An applicant will normally be expected to possess at least one of the following:

• a minimum of a second class honours degree in a relevant subject such as computer science, mathematics, physics or engineering;

• a relevant professional qualification of an equivalent level;

• a lower qualification plus appropriate and relevant experience at a professional level; or

• satisfactory independent evidence of working for several years in a position that would normally be occupied by an honours graduate, in a relevant area (such as the IT sector), which would lead to gaining benefit from the degree.

A student who successfully completes the degree will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

• demonstrated a critical awareness of the legal frameworks, ethical and professional issues of cyber security;

• performed systematic risk assessment, identification and analysis in accordance with international standards and demonstrated an ability to deal with complex issues;

• demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of network and information systems secure communication technologies and protocols and their application to contemporary Internet-based solutions and technologies;

• evaluated and justified a suitable methodology and tools for vulnerability assessment of systems and organisations;

• conducted and reported on an ethically-based security audit and test to a professional standard, recommending and specifying suitable countermeasures;

• demonstrated a thorough understanding of the theoretical concepts and implementation of current security frameworks and architectures, as well as cryptographic protocols and algorithms.

• be able to assess systems’ security requirements and apply secure design methodology and formal methods in systems design, implementation and testing;

• applied appropriate technological solutions and processes in the detection, management and investigation of information security incidents, and documented a digital investigation from a legal and professional standpoint;

• demonstrated a critical awareness of current issues and new technologies in cyber security which are informed by leading edge research and/or practice in the field;

• extrapolated from existing research, scholarship and/or fieldwork findings to identify new or revised approaches to practice; and

• conducted rigorous research/formal inquiry into cyber security issues that require familiarity with a range of technologies, research sources and appropriate methodologies, and for such to inform the overall learning process.