Cybercrime MSc
MSc Cybercrime
MSc Cybercrime
Overview
Do you want to be part of the next generation of cybercrime research and investigation experts? This MSc Cybercrime degree course will improve your technical, investigative and academic skills, pushing you to your career and study goals.
You'll get the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the challenges of cybersecurity, carry out investigations and operate as a link between the police and technological forensic investigators. You'll explore themes like the Dark Web, illegal file sharing and hacking, and get to grips with the challenges faced by criminal justice agencies, businesses and governments in the face of cybercrime.
You'll also get to choose from Core Subjects like Criminology and Security Management, and Specialist Options including Online Governance and Regulation, depending on the career path you want to take.
Study online
If you need flexibility with your studies, you can study MSc Cybercrime online. Find out about studying this degree online.
Tailoring your degree to your interests and ambitions
On this course, you can graduate with a degree title (see below) that reflects your interests and career goals by choosing specific modules.
You'll choose which modules you want to do at the start of the course. We'll help you choose the modules and degree title that matches your interests and career ambitions.
Degree title options
- MSc Cybercrime
- MSc Cybercrime and Criminal Psychology
- MSc Cybercrime and Economic Crime
- MSc Cybercrime and Forensic Investigation
- MSc Cybercrime and Intelligence
- MSc Cybercrime and International Criminal Justice
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
Qualifications or experience
- A second-class honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject. Exceptionally, applicants with strong and relevant work experience will be considered.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
What you'll experience
On this course, you'll:
- Hear the debates surrounding the causes of cybercrime, digital investigations and the methods and motivations of cyber criminals
- Have the option to complete a work placement with an organisation such as the Digital Forensic Group at Hampshire Constabulary
- Customise your degree to meet your career goals
- Learn from experts in cybercrime, policing and government
- Have 24/7 access to our library resources, including books, ejournals and newspapers
- Complete a major project, based on your chosen area of research, with the support of qualified and enthusiastic staff who are experts in the field
Careers and opportunities
You'll graduate from the MSc Cybercrime degree course with the skills needed for a successful career in the field of cybersecurity. You'll be competent in developing strategies against cybercrime threats, and your skills will be in demand in organisations such as criminal justice agencies, local government, businesses and charities. You'll also benefit from our links with Hampshire High Tech Crime Unit and the National Crime Agency.
You can also move on to further PhD study in cybercrime from a legal, technical or investigatory perspective.
We'll provide you with as much support as possible in finding employment through our close industrial contacts, careers events, recruitment fairs and individual advice.
Work experience and career planning
We'll help you to identify internships, voluntary roles and opportunities that will complement your studies.
When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills to work in the cybersecurity industry.
After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.
What you'll study on this MSc Cybercrime degree course
Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.
You need to study modules worth a total of 180 credits. For example, 4 modules worth 30 credits and 1 module worth 60 credits.
Recognising your prior learning
If you've done previous study, or have experience that relates strongly to this course, you might be able to convert that into credits toward this MSc through recognition of prior learning (RPL). If your experience qualifies as relevant, university-level learning, you'll be able to reduce the amount of study you need to do on this course.
