MSc Cyber Security in the UK: Top universities eligibility, scope, and more

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Picture of Shivani Mani

Shivani Mani

Lead, Student Success - FundRight

An MSc in Cyber Security in the UK is an excellent opportunity for Indian undergraduates looking to learn about data privacy and related fields. 

Graduates of this field are in high-demand. It is a low-investment and high-yield degree. If you are comfortable with a computer, have coding experience and are good at math, this degree is for you. 

Eligibility A 3-year undergraduate in a relevant field. Some universities require Honors. IELTS and TOEFL. 
FeesVaried by university. Typically between £20-30,000.
Duration1-year full-time. 2-years part time
Salary Freshers can expect £25,440 
PerksHigh job opportunities and scope to go into different fields

Why should you consider doing an MSC in Cyber Security in UK?

  • Cyber Security is included in the critical occupation list 2022 in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland. This means that there is a relaxed eligibility criteria for sponsored work visa applications in these regions. 
  • Universities in the UK are conducting world-leading research in the field of Cyber Security. 
  • Getting into this program isn’t that hard. You only need your Bachelor’s scores and English proficiency waiver. No GRE is required. 
  • The UK’s Cyber Security institutions expose you to the newest methods and tools for information analysis, data storage, and data gathering, which aids in your understanding of data management. You will learn how to plan, coordinate, and handle various tasks.

MSc in Cyber Security in UK vs USA

Criteria USAUK
GREAverage score – 300 (Q&V combined); 3.5 (A)Not required 
Eligibility Usually, a 4-year undergraduate degree is required which is not common in IndiaA 3-year undergraduate degree is valid. 
Feesthe average fees are around 40 lakhsThe average fees are around 25 lakhs
Duration Usually a 2-year degreeUsually a 1-year degree

Details of the course

An MSc in Cyber Security in the UK teaches you to take preventive steps against cyberattacks by UK Cyber Security experts. By monitoring systems and removing dangers as they materialize, you will learn to safeguard computer operating systems, networks, and data with an MSc in Cyber Security from the UK.

You get practical experience in how to prevent cyberattacks and protect people’s data and privacy. 

It is not just about learning firewall as but rather digital forensics, cryptology, security policies. It helps you go beyond the undergraduate level and gain depth of knowledge. 

The degree also expects you to collaborate with animators, concept artists, designers, developers, and other software engineers. 

Scope of Cyber Security in the UK

Due to the usage of data for business decisions, the UK currently has a wider potential for Cyber Security than the majority of other nations. 

2.93 million Cyber Security experts are required globally.

An MSc in Cyber Security in the UK can lead to opportunities in organizations such as educational institutions, financial institutions, and healthcare providers where there is a need to safeguard customers’ financial transactions, assets, and health records. 

Positions available after degree

  • Cyber Security specialist
  • Cybercrime analyst
  • Incident analyst
  • IT auditor
  • Cyber Security analyst
  • Cyber Security consultant
  • Penetration and vulnerability tester
  • Cyber Security manager

Average Salary in UK after Masters in Cyber Security

The average salary of a fresher holding an MSc in Cyber Security is £25,440 p.a. or £12.54 per hour.

The average Cyber Security compensation in the UK is 9% more than the average salary for other IT positions.

The salary will differ depending on your specific skill set and designation. 

Indeed projects £40,000 as of the median salary for an IT Security Specialist.

The income potential rises as you move up the Cyber Security job ladder. You can anticipate a salary that is higher than £45,000.

Checklist for picking a university for MSc in Cyber Security in UK

While picking a university for you here are a few things you should keep in mind. 

  • Ranking of your university
  • Curriculum
  • Look up the work of the faculty 
  • Tuition fees
  • Funding opportunities 
  • Teaching methods and assessment structure 

Specific things to check.

  • Check if the course is certified by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
  • Look into the recognition of the university. For example, King’s College London is recognised as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR) by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). 
  • The rating of the research output of the university.

Doing all this by yourself can be hard. That’s why we are here to help you. Create a profile with SelectRight

A huge dataset – We use 6 million data points across different programs to give you transparent and unbiased recommendations about the best universities for MSc in Cyber Security in UK.

You can go through the universities on our website. As soon as you like them, they will be added to your personal shortlist so you can keep track of your choices.

Community – We value community. It is crucial especially if you are planning on moving from India to the U.K.

