Are you ready to accelerate your career in one of the most in-demand and financially rewarding fields today?
Arden University's MSc Cyber Security programme is aligned with the NCSC academic framework and equips you with the skills necessary to thrive in highly lucrative cyber security roles. In recent studies, 57% of businesses said they currently have unfilled cyber security positions* , and 1.8 million jobs in the field went unfilled in 2022 alone**. With such huge skills gaps and a burgeoning demand for cyber experts across the globe, this course will arm you with the knowledge you need to excel as an expert in cyber security across almost limitless industries.
What you'll learn
Our programme goes deep into cyber security, covering everything from understanding core concepts and standards to identifying vulnerabilities and risks within modern networks and infrastructures. You'll gain the expertise to design secure systems, making them resilient against potential attacks. We'll also teach you the technical skills needed to become an ethical hacker and proactive security tester, as well as how to perform digital forensics and incident management.
Additionally, you'll explore cloud, web, and mobile security concepts, becoming adept at recognising critical threats. We emphasise hands-on learning, allowing you to apply essential security techniques to test and protect against real-world attacks and recommend improvements.
Beyond the basics
Our commitment to your success goes beyond the classroom. Arden University offers access to industry-leading resources and certifications, such as Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals and Microsoft Azure Security Technologies. We cover the costs of these resources, so you only pay for your exams in many cases, making your degree great value for money.
Arden University is a Cisco Network Academy, providing you with access to free Cisco resources. You can self-study for Cisco courses and receive badges in key areas such as networking, Python and Linux that you can add to your CV. Arden is also an AWS Academy, so you’ll gain access to further free course content to complement your degree.
Planned first intakes: May 2024 (Berlin) and October 2024 (Online)
Our MSc Cyber Security course delivers exciting and up-to-date module content that guarantees you’ll develop essential workplace skills. Just a few course highlights embedded into your modules include:
Meeting the tutors and students online and then having the opportunity to meet again in person is such an incredible experience. The courses are well explicated and the tutors are great. Classes are engaging and students are supportive of each other. I’m proud to be an Arden student and I would certainly recommend this course to others.
The global demand for cybersecurity professionals is surging, highlighting a critical shortage in skilled talent worldwide. Similarly, in the UK, businesses are grappling with significant cybersecurity skills gaps, emphasising the urgent need for qualified professionals to address evolving threats.
This programme has been designed to ensure you undertake a range of practical and authentic assessments.
These assessments will be portfolio-based, where you will submit real-world portfolio assets which you have created as a component of each course module using industry-standard tools and practices.
This means that by the end of your degree, you’ll have a professional portfolio demonstrating your cyber security knowledge and skills which you can use to provide evidence of your advanced capabilities to employers.
Other features of our assessment methodologies include:
Your course assessments will be practice-driven, mirroring real-world practitioner skills to ensure that you graduate from your course ready to take on future challenges in cyber security with confidence.
You’ll conclude your degree with your Advanced Computing Project. Here, you'll dive into a hands-on journey, solving real-world computing problems through research, design, and creation. You’ll be allocated a supervisor within your chosen topic area to support you through the project process and in the development of your project proposal – helping you emerge not just with a degree, but with practical industry-ready abilities to demonstrate to employers.
The following vendor courses will be available for you to study in parallel with your degree. All the material on these programmes is completely free, giving you incredible savings and value for money. You will only need to pay for the final exams if you should choose to take them.
EC Council CEH – The supplementary EC Council CEH (ethical hacking) programme is integrated into the MSc syllabus through the Offensive Security and Cloud and Web Services Security modules. You'll also have access to the CEH content for self-study if you choose to take the exam, as well as the following industry-standard skills and tools:
TryHackME - Students gain access to TryHackMe, a leading online platform for hands-on cyber security training. This provides a range of benefits designed to enhance your learning experience and help you build real-world skills:
At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn't a clear pathway to this degree - we are more than happy to discuss your application.
Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by ensuring that you can study in a flexible and convenient way. That's why we keep our requirements simple. All you need is a laptop or desktop PC (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good internet connection. Through ilearn, our online university campus in the cloud, you'll be able to access your course calendar, support services, learning materials, and our online library containing thousands of ebooks, as well as tools for creating assignments, keeping notes, and collaborating with other students on your course.
We also offer an internal English test for applicants who are unable to provide the above evidence of English proficiency. More information can be found here.
The Arden University Postgraduate Merit Scholarship offers UK Online Learning students with a 2.1 undergraduate degree or higher £2,000 off our postgraduate tuition fees. You can also apply for up to £12,167 funding from Student Finance England fund your studies.