Modules
Core modules
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Demonstrate systematic knowledge, comprehensive understanding and critical awareness, and think independently, analytically and creatively about the subject area
- Demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge and be able to analyse and appraise both new and existing knowledge and respond to challenges, locate and access information pertinent to the subject area, using digital and emerging technologies
- Recognise and evaluate the importance of social justice issues
- Demonstrate clear communication skills to different audiences
- Demonstrate enterprising and innovative skills and be adaptive and flexible to new situations
- Identify personal career development needs and make informed career choices
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Be able to synthesise new and existing knowledge to generate ideas and develop creative solutions to the benefit of society, within a small-scale research project within their chosen field
- Design, apply and critically evaluate research methodologies within the chosen subject area, demonstrating a commitment to ethical practice
- Conduct a systematic, methodologically and ethically sound research process (literature based or empirical research)
- Manage and reflect upon own learning and be able to communicate in a range of forms to audiences relevant to the academic and/or workplace community
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Recognise the challenges involved in undertaking ethical research and identify the research challenges that need to be accommodated within a proposal for a research project
- Construct a postgraduate research proposal with an ability to set out clear research objectives, and appropriate research design whilst able to select appropriate research methods
- Apply an appropriate research design, and deploy specific research method(s) to the research problem (or question) with a clear appreciation of how any ethical issues are addressed
- Effectively locate existing academic literature in their chosen field of research using bibliographic databases, with an appreciation of the breadth of other data sources, repositories and archives
Relevant specialist options
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the concepts of dangerousness, risk and vulnerability within a criminal justice context
- Demonstrate an integrated understanding of the development of public protection policies, locate these within the broader development of criminal justice and victim-centred policies
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of contemporary debates concerning the complex relationships between the state, the offender and the victim, within the wider context of citizenship and rights
- Critically evaluate the development and implementation of policies and legislation
- Demonstrate critical and reflective understanding of the subject area within the context of ethical practice and social justice issues
- Demonstrate an intellectual curiosity for the subject area and engage imaginatively with new areas of investigation within and across discipline boundaries
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- To develop a critical awareness of the concepts of globalisation, risk and security in relation to cyberspace
- To create a holistic understanding of the nature of cybersecurity threats facing organisations and states
- To estimate the diverse cybersecurity threats and responses, in relation to organisations and states
- To appraise the challenges of national cybersecurity strategies
- To develop an integrated interdisciplinary understanding of approaches to managing cyber-risks
- To assess the impact of global cybersecurity governance
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Critically evaluate the use of science and technology to support investigations and crime reduction activities
- Critically assess the utility of a variety of investigative tools that are available to support investigations and crime reduction activities
- Articulate and critically comment upon the range of specialist services available to investigators
- Devise appropriate strategies to make the most efficient, effective and economic use of scientific resources in support of investigations and crime reduction activities
Other modules available
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- To develop a critical awareness of aquatic forensic investigation as a specialist field within the sector
- To demonstrate a critical and reflective knowledge of limitations of the field of aquatic forensic investigation
- To identify and critically evaluate necessary areas for future research in the field of aquatic forensic investigation
- To demonstrate the ability to think independently, critically and analytically to apply complex concepts and theory to complex forensic scenarios
- To demonstrate an advanced understanding of the relevant practical skills necessary effective aquatic investigation how these can be applied
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Analyse and appraise the nature and scale of public and private sector fraud and corruption and to critically evaluate and compare the sources, methodology and limits to measurement
- Systematically evaluate different public and private sector strategies to counter fraud and corruption and to identify and critically assess the theoretical basis
- Critically examine and compare the success of arrangements to counter fraud and corruption in the public and private sectors
- Critically evaluate action taken in the public and private sectors to counter fraud and corruption and to apply knowledge gained to a case study of countering fraud and/or corruption
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Critically and reflectively assess the strengths and weaknesses of differing systems of justice
- Critically analyse, compare and contrast the workings of inquisitorial and adversarial systems of justice
- Critically engage with contemporary global debates and the application of those to theoretical frameworks such as models of justice and philosophies of punishment
- Critically evaluate the development of international criminal law, including international courts and tribunals, and the operation of the UN, regional and national structures of international justice in response to those crimes
This module explores the main types of economic crime and their cyber-enabled variants.
It evaluates the scale and impact of economic crime, and its international dimensions. It examines the common features and differences of economic crime types, and introduces theoretical perspectives on policy, justice, enforcement and prevention.
The online learning materials and recommended reading provide essential knowledge and theoretical underpinning for all of your learning outcomes. Learning materials contain recommended readings to engage you in wider academic and national, regional and international official sources.
Study support is provided through peer networking and interaction during key discussions on relevant topic areas, moderated by the module coordinator. These activities support you in gaining the relevant knowledge, understanding, and cognitive skills required for the successful achievement of all module learning outcomes.
The learning outcomes for the module are:
- Design and formulate an appropriate strategy to recover forensic evidence in response to investigation requirements
- Critically appraise the utility of forensic methodologies to support investigation requirements
- Plan, manage and organise an appropriate forensic investigation response to a range of situations and crime contexts
- Defend and justify investigative decisions made in the use of forensic methods based on investigation requirements
- Develop skills in evidence assessment, recovery, analysis and interpretation
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Critically assess the notion of green criminology and environmental justice
- Critically analyse and articulate the range of perspectives surrounding ecological justice and species justice
- Critically examine the problem and scale of wildlife crime and wildlife trafficking
- Critically appraise the latest global advances in wildlife crime investigation, including surveillance, remote-sensing, drones, financial investigation, cyber investigation, forensics and big-data analysis
- Critically assess the suitability of systems and technology to counter wildlife trafficking, drawing upon socio-technical approaches
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Critically discuss the potential contributions of psychological research and theory in the criminal justice arena
- Critically assess the application of psychology to the criminal justice system, from investigation to the courtroom
- Critically appraise the role of psychology in criminal justice policy and procedure
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Appraise established intelligence processes and practice
- Critically assess the ways in which intelligence is used (and often is not used) to inform the investigative process
- Critically evaluate the utility of existing intelligence models
- Critically assess the range of analytical services that are available to intelligence professionals
- Critically assess the limits on the legitimate exercise of police powers in the context of intelligence
This module provides an insight into the subject area of missing persons. You'll consider the needs and challenges faced by people who go missing and their relatives. You'll gain an understanding of the practices used by those investigating and managing these cases.
