MSc · Postgraduate
Cybersecurity & Digital Trust
Develop the technical understanding and professional judgement to protect digital systems and the people who rely on them.
- Award
- MSc
- Indicative duration
- 24 months part-time
- Delivery
- Online
- Academic school
- Computing
A deeper understanding.
A practical direction.
Examine security from architecture and software assurance to governance and incident response. Work in controlled lab environments with clear ethical and legal boundaries.
What you will learn
- Evaluate system vulnerabilities using authorised, documented methods.
- Design layered controls aligned with organisational risks.
- Develop incident-response and recovery plans.
- Communicate security findings responsibly to decision-makers.
Your learning journey
The indicative curriculum builds from core understanding to independent work. Select a stage to explore its subjects.
Stage 1 · Security foundations
- Secure systems architecture
- Networks & protocols
- Applied cryptography
- Research & professional ethics
Stage 2 · Defence in practice
- Secure software engineering
- Security monitoring
- Digital investigation
- Risk & governance
Stage 3 · Trust & resilience
- Incident response exercises
- Security assurance studio
- Independent security capstone
PIEM in your programme
An industry-connected challenge
Assess a purpose-built laboratory system and deliver an evidence-based remediation and incident-response plan.
Digital Trust & Assurance Studio
A supervised practice environment for authorised security reviews, awareness resources and resilience planning.
Partner ecosystem
The programme’s partnership network is designed to include:
- Security consultancies
- Software organisations
- Digital infrastructure providers
- Risk and assurance teams
Partner involvement can include project briefs, expert critique, practice insights and mentoring. Specific organisations and opportunities are confirmed for each cohort.
Understand the PIEM modelWhere your learning can lead
These are potential areas of work, not guaranteed outcomes. Career development combines academic learning, demonstrable project work and individual professional preparation.
Plan your study.
Use these details to compare your options. Confirm the approved specification before making a commitment.
- Next intake
- Intake dates to be confirmed
- Fees & funding
- Fee schedule awaiting approval. Explore cost planning.
- Study commitment
- Part-time pattern; weekly workload to be confirmed. Allow time for taught sessions, independent work, group projects and assessment.
- Practical requirements
- Online projects and live collaboration; confirm any assessment, fieldwork or specialist access requirements before enrolment.
- Your support
- Academic feedback, study guidance and accessibility support arrangements to be confirmed for the cohort. Explore support.
Learning made visible
Follow a project from question to contribution.
See the decisions, outputs and reflection behind an illustrative PIEM experience connected to this field.
Explore a project conceptEntry, delivery & funding
Entry expectations
A recognised bachelor’s qualification in computing or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant professional preparation. Familiarity with programming and networking is expected.
Applicants whose previous education was not in English may need to demonstrate readiness to study in English. Country equivalence, evidence and any additional requirements are reviewed individually.
How you will study
Structured online study combines guided independent learning, facilitated discussion, scheduled live sessions and project feedback.
Assessment
Assessment may include analytical assignments, project work, presentations, practical demonstrations and an independent capstone. Clear criteria and feedback support your progress.