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In our rapidly evolving digital landscape, Cyber Security has become an urgent and multifaceted challenge. Technological advances in cloud computing, IoT and Artificial Intelligence are creating sophisticated threats that demand equally advanced responses. An MSc in Cyber Security will equip you with the expertise and confidence to tackle these challenges directly. Building on a strong foundation in cyber security and analytical thinking, this programme develops the advanced technical, strategic and research skills needed to protect complex systems, respond to sophisticated attacks and shape future cyber resilience.
Who is this programme for?
This Cyber Security Master’s is ideal for driven individuals with a strong academic background in computing, mathematics and statistics, engineering or physics, with a solid grasp of programming. We also welcome applicants from non-traditional academic backgrounds who bring relevant professional experience or have gained security-related qualifications through self-study or previous roles.
Looking ahead to employability
The MSc Cyber Security is a rigorous programme that provides you with an in-depth understanding of both the practical and theoretical aspects of cyber security. By completing this course, you will be well-prepared to secure a lucrative position in the highly sought-after security sector. You will benefit from our strong ties with industry, having the opportunity to engage with a wide range of our partners through invited talks, workshops and projects. These invaluable connections help you stay at the forefront of emerging trends and gain a deeper understanding of current industry practices giving you a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving field of cyber security.
You will also:
Develop your practical skills in securing systems, evaluating risks and identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities through hands-on experience in our virtual labs
Get the opportunity to work on emerging cyber security scenarios, preparing you for the challenges you will face in the workplace
Have the option to undertake a substantial placement project with one of our industrial partners, tackling real-world security issues and further enhancing your industry connections
What to expect
Our programme offers a comprehensive journey through interconnected modules, providing you with a robust understanding of the field. The course is inherently interdisciplinary, allowing you to explore not only the technical aspects of cyber security but also the human, legal, and social implications of cybercrime. By the end of your studies, you'll graduate with a holistic understanding of cyber security, prepared to solve a wide spectrum of challenges that businesses and organisations face in this digital age.
You will also have the opportunity to complete a substantial dissertation project. Whether you choose to work with one of our world-leading academics or collaborate with an industry partner, your dissertation will allow you to apply your learning to a real-world context, making a tangible contribution to the field. This hands-on project, combined with your coursework, ensures that you graduate with not just theoretical knowledge but also the practical expertise that employers are seeking.
Three things we would like you to know
This Cyber Master's is designed to develop your advanced analytical and technical attributes, and provides clear career paths in both industry roles and academic research
Your practical work, through case studies and hands-on experiments, is conducted in brand new, state-of-the-art labs and includes an impressive immersive environment and control room
Learn from leading academics in cyber education and research, as recognised by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). We are an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR) and have been awarded Gold status as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACE-CSE)
Professor Daniel Prince explains what students can expect from studying Cyber Security at Lancaster, how it prepares students for its real-world application, and the impact the discipline has on society.
A future for Fabiola
"I chose to study at Lancaster as their Cyber Security MSc programme is National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) certified and the University has a reputation of being an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR) in the UK. The academics that teach the course are internationally recognised for their contributions to cyber research areas such as cyber defence, forensics, threat intelligence, artificial intelligence and network security. The University also focuses on giving back to the community and empowering young people through programmes like Cyber First, which stood out to me.
One of my favourite parts of the course was getting the opportunity to analyse real-life cyber-attacks that occurred in the UK whilst we were studying! I also really enjoyed the Zero-Day Entrepreneurship sessions, which gave me insights into cyber innovation and provided me with a framework for identifying business opportunities and solutions to cyber security problems through entrepreneurship.
Studying MSc Cyber Security at Lancaster has broadened my view of Cyber Security and provided me with some knowledge I can directly implement in my line of work. The course also armed me with a toolkit to think critically about cyber security problems including grey areas related to legal implications of cyber-attacks and compliance. I also feel more confident about assessing existing standards, methods and solutions by taking a more critical approach."
Fabiola Amedo, MSc Cyber Security graduate now working as a Manager at KPMG Ghana
Chartered Institute of Information Security membership
The Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec) is a professional body for cyber and information security professionals at every career stage.
As Lancaster University is an Academic Partner of CIISec, our CEMBA and MSc Cyber Security students can benefit from student membership, with the possibility of upgrading to Accredited Affiliate membership upon graduation. This membership status is increasingly attractive to prospective employers and can help you further stand out in the job market.
Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.
Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for a Chartered Engineer.
In a world dominated by digital data, ensuring the safety and security of our digital assets has become paramount for organisations, both large and small. With an MSc in Cyber Security, you will be equipped with skills that are in high demand across a range of sectors, from business and finance, IT and infrastructure, to even health and retail. Almost every industry is in need of security experts, so the opportunities open to you upon completion of your degree are endless!
Whilst our course is designed to allow you to pursue a career within the field of cyber security, the knowledge and expertise you will acquire can easily be applied to a range of other career paths, such as management, data analysis, web development, and software engineering. A number of our graduates each year also decide to continue into academia and pursue a PhD, either at Lancaster or further afield.
Here are just some of the roles that our MSc Cyber Security students have progressed onto upon graduating:
Senior penetration tester
Cyber security engineer
Identity and access management analyst
SOC analyst
Information systems auditor
Security training engineer
Cyber security analyst
Security consulting analyst
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
2:2 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering or Physics.
