thinking of doing masters in cyber security but worried won't entry the requirement

I am about to finished my degree in law and criminology and i am thinking of doing master in cyber security. Query if lw and criminology is a revelant to this master.

UoS PG students

Hi,

Although I don't know for sure since I am not sure which universities you are interested in attending or their specific entry requirements, a lot of Masters/PGT courses don't require the exact subject to have been completed at undergraduate level and are open to accepting people with backgrounds in relevant subjects.
The University of Southampton's MSc Cyber Security courses requires: ' an upper 2:1 degree (with a mark of 65% or above) in computer science or a closely related subject... an upper 2:1 score in the following modules: a programming language, a computer networks module, a computer science module, such as: cryptography, software, data structures, databases, machine learning, web, networks'.
If you are not sure if this applies to you I would definitely recommend emailing admissions teams to see what they say, I'm sure they would be more than happy to help! Also, if you can evidence your suitability to the course in other ways, such as through work experience or extra-curricular activities, it might be worth applying anyway! :smile:

:smile:

Hope this helps,
Abbie
University of Southampton, Postgraduate Ambassador

(edited 12 months ago)

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by AlwaysTotoro

I am about to finished my degree in law and criminology and i am thinking of doing master in cyber security. Query if lw and criminology is a revelant to this master.

If you quickly do a google search, you will quickly find that a lot of the MSc in Cybersecurity will require something along the lines as what Abbie has laid out. They require an undergrad that has some programming module, maths, and usually a 2:1 grade.

It doesn't mean you can't find courses that don't have such a subject requirement (in terms of grades, you should be aiming for a 2:1), but your options are severely limited. For example:
https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/postgraduate/msc-cyber-security#course-entry-requirements
https://www.coursera.org/degrees/msc-cyber-security-london/admissions or https://www.london.ac.uk/courses/cyber-security#entry-requirements-29278
https://www1.chester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/cybersecurity-conversion
https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/courses/msc-cyber-security-human-factors
https://www.keele.ac.uk/study/postgraduatestudy/postgraduatecourses/cybersecurity/#entry
https://www.uos.ac.uk/courses/pg/msc-applied-cyber-security
https://www.solent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/cyber-security-engineering-msc#entry-requirements
https://online.essex.ac.uk/courses/msc-cyber-security/#entry
https://www.icsiglobal.com/courses/msc-cybersecurity

Degrees that you might be borderline accepted for include:
https://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/masters-degrees/a-z/cyber-security-data-analytics/
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/education/wmgmasters/courses/cyber_security/cyber_security_engineering/

You might get some degrees that ask for the equivalent of a computing undergrad in experience (e.g. 3 years in an IT role that involves a lot of programming):
https://www.mmu.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/course/msc-cyber-security/
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/courses/cyber-security-msc
https://www.city.ac.uk/prospective-students/courses/postgraduate/cyber-security#accordion513943-header513943
https://www.gcu.ac.uk/study/courses/postgraduate-cyber-security-glasgow#entry-requirements
https://www.winchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/msc-cyber-security/
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/msc-cyber-security
https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/I9001/cyber-security#entry
https://www.coventry.ac.uk/course-structure/pg/eec/cyber-security-msc/
https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/courses/cyber-security-msc/
https://www.abertay.ac.uk/course-search/postgraduate-taught/ethical-hacking-and-cybersecurity/
https://www.wlv.ac.uk/courses/msc-cyber-security/
https://www.rgu.ac.uk/study/courses/469-pgcert-pgdip-msc-cyber-security
https://www.uwl.ac.uk/course/postgraduate/cyber-security?start=646&option=33
https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/computer-networking-and-cyber-security---msc/#entry-requirements-section
https://www.aru.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/cyber-security#entry_requirements
https://www.glos.ac.uk/courses/course/cyb-msc-cyber-security/#entry-requirements
https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f87#entry-requirements
https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/postgraduate-taught/msc-cyber-security-and-forensic-information-technology
https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/postgraduate-courses/cyber-security-msc/#course-entry
https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/course/cyber-security/
https://www.ntu.ac.uk/course/science-and-technology/pg/msc-cyber-security#entry-requirements
https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/courses/postgraduate/next-year/cyber-security/
https://courses.hud.ac.uk/full-time/postgraduate/cyber-security-and-digital-forensics-msc
https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/1225
https://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/cyber-security-pen-testing
https://www.uws.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/postgraduate-course-search/cyber-security/#!#entry-requirements
https://www.bucks.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/msc-cyber-security
https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-taught/applied-cyber-security-msc/#entry
https://www.staffs.ac.uk/course/computer-science-cyber-security-msc#entry
https://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/msc-computer-networks/
https://glyndwr.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-courses/cyber-security/#panel3
https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/courses/pg-cyber-security/
https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/study/postgraduate/computer-science-for-cyber-security.htm
https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/computer-science-for-cyber-security/
https://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/courses/postgraduate-courses/cyber-security/cyber-security-msc-degree.aspx
https://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/postgraduatetaught/cybersecurity/#entryrequirements (work experience needs to be in Scotland for some reason)
https://www.itcarlow.ie/study/postgraduate-rd/postgraduate-programmes-taught/computing-data-science/master-cybersecurity-privacy-trust.htm
https://www.salford.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/cyber-security-threat-intelligence-forensics
https://online.liverpool.ac.uk/programmes/msc-cyber-security/
http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/softeng/study/apply.html
https://www.dbs.ie/course/postgraduate/master-of-science-(msc.)-in-cybersecurity
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught-degrees/information-security-msc
https://www.uclan.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/it-security-msc
https://www.ncirl.ie/Courses/NCI-Course-Details/course/MSCCYB
https://www.lyit.ie/CourseDetails/D303/LY_KCYBS_M/Cybersecurity
https://uel.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/msc-cyber-security-engineering