Arden University’s industry aligned computing programmes are focused on your needs as a student and the skills required by employers. We provide you with one-to-one support and contextualised learning so that you fully understand the latest developments and concepts being put into practice in data analytics, cloud-based technologies, software development and databases. I look forward to welcoming you to the Arden University family.
100% of our Masters students studying a computing subject are employed within 2 years of graduation*
*Source: 2020/21 Graduate Outcomes Survey
Right now, careers in cyber security are positively thriving, driven by the relentless surge in cyber threats which businesses and organisations face. This demand has led to very competitive salaries, often surpassing those of other comparable professions.
Studying Arden University's MSc Cyber Security programme offers you a transformative opportunity to advance your career in a highly lucrative area of employment. In our era of escalating cyber threats and high demand for experts in the field, this degree guarantees you’ll learn cutting-edge knowledge and hands-on skills.
With additional free access to industry certifications, practical experience, and alignment with industry standards, enrolling on the course paves the way for a successful future.
Other key benefits for you include:
The modules you will study on this course each give you the underpinning you need to pursue or develop a well-paid and future-proof career in almost any field within cyber security.
Here’s a breakdown:
Information Security Management module
Future careers: Cyber Risk Manager, Cyber Risk Analyst, Cyber Research Analyst, Cyber Incident Manager, or Information Security Manager.
Networks Security module
Future careers: Cyber Risk Manager, Cyber Risk Analyst, Cyber Research Analyst, Cyber Incident Manager, Cyber Security Engineer, or Cyber Security Design Engineer.
Cloud and Web Services Security module
Future careers: Web Application Security Analyst, Web Application Tester, Security Operation Centre (SOC) Analyst, or Solution Architects.
Digital Forensics and Incident Management module
Future careers: Cyber Risk Manager, Cyber Risk Analyst, Cyber Research Analyst, Cyber Incident Manager, Cyber Security Engineer, or Cyber Security Design.
Offensive Security module
Future careers: Penetration Tester, Information Security Coordinator, Network Security Pen Tester, Web Application Pen Tester, Cyber Risk Manager, Cyber Risk Analyst, or Cyber Research Analyst.
Secure System Design module
Future careers: IT Security Consultant, Security Architect, Systems Administrator, or Information Security Analyst.
Our Masters students studying a computing subject have gone onto earn up to £90,000 within 2 years of graduation*
*Source: 2020/21 Graduate Outcomes Survey
This certification is a comprehensive programme that trains individuals in ethical hacking and penetration testing techniques. It covers topics such as network security, vulnerability assessment, and countermeasures, enabling professionals to identify and address security vulnerabilities. CEH is highly respected in the cyber security industry, making it a sought-after credential for ethical hackers and security experts. Arden provides the course content free of charge and will cover the cost of the CEH exam. Students will only need to pay an administration fee.
Our programme content aligns with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), ensuring you learn the most up-to-date and relevant skills. The course has been aligned to the NCSC accreditation framework, which consists of the following five security disciplines: Human, Organisation and Regulatory, Attack & Defence, System Security, Software Security, and Infrastructure Security. Indicative topic coverage of the knowledge areas within these disciplines has been integrated into the modules and will be included as key content on the programme.
Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900)
An introductory course designed to provide essential knowledge about Microsoft's security and compliance solutions. It covers key concepts, including threat protection, identity management, and information protection, enabling learners to understand and navigate Microsoft's robust security ecosystem. This certification is a foundational step for those looking to pursue a career in Microsoft's security and compliance domain.
Microsoft Azure Security Technologies (AZ-500T00)
An advanced-level course focusing on security solutions within the Azure cloud platform. It equips learners with the skills to implement security controls, detect and respond to security threats, and protect data and applications on Azure. AZ-500T00 is essential for professionals seeking expertise in Azure security.
Cisco Network Academy
Cisco offers a range of cyber security training courses, equipping professionals with skills vital for safeguarding networks and data.
Arden University is a Cisco Network Academy. On our MSc Cyber Security, you’ll receive Cisco resources so you can self-study and add many of the Cisco networking, cyber, coding, and OSes digital badges to your CV.
All these resources, which can cost upwards of thousands of pounds, are completely free for Arden students.
All Arden students will have free access to LinkedIn Learning through the Library Portal. LinkedIn Learning is a video-based online learning platform offering over 16,500 expert-led courses across a wide range of subjects including business, technology, and creative skills.
With LinkedIn Learning, you can: