MSc Cyber Security

The degree offers a variety of highly engaging learning materials and activities.

Online support

The programme is delivered online and there is no requirement to come to the UK as part of your studies.

Creative interactive learning is delivered through Coursera – the world’s largest online learning platform, to provide you with an immersive learning experience.

Our flexible online programme allows you to work around your own schedule and leads to a globally-recognised qualification.

Your learning experience will be enhanced with an accessible and attractive virtual learning platform. And there are opportunities for self-assessment so you can understand your own progress.

When you register, we will give you access to your Student Portal. You can then access your University of London email account and other key resources:

• The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Here, you can access electronic copies of all printed study materials, resources including audio-visual and revision guides, and forums to discuss course material and work collaboratively with others.
• The Online Library. As a student at the University of London, you will have access to a range of resources, databases, and journals via the Online Library. You will be able to contact a team of professional and qualified librarians for any help you require.
• Practical lab session in coding and analysis. Hands-on lab sessions using software such as Cyber Ranges which can be added to your portfolio and showcased to employers.

Senate House Library 

If you’re based in the United Kingdom, or are visiting London, make sure to visit Senate House Library. Students studying with the University of London can join the library free of charge. Membership includes a 10-book borrowing allowance, access to all reading rooms and study areas, and on-site access to Senate House Library digital resources.

Are you affected by US-imposed restrictions?

United States export control regulations prevent Coursera from offering services and content to users in certain countries or regions. More information about which countries or regions are affected can be found on Coursera's website.

Coursera must enforce this restriction in order to remain in compliance with US law and, for that reason, we advise that all learners check this information before applying to the programme.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have appropriate internet access for this programme and that you meet any related technical requirements for your programme.

Time commitment

Each 15-credit module comprises weekly topics, corresponding to the key content items detailed in the module descriptors.

Your study equates to approximately 10-12 hours of directed learning per week for each 15 credit module you register for.

The programme has been developed with Royal Holloway, University of London. Royal Holloway is ranked among the top 25 universities in the UK by the 2022 Guardian University Guide, and is highly regarded for its strong industry ties, dynamic and engaged community of professional alumni, and its foundational commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Royal Holloway is recognised as a UK Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR) and has received an ACE-CSE Gold Award in recognition of the institution’s excellence in cyber security education by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The Information Security Group at Royal Holloway also recently earned an Athena SWAN award recognising its commitment to, and excellence in, advancing gender equality.

Royal Holloway is in the top 25 per cent of UK universities for research rated ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in the latest REF 2021* (Research Excellence Framework).

Programme Director

Dr Fauzia Idrees is an Associate Professor in Information Security at Royal Holloway, University of London. She is an Electronics Engineer with a PhD in Information Security Engineering, an MSc in Information Security, and an MBA in Entrepreneurship & Innovations. She has over 24 years of work experience in the Military, industry, and academia. She is a Lead Auditor in ISO 17025 accreditation. Her research areas include malware detection, network security and secure application development.

Fauzia is the programme Director of the distance learning MSc in Cyber Security and the RHUL’s flagship campus MSc in Information Security. She is the Academic Lead for NCSC certification for DL programmes and serving as a member of ISG Industry advisory panel.

Fauzia is a founder and CEO of her Cybersecurity venture: Cynosure Technologies – the first female led Cybersecurity venture in her country. Her business offers cyber security solutions, training, and consultancy. She is an active STEM and Cybersecurity advocate. She is the founding president of Women in STEM (WiSTEM) – a global professional network of women in STEM and Cybersecurity.

She is on the advisory board of multiple international organizations including CISO Forum, Global Foundation for Cyber studies and Research, and N2Women. She has served as a keynote speaker in 50+ webinars, workshops, and conferences. Fauzia has received several awards in recognition of her academic and professional achievements. She is a recipient of the prestigious ‘UK Alumni Award’ for Entrepreneurship, United Nation’s Science & Technology award, FJF’s Role Model, Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu’s ‘Global Cybersecurity Advocate’, Inteligenca’s ‘Cybersecurity Woman of the Year’ 2022 (finalist), and WISCERA’s ‘Top Women in Security ASEAN region award’ 2021.

Entry route One: Direct entry route

To qualify to register for the MSc, PGDip or PGCert you will need a bachelor’s degree which is considered at least comparable to a UK second-class honours degree from an institution acceptable to the University.

Entry route Two: Performance-based admissions route

If applicants do not meet the requirements for direct entry, they can apply for the MSc via the performance-based admissions (PBA) route. To qualify for entrance via the PBA route you will need a third-class bachelor’s degree or Aegrotat.

Applicants with an appropriate professional experience qualification from a recognised professional body will be considered on an individual basis. Students on the PBA route may transfer to the MSc on successful completion of two modules (30 credits).

Entrance requirements for stand-alone individual modules

To qualify to register for a stand-alone individual module you will need a third-class bachelor’s degree or Aegrotat.

English language requirements

You need a high standard of English to study this programme. You will meet our language requirements if you have achieved one of the following within the past three years:

• IELTS: at least 6.5 overall with 6.0 in the written test
• Pearson Test (Academic): at least 59 overall, with 59+ in reading and writing and 54+ in speaking and listening
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (grade C or above)
• TOEFL iBT: at least 92 overall, with 22+ in reading and writing and 20+ in speaking and listening
• Duolingo: must achieve an overall score of at least 120.

If you do not meet the English language proficiency requirements but believe that you can demonstrate the requisite proficiency, the University may, at its discretion, consider your application.

Computer requirements

The University of London sets minimum basic computer requirements because your study resources are accessed via the Student Portal and it is vital that you can access this regularly.

For this programme, you will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection. You will also need to be able to view video material and a media player (such as VLC) to play video files.

More information about computer requirements.

If you have studied material as part of a previous qualification that is comparable in content, level and standard to our Cyber Security modules, you may be exempted from the equivalent course of our degree. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or Exemption. You will not need to study or be assessed in the module(s) to complete your award. 

MSc Cyber Security and Postgraduate Diploma (PGDIp): You may be awarded RPL up to 60 UK credits (four 15-credit modules). 

Applications for RPL for the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) will not be accepted.

To be considered for RPL you should make a formal request within your application when applying for the programme. Or, you can submit an online enquiry, if you have already applied.  

You will need to have met the entrance requirements for the programme to be considered for RPL.  

You must have completed the qualification/ examination(s), on which the application for RPL is based on, within the five years preceding the application. 

We will not recognise or accredit prior learning for a module later than 14 days after the module start date. You will be deemed to have started a module once you have been given access to the learning materials on the VLE. 

Discretionary RPL 

Your qualifications will need to be assessed by specialist academics on a case by case basis, before we can approve RPL. This is known as discretionary RPL. A formal application is required and an RPL application fee is payable. The RPL application fee is non-refundable, even if your prior learning is not recognised.  

Your qualification must be at the appropriate level (usually equivalent to a UK Level 7/ postgraduate degree qualification or above) to be considered.  

For your discretionary RPL request to be processed, you will need to provide: a completed RPL request form, the supporting documentary evidence (normally a scanned copy of an official transcript and syllabus of your previous studies) and the discretionary RPL fee. 

You should apply as soon as possible so that we can process your request. You will need to allow time for academics to consider your documentation, so you can register by the registration deadline. 

All discretionary RPL requests must be submitted by the dates specified for the April or October session, in the year that you apply. We must receive all required supporting evidence by the deadline stated. 

If you submit your discretionary RPL application but are too late to be considered for RPL in the current session, we will still process your application to study the programme. If you receive an offer, you can still register. If you wish to be considered for RPL in a subsequent session, then you shouldn’t register on the modules you want to apply for RPL.  

RPL and Performance based admission  

If you apply or register via the Performance Based Admissions (PBA) route, you may apply for RPL. Any approved RPL will be formally applied to your record once you have been successfully admitted onto the full MSc programme.  

To enter the MSc via the Performance based admission (PBA) route, you must first register for and pass two of the 15-credit modules.  We cannot approve RPL for any module you register on as part of the PBA route. 

You may not register for a module which we have provisionally awarded as RPL unless you withdraw your request for RPL.  

If you do not successfully meet the requirements to progress onto the full MSc programme, any application fees paid for discretionary RPL are non-refundable. 

How to request RPL 

Additional information about the process of applying for RPL. 

Further information regarding RPL is covered in the Recognition of Prior Learning section of the appropriate Programme Regulations and Section 3 of the General Regulations. 

The fees below relate to new students registering for the 2024-2025 session and are effective from 26 June 2023. On average, fees are subject to a five per cent year-on-year increase. Students who registered earlier can view their fees on the Course Fees page.

The fees depend on whether you live in a developing (Band A) or developed (Band B) nation. See the list of Band A and B countries [PDF].

Disclaimer: Currency conversion tool

*The full MSc programme fee is payable when you first register on the programme and includes access to study materials and your first entry into the assessments. It does not include resit fees, the module fee when repeating a module, applications for Recognition of Prior Learning and fees payable to a University of London Recognised Teaching Centres, if applicable. By paying in full at the beginning of your programme, you avoid any annual fee increases to module fees. With pay per module, you pay for each module as you register for it.

**The indicative totals given represent the amount you would expect to pay if you commence study in October 2023 and then complete the MSc degree in the minimum period of time (as per when modules become available), without resits, and paying per module with a year-on-year increase of 5%. These totals do not reflect the cost of any additional tuition support you may choose to take, resit fees or the fee when repeating a module, or applications for Recognition of Prior Learning.

Sales Tax

Please note: student fees shown on our website are net of any local VAT, Goods and Services Tax (GST) or any other sales tax payable by the student in their country of residence. Where the University is required to add VAT, GST or any other sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the fees shown during the payment process. For students resident in the UK, our fees are exempt from VAT.

Further information on Sales Tax.

Your payment provider may apply additional transaction fees (if in doubt, please check with them before making a payment).

Without the cost of moving to London, studying for your University of London degree anywhere in the world represents excellent value for money. However, there are additional sources of support depending on where you live and how you choose to study.

More on funding your study.

You can pay your fees in a number of ways, including an online payment facility via the Student Portal and Western Union Quick Pay.

More on how to pay your fees

This degree is targeted at career-minded individuals who wish to develop their professional skills with academic and practical insights into the subject of cyber security.

You can stand out from your peers by enhancing your multidisciplinary problem-solving skills and intercultural understanding, participating in collaborative groupwork activities run by the University of London Careers Group.

What do employers think of our graduates?

In some countries, qualifications earned by distance and flexible learning may not be recognised by certain authorities or regulators for the purposes of public sector employment or further study. We advise you to explore the local recognition status before you register.

You’ll have access to a wide range of careers and employability support through the University of London Careers Service, including live webinars and online drop-in sessions.

More on the University of London Careers Service

Tailored support for careers in the refugee and humanitarian fields is available through regular programme events, webinars and careers resources.