Applicants with equivalent professional experience are invited to contact our admissions team to discuss whether this programme is appropriate for them.
English language requirements
We require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test.
If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.
Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master's pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master's degrees. Visit INTO Lancaster University for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.
Course structure
We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.
Core
core modules accordion
In this module, you will explore the emergence of cyber conflict and cooperation in the digital era. You will examine cyber conflict within the international system, focusing on strategic debates around offensive and defensive cyber operations, including deterrence, escalation and the roles of military and intelligence agencies.
You will explore the rise of criminal markets in cyberspace, the various techniques used by criminals and the responses from law enforcement. You will also study international cooperation in cyber security, including national strategy and policy formation, the role of international law and cyber diplomacy.
This interdisciplinary module focuses on:
Political Science
Behavioural Science
Criminology
Sociology
Law to give you the knowledge and skills needed for cyber security and policy
Preparing you for a career in government and the private sector
Develop an analytical understanding of protecting information resources from unauthorised use. You will consider core security principles and cryptography to safeguard data confidentiality and integrity and examine security models and threat lifecycles to anticipate vulnerabilities towards hardening system protections.
You will also investigate secure communication protocols and operating systems concepts to defend against common attack vectors. You’ll enhance your skills in identity, authentication, and access-control strategies that underpin robust Identity Access Management (IAM) systems.
Through hands-on labs and case studies, you will apply cryptographic practices, greatly enhancing your ability to design and synthesise security solutions. By the end of the module, you will confidently articulate and apply foundational concepts that support advanced cyber security practice.
Deepen your strategic understanding of how organisations anticipate and manage cyber threats through rigorous risk and intelligence processes. As part of this, you will evaluate quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to assess threat landscapes and create actionable intelligence that informs resource allocation and defence strategies.
You will critique leading frameworks, standards and legislation to develop governance models that align risk acceptance with business objectives. Through real-world case studies, you will:
Formulate robust cyber risk management plans
Design intelligence-driven response solutions
Justify governance decisions to stakeholders
By the end of the module, you will effectively integrate threat intelligence with risk governance to safeguard organisations against evolving cyber challenges.
Develop your technical investigative skills for gathering information from compromised systems. Learn to identify security incidents, trace attacks and reconstruct events using data collected from network and system activities. Study the skills and technologies required to gather information and draw inferences about attacks as they occur or unfold.
You will also conduct digital forensics to capture and preserve evidence, analyse it and identify security breaches. Through practical sessions, you will develop an in-depth understanding of common systems and data formats to gather and interpret evidence to support investigations. You will use forensic methods to investigate security incidents, ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards, and contributing to the protection of digital assets.
Gain the knowledge and skills required to develop and maintain secure systems. You will explore development practices and the application of security controls to mitigate threats and vulnerabilities. Through theoretical and practical sessions, you will learn to evaluate the security of networked systems, understand security requirements and implement them in deployed systems.
You will cover the design and implementation of secure systems and network architectures, focusing on protecting communication links and ensuring secure communication among computer systems. By the end of the module, you will be able to apply best practices to safeguard networked systems against modern threats, aligning security strategies with organisational objectives.
You will undertake a self-study module that will culminate in the completion of your MSc dissertation. Throughout you will develop the ability to make valued judgments on technologies and applications, justifying these to peers and academic staff.
The project topic will vary per student, reflecting the module's weight and level, with opportunities for industry-based projects. You will refine, extend and perfect your scientific reflection and practice, applying technical skills to relevant research problems and gaining in-depth knowledge in a specific area. You will cover:
Requirements capture
Basic specification
Literature review
Formulation of a detailed project plan
Execution of methods
Production of results
Writing a detailed discussion
Synthesising the overall dissertation
Presenting results to your academic supervisor and industry or research partner
By the end of this module, you will proficiently articulate and apply foundational concepts that support advanced research practice.
Develop the skills and understanding required to test IT infrastructures for vulnerabilities to malicious attacks. Through theoretical and practical sessions, you will use tools and techniques to perform reconnaissance, identify weaknesses and exploit vulnerabilities. You will learn about the legal and ethical frameworks penetration testers operate within and the importance of rules of engagement.
As part of this, you will undertake simulated exercises on isolated vulnerable machines to refine your skills in identifying and mitigating security weaknesses. You will become familiar with strategies including network scanning, payload deployment, use of vulnerability databases, evasion tactics, and practical experience exploiting a broad range of vulnerabilities.
Fees and funding
We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2026/27
entry fees have not yet been set.
Additional fees and funding information accordion
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
College fees
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small College Membership Fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.
For students starting in 2025, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses.
Computer equipment and internet access
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
Application fees for 2025
For most taught postgraduate programmes starting in 2025 you must pay a non-refundable application fee of £40. We cannot consider applications until this fee has been paid, as advised on our online secure payment system. There is no application fee for postgraduate research applications.
Application fees for 2026
There is no application fee if you are applying for postgraduate study starting in 2026.
Paying a deposit
For some of our courses you will need to pay a deposit to accept your offer and secure your place. We will let you know in your offer letter if a deposit is required and you will be given a deadline date when this is due to be paid.
The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.
If you are studying on a programme of more than one year’s duration, tuition fees are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about fees in subsequent years.
Details of our scholarships and bursaries for 2026-entry study are not yet available, but you can use our opportunities for 2025-entry applicants as guidance.
The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
Our Students’ Charter
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. Find out more about our Charter and student policies.
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