The main concern of the admissions staff of these courses is whether you have the relevant skills to pass the course.

You might be asking how you can get work experience in computing when you don't have a degree. That's because entry level roles in programming don't need any specific qualifications i.e. you can get in with just GCSEs (or none, but employers want to know that you have basic numeracy and literacy skills). They usually care about what skills and experience you have, not necessarily qualifications.

Do note, not all degrees are accredited by the NCSC (not that I think it matters), but if that concerns you see:
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/ncsc-certified-degrees#section_4

Other professional bodies that you could look at include:
https://www.ciisec.org/NCSC_CCP_Scheme
https://www.bcs.org/qualifications-and-certifications/certifications-for-professionals/information-security-and-ccp-assured-service-certifications/

If you are looking for professional IT certificates in cybersecurity that would land you a role in cybersecurity, you can consider the following:
https://www.coursera.org/articles/popular-cybersecurity-certifications
https://hackr.io/blog/best-cybersecurity-certification
https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/tip/10-cybersecurity-certifications-to-boost-your-career-in-2021
https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/security-certifications
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/10708-information-security-certifications.html
https://www.csoonline.com/article/3116884/top-cyber-security-certifications-who-theyre-for-what-they-cost-and-which-you-need.html
https://resources.infosecinstitute.com/topic/7-top-security-certifications-you-should-have/
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/best-cyber-security-certifications/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/15-best-cybersecurity-certifications-get-ahead-by-linkedin-news
https://firebrand.training/uk/blog/10-best-cybersecurity-certifications
There are plenty of other websites that specify IT certificates in cybersecurity, but they more or less echo all the above (which are from the first page of my google results).

My favourite being CompTIA Security+ since it's entry level and alone it should be enough to get into most cybersecurity roles. There are usually no extensive number of exams to take and the costs are usually relatively low.

For more information on becoming a cybersecurity analyst, see:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/cyber-intelligence-officer
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/it-security-co-ordinator
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/forensic-computer-analyst
https://www.ukcybersecuritycouncil.org.uk/careers-and-learning/entry-routes-regulated-qualifications/
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/cyber-security-analyst
https://www.icanbea.org.uk/app/explore/jobroles/cyber-security-analyst-844/
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/data-network/job-profile/cyber-intelligence-officer
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/data-network/job-profile/it-security-co-ordinator
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/data-network/job-profile/forensic-computer-analyst
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/data-network/job-profile/criminal-intelligence-analyst

(edited 12 months ago)

Loughborough Student Community

Original post by AlwaysTotoro

I am about to finished my degree in law and criminology and i am thinking of doing master in cyber security. Query if lw and criminology is a revelant to this master.

Hi @AlwaysTotoro

I've linked Loughborough's course page on our MSc in Cyber Security and Data Analytics here. On this page you will able to see the entry requirements are a 2:2 honours degree in a range of subjects including physics, computer engineering or maths although it says applicants from other subject areas will be considered on an individual basis.

Hope this helped :smile:

:smile:

Jess

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