Course summary

Looking for an integrated masters programme that will set you apart from other computer science undergraduates and set you on course for a high-level career? This five-year MSci programme offers a thorough grounding in computer science and allows you to specialise in information security, as well as gaining hands-on skills and experience during a year in industry. You will have the chance to showcase your abilities in an extended final year project and it is particularly recommended if you want to progress to postgraduate study or a specialist career in information security or related fields. The creation, transmission and storage of huge volumes of electronic data is one of the defining features of our age. It brings us untold benefits but it also exposes businesses, governments and individuals to repeated threats. You will learn to manage and improve the smooth running and security of systems, applications and organisations. Guided by experts in the field you will explore topics such as cryptography, computer security and fraud detection. This will all be underpinned by a solid grounding in the fundamentals of computing and application development. From the outset you will be experimenting with programming games, robots, Gadgeteer kits, Subversion, JUnit testing, Scrum-based Agile software and more, in our well-equipped laboratories. Our progressive curriculum has been developed in consultation with industry, with a modular structure that gives you the flexibility to tailor your degree to your own interests. We are located in the famous M4 corridor and enjoy close links with many of its leading technology companies. If you are unable to complete your year in industry you will have the option of transferring onto our four-year integrated masters programme. We are a highly respected, research-focused department with a friendly approach and award-winning teaching. We offer a summer work placement programme and a dedicated personal adviser to guide you through your studies. You will also be welcome to join our thriving Computing Society. We are one of only seven departments in the UK to hold the Athena SWAN bronze award for our commitment to increasing female participation in computer science. Both the BSc and the MSci have received provisional certification by GCHQ (full certification will be received when the first cohorts graduate). Our Information Security Group (ISG) is a world-leading interdisciplinary research centre, and an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR). We sponsor the Cyber Security Challenge, a series of national online competitions that test the cyber security abilities of teams from all walks of life. You will have access to our virtualisation software for experimenting with network security settings and ideas, as well as to our Penetration Testing Laboratory and industry-sponsored Smart Card Centre.