Cyber Security, MSc

100% world-leading and internationally excellent ratings for research impact

Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

Students using a hololens

Course Overview

The MSc in Cyber Security covers critical modern technology issues from the security and privacy of personal data to cyberterrorism, cybercrime and mobile security.

Our course is the first in Wales to be fully and completely certified by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

In this branch of Computer Science at Swansea, a holistic and interdisciplinary approach brings together modules on penetration testing, formal modelling, information security management, cryptography and artificial intelligence.

Our £32.5m Computational Foundry lies at the heart of this course. Sophisticated teaching and research equipment include a Vision and Biometric Lab, a Maker Lab, a Theory Lab, a Cyber Security/Networking Lab, a User Lab and a Visualisation Suite.

The cybersecurity lab enables you to explore the security landscape, undertake experiments in network security, mobile security, and investigate threats in the context of the Internet of Things.

You will complete this course with an informed and alert mindset suitable for a career in cybersecurity.

Did you know?

Computer Science at Swansea University is widely acknowledged as a leading UK department, with rankings reflecting teaching and research excellence. 

  • Top 150 in the World Computer Science and Engineering (Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024), Top 201-250 in the world (THE World University Rankings 2025)
  • 201-250 in the World for Computer Science and Information Systems (QS World University Rankings 2025)
  • 100% world-leading and internationally excellent ratings for research impact - Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
  • 90% of our research is world-leading and internationally excellent - Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

Your learning will be shaped by inspirational and internationally-renowned academics including Professor Matt Jones, whose passion is empowering rural digital communities in the developing world and in the UK.

Your Cyber Security Experience

You will first undertake a series of 15-credit modules, a number of which will be compulsory and others you will choose. The next stage of the MSc is shaped by a 60-credit project module.

Over the course of this degree you will be taught by staff from internationally renowned research groups. Their knowledge of constant developments in computer science helps to keep your learning fresh and relevant to the wider industry.

After the taught stage of the MSc a further four months is spent on a substantial cyber security research project. This involves cutting edge techniques for specifying, developing, verifying and accessing systems against security criteria. You will benefit from our range of industrial partners and world-leading research expertise.

Our commitment to keeping up with the technological curve is reflected in the hardware you will be working with every day.  Laboratories at Swansea are continually upgraded to ensure equipment is never more than three years old, and rarely more than two.

The Computational Foundry on our Bay Campus is the nucleus of a vibrant community for world-class research leaders in computer science.

Cyber Security Employment Opportunities

Completing this MSc will considerably enhance your cyber security career prospects. Your future pathway might include any of the following.

  • Cyber threat analyst
  • Penetration tester
  • PhD researcher
  • Data security analyst
  • Secure web developer
  • Verification engineer

Modules

The first part of this MSc contains six 20-credit modules exploring cutting-edge subjects like information security management, cryptography, penetration testing, embedded system security, digital forensics, network security and cloud security.

The second part of the programme is where you get to do some independent learning. You’ll be working on a 60-credit research project.