Along with emotional support, our community can connect you with mentors who care for your success and can provide valuable guidance. These mentors are either alumni or current students of your matched programs/universities. Get relevant and more importantly, correct advice. All you have to do is join our discord. 

Expert guidance – You don’t have to give exams to get into your dream university. The two crucial components are your Statement of Purpose and Letter of Recommendation. We have a carefully curated directory of unbiased industry experts who can help you with these things.

They will also answer any other questions you have and review your application.

Events – Attend an exclusive event with your university. You can interact with the faculty and submit your application. It will also help you clarify your doubts and validate your choices.

Admission chances – We will also calculate your admission chances. We do this by combing through the past admission data of candidates with profiles similar to yours and give you a number which reflects the acceptance rate. 

Additional perks – We can also help you find specific funding and scholarship opportunities.

We also have other exclusive benefits like application fee refund. We choose winners every week and refund INR 11,500. Find more exciting opportunities with us.  

Eligibility criteria

  • In most universities, you need a minimum High 2:1 undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline with a final mark of at least 65% or above. 

Note – If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification. Check the university’s page to confirm. 

  • In India, a High 2:1 undergraduate degree means Bachelor degree (Honors/Special) with a score of: 67% or 8.3 out of 10​ from prestigious institutions. And a Bachelor degree (Honors/Special) with a score of: 70% or 8.5 out of 10 from recognised institutions. 

Note – While this is the general grade criteria, the specific required percentage may vary depending on the university.

  • Relevant disciplines include Computer Science and quantitative disciplines such as Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Natural Science, Electronic Engineering, General Engineering. 
  • You will also need an IELTS or TOEFL score. You may be exempted from the exam if your college education was conducted in English. 

Best universities for Masters in Cyber Security with course and fees

UniversityProgram nameFees in £Highlight 
University College LondonMSc Information Security (1-year)31,200UCL received the highest percentage (96%) for quality of research in Computer Science and Informatics in the UK’s most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2014).
University of BirminghamMSc Cyber Security (1-year)25,380Companies including Microsoft, Vodafone, Siemens, IBM and Hewlett Packard come on campus to talk directly to students.
University of SouthamptonMSc Cyber Security (1-year)26,850Has been recognised as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research by the UK government, and their academics have helped establish a European Data Science Academy
University of YorkMSc Cyber Security (1-year)23,300A UK top ten research department – according to Times Higher Edcuation’s Ranking of the LA’s test REF results (2021).
Lancaster UniversityMSc Cyber Security (1-year)24,430Has the world-class ICT Center of Excellence, InfoLab21.
Queens University of BelfastMSc. Applied Security (1-year)21,400In 2015, Queen Elizabeth II awarded CSIT a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its work in strengthening global Cyber Security and protecting the online activity of billions of internet users around the world.
Swansea UniversityMsc Cyber Security (1-year)18,500Has a brand new £32.5m Computational Foundry, including a Vision and Biometric Lab, a Maker Lab, a Theory Lab, a Cyber Security/Networking Lab, a User Lab and a Visualization Suite.
King’s College London Msc Cyber Security (1-year)     29,31092% of research outputs ranked as world leading or internationally excellent in the most recent assessment of excellence in UK universities

Note – All these universities’ courses have been certified by the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC).

Document checklist

You need to keep a set of documents ready if you want gor for an MSc in Cyber Security in UK. .These will be required with your application. 

  • Original transcripts of your previous education. If you haven’t yet received all, you can upload the ones you have. 
  • Government issued ID.
  • Your original diploma. If you haven’t received it, yet you can submit your semester grade sheets. 
  • English language proficiency scores should be submitted directly from the agency.
  • Letters of Recommendation, if required. Depending on the university you may need one, two, three or none. Typically, a link goes to the suggested faculty’s email address to which they are supposed to upload the letter. Remind them and keep in touch with them. 
  • You might need to submit your resume/CV. In most universities, it is optional.

Now that we have covered almost everything you need to know about pursuing an MSc in Cyber Security, get started with your application.

We know that this is a lot. That is why we want you to get in touch with our experts. Create an account and avail our services for free. 

Picture of Shivani Mani

Shivani Mani

Shivani, aka 'Sheen' brings in 15+ years of experience in banking & finance. An IIM-A alumna, she actively interacts with students & provides actionable solutions to their study abroad funding issues.

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