You'll be introduced to key areas where research has had an influence on policy and practice, both in the UK and abroad. You'll then make a critical appraisal of these issues using case examples.
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- To describe and examine different typologies, process, and methods of money laundering
- To develop a critical awareness of underlying regulatory and compliance frameworks
- To instil in students an appreciation of the business context in which money laundering occurs and is tackled
- To develop an integrated understanding of comparative strategies, structures and actions to tackle money laundering that will allow to engage in their critical evaluation
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Critically analyse a range of research studies making assessments as to their explanatory power and scientific rigour in the field of rehabilitation and desistence from crime
- Think independently, analytically and creatively about the rehabilitation of offenders and desistance from crime
- Analyse and critically appraise existing and new paradigms of knowledge in the rehabilitation of offenders
- Locate, access and engage with global information pertinent to leaving crime behind
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Evaluate critically the current research and academic understanding of the key concepts and debates within the field of addiction
- Evaluate critically the relationship between addictive behaviour and crime
- Evaluate critically the relationship between theory and practice in the delivery of services for individuals and communities for whom addiction and its associated problems are an issue
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Demonstrate systematic knowledge, comprehensive understanding and critical awareness, and think independently, analytically and creatively about the subject area
- Recognise and critically evaluate the importance of social justice issues
- Recognise and critically evaluate the key issues in the subject area
- Critically analyse emerging areas of importance in the subject area
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Learning support
As well as support by faculty teaching staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University’s Academic Skills Unit (ASK).
ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:
academic writingnote takingtime managementcritical thinkingpresentation skillsreferencing working in groupsrevision , memory and exam techniques
Teaching
Teaching methods on this course include:
- lectures
- seminars
- workshops
- individual and group projects
- online materials
How you'll spend your time
Each academic year is divided into 2 teaching blocks and 2 assessment periods:
- Teaching block 1 – September to January
- Assessment period 1 – late January to early February
- Teaching block 2 – January to May
- Assessment period 2 – May to June
Most teaching takes place during the day, Monday to Friday. If you study on campus, you may occasionally need to go to University events in the evenings and at weekends. Some course seminars may be held in the evening, both on campus and distance learning study modes.
How you're assessed
You'll be assessed through:
- essays
- case study
- blogs
- presentations
- research proposal
- dissertation or major project
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees (2022 start)
UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students
- Full time: £9,400
- Part time: £4,700 per year (90 credits) (subject to annual increase)
EU students
(including Transition Scholarship)
- Full time: £9,400
- Part time: £4,700
International students
- Full time: £16,200
- Part time: £8,100 per year (60 credits) (subject to annual increase)
Funding your studies
Find out more how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government postgraduate loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.
Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.
Additional course costs
These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
Additional costs
Our accommodation section shows your accommodation options and highlights how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.
You’ll study up to 6 module a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.
You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.
We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.
There may be travel costs for internships/placements. These will vary depending on the nature of internship/placement and can range from £50 - £1000.
If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
If you're a distance learning student, you may need to cover the travel, accommodation and subsistence costs for any optional campus-based events that you attend. Depending on the distance you need to travel to reach Portsmouth, these can vary from £50 to £500.
You may need to cover the travel costs of internships and placements. These will vary depending on the nature of the internship or placement in question, and can range from £50 - £1,000.
Apply
Apply for this course using our online application form.
Note you're applying for MSc Criminal Justice – you'll graduate with a MSc Cybercrime degree title when you choose the relevant modules at the start of the course.
September 2022 start
- Full-time study (1 year)
- Part-time study (2 years)
International students
If you're from outside of the UK, you can apply directly to us (above) or you can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.
