Agents
Cloud Computing
Network Security
Advanced Mobile Systems
Security Auditing and Response
Secure Business Management
Year 4 Modules
Cyber Security in Network Systems
Project
Risk Management and Cyber Security Assurance (optional)
Mobile and Information Systems Security Management (optional)
Cloud Security (optional)
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (optional)
What are the tuition fees
Home
Home, Academic Year 2022 - 2023
£9,250 per year
International
Overseas/International, Academic Year 2022 - 2023
£14,250 per year
What are my career prospects?
Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.
The UK is a world leader in the cyber security sector, with the demand for new talent only set to grow.
This growth requires a sustained supply of competent cyber security professionals who have achieved the requisite standards and certification. Since GDPR was enforced, there is a requirement for companies for information security managers.
The course is designed to equip graduates for senior positions with responsibility for the IT-based security of an organisation.
Based on the SANS survey, the top five industries for cyber security professionals are:
- banking/finance/insurance
- information technology/management
- government
- consulting/professional Services.
These industries all deal with sensitive information, which is often targeted by attackers.
Jobs that require cyber security expertise usually have a range of titles. The most common titles are:
- Security Analyst
- Security Engineer or Architect
- Security/IT Director or Manager
- CISO/CSO Systems Administrator
- Network Architect or Engineer
- Forensics Investigator
- Auditor
- Systems Engineer
- Integrator.
Did you know?
We are one of the top 10 UK universities mostly likely to produce graduates who go on to own or manage a business (Capital on Tap, 2021), find out more about this excellent news.
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