Advance your career with Lancaster University’s online MSc Cyber Security. Gain the critical skills to protect digital assets, manage cyber risks and navigate complex security challenges through expert-led, application-focused learning. No prior cyber security study or experience required.Advance your career with Lancaster University’s online MSc Cyber Security. Gain the critical skills to protect digital assets, manage cyber risks and navigate complex security challenges through expert-led, application-focused learning. No prior cyber security study or experience required.Advance your career with Lancaster University’s online MSc Cyber Security. Gain the critical skills to protect digital assets, manage cyber risks and navigate complex security challenges through expert-led, application-focused learning. No prior cyber security study or experience required.
Build an empowering career with Lancaster University’s online MSc Cyber Security, a 28-month, part-time programme designed for anyone motivated to enter the field of cyber security. Offered by Lancaster University’s renowned School of Computing and Communications (SCC), this cyber security master’s prepares you to assess cyber risks, implement secure systems, conduct forensic investigations and navigate global security challenges, combining theory with strategic, leadership-focused cyber security education.
Whether you’re looking to move into a career in cyber security or want to gain up-to-date knowledge of the factors at play within this growing field, this programme provides the tools to build a successful cyber security career.
Lancaster University consistently ranks among the top academic institutions in the UK: number 10 in the Complete University Guide 2025, number 12 in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and number 11 in The Guardian University Guide 2025.
This MSc Cyber Security provides crucial practical training in penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, digital forensics and more – ideal for careers in cyber security operations and security consultancy.
A blend of live and asynchronous learning affords you the ability to complete coursework when it’s convenient for you, while connecting with teaching staff and peers in real time to discuss coursework and develop lasting relationships.
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Lancaster University seeks anyone with a keen interest in cyber security and a drive to master the fundamentals of this dynamic field, whether to strengthen the security of their organisation, community or broader digital landscape.
The final deadline for the January 2026 cohort is 8 December 2025.
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Lancaster University’s MSc Cyber Security has been uniquely designed to provide you with a holistic perspective and multidisciplinary skillset, so you can drive change within your organisation or pursue a career shift.
You’ll develop an understanding of foundational cyber security concepts and learn how to apply them to real-world scenarios, especially in the face of cyber risks and threats. You’ll also learn how to assist in the design and development of secure systems and network architectures, as well as gain the expertise to understand vulnerability assessments and perform penetration tests.
In addition to these core skills, you’ll learn how to:
This module introduces students to the fundamental concepts of information security and cyber security. Students will be introduced to the concepts of data protection, privacy and identity management, focusing on access control systems and policies as key components of identity and access management (IAM) systems. Students will be introduced to security models for the development of secure systems and policies. Additionally, students will explore cryptographic schemes for ensuring data confidentiality, integrity and authenticity, and how these techniques support secure communications and IAM systems.
This module provides an exploration of the principles and practices that are essential for managing cyber risks and threats in modern organisations. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of cyber risk management and the cyber threat intelligence process. The module covers quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis and assessment for risk and intelligence, and how the two inform each other to help organisations manage cyber risks, develop organisational strategies and how to allocate resources to provide the best protection possible. Students will be introduced to the key frameworks, standards and legislation that drive global cyber-risk governance.
This module introduces the fundamental concepts and practices of secure systems and equips students with the knowledge required to design, develop and maintain them. Students will explore secure development practices and the application of security controls for mitigating threats and vulnerabilities. Students will develop an understanding of developing solutions that align with security requirements, designing and implementing secure systems and network architectures, and understand how communication among computer systems can be secured.
This module will introduce students to the fundamentals of security assurance – the processes and practices that are used to provide confidence in the effectiveness of security measures. Students will learn about the skills required to identify and address vulnerabilities in systems infrastructures through both theoretical and practical sessions. Students will be introduced to techniques used to conduct vulnerability assessments, penetration testing and take part in simulated exercises designed to refine their skills in identifying and mitigating security weaknesses. By the end of the course, students will understand the frameworks and methodologies used to test the security of systems, through the application of best practices to test and improve the security posture of systems.
This module introduces students to the principles and techniques of incident management, including the investigation of incidents and digital forensics. Students will learn to identify security incidents, trace attacks and reconstruct events, using data collected from network and system activities. Additionally, students will conduct digital forensics to capture and preserve evidence, so as to analyse it and identify security breaches. Students will develop a basic understanding of applying forensic techniques in different scenarios and how to interpret evidence.
This module examines the emergence of cyber conflict and cooperation in an era defined by digital technologies. Students will develop their understanding of cyber operations within the international system, exploring strategic debates around offensive and defensive capabilities. They will be introduced to the emerging criminal markets in cyberspace, focusing on theories of cybercrime, the tools and methods used by criminal actors and responses by law enforcement agencies. Students will develop an understanding of international cooperation with regard to cyber security, including national strategy and policy formation. This module is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing on political science, behavioural science, criminology, sociology and law to equip students with skills in cyber security strategy and policy.
As part of the master’s programme, students will engage in a project that results in a dissertation. On completion, students are expected to be able to make value judgments relating to technologies and applications, and to justify these to peers and academic staff. The topic of the project will vary from student to student, but will be at a level commensurate with knowledge gained throughout the module. The dissertation is divided into two distinct parts: the Foundations element and the Implementation element. The Foundations element will cover requirements capture, basic specification and literature review, facilitating the formulation of a detailed project plan and discussions on anticipated findings.
The Implementation element of the dissertation will cover the execution of methods, production of results, the writing of a detailed discussion of the results and synthesis into an overall dissertation, followed by the presentation of the results to the academic supervisor and industry or research partner.
As cyber threats evolve, businesses and governments need security experts who can rise to the challenge. This cyber security master’s equips you with industry-relevant knowledge, collaborative problem-solving skills and the practical toolkit you’ll need to help protect communities and systems from harm.
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A complex world calls for flexible learning designed for your needs. In the online MSc Cyber Security programme, you’ll find an intuitive platform, comprehensive support and top-notch education designed for real people with real lives.
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Our close-knit academic community is bolstered by a dedicated team of teaching staff who aren’t just lecturers – they’re practitioners at the cutting edge of research and impact in cyber security. Students have the opportunity to interact with lecturers during weekly synchronous sessions, as well as having a senior department figure serve as their academic adviser – available for 1:1 sessions to provide crucial guidance and academic feedback or support.
During the dissertation phase of the programme, students will also be paired with a supervisor specially equipped to deal with their chosen topic. This provides the opportunity for students to become part of the research culture of the University, and engage, debate and assess their own understanding of the coursework when applying the tools they’ve developed to real-world data.
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As a graduate of Lancaster University’s online MSc Cyber Security, you’ll be equipped with industry-relevant cyber security knowledge and key practical skills, ready to protect organisations from evolving digital threats. With hands-on training in secure systems, risk management, incident response, digital forensics and cyber conflict, you’ll be able to provide effective solutions to contemporary challenges.
With its uniquely holistic approach, this cyber security master’s empowers students to pursue diverse opportunities in cyber security – whether you’re looking to advance in your current role or transition into a new career.
Possible career options after completing the programme include:
Advance your career with Lancaster University’s online MSc Cyber Security. Gain the critical skills and expertise you need to address complex security challenges through expert-led, application-focused learning. No prior cyber security study or experience required.
