Information Security MSc - 2022/3

Awarding body

University of Surrey

Teaching institute

University of Surrey

Framework

FHEQ Level 7

Final award and programme/pathway title

MSc Information Security
MSc Information Security with Professional Postgraduate Year

Subsidiary award(s)

Award Title
PGDip Information Security
PGCert Information Security
PGDip Information Security with Professional Postgraduate Year
PGCert Information Security with Professional Postgraduate Year

Professional recognition

Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)
Our course has received Full Certification from GCHQ, is taught by experts, and equips you with the theoretical grounding and hands-on experience demanded by the information-security sector.

Modes of study

Route code Credits and ECTS Credits
Full-time PGA61007 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits
Full-time with Placement PGA71001 240 credits and 120 ECTS credits
Part-time PGA61008 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits

QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)

Computing (Master)

Other internal and / or external reference points

N/A

Faculty and Department / School

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences - Computer Science

Programme Leader

RADOMIROVIC Sasa (CS & EE)

Date of production/revision of spec

12/09/2023

Educational aims of the programme

  • The programme will provide students with advanced knowledge and understanding of information security theory and concepts. The programme will teach foundations and methods from several information security disciplines such as data security, network security, cryptography, formal security analysis, secure systems and web applications, multimedia security, digital forensics, privacy-enhancing technologies, and human-centred security.
  • The programme will teach students to apply their knowledge of scientific methods and gained information security skills in practice through lab sessions and individual dissertation projects where students will be offered an opportunity to analyse, evaluate and interpret existing information security mechanisms and/or carry out their own research activities.
  • The programme will support students in carrying out their own scientific investigation under the guidance and advice of their supervisor. Students will be able to identify information security problems and find suitable information security protection mechanisms based on their skills and relevant literature sources.

Programme learning outcomes

Attributes Developed Awards Ref.
Knowledge and understanding of the general information security aims and challenges K PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Knowledge and understanding of technical and mathematical concepts and mechanisms for the protection of digital data and information K PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Knowledge and understanding of technical concepts and mechanisms for digital forensics K PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Knowledge and understanding of technical concepts and mechanisms for the development of secure computing systems and applications K PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Knowledge and understanding of technical concepts and mechanisms for securing network communications and infrastructures K PGCert, PGDip, MSc
The ability to critically evaluate information security mechanisms and technologies with respect to their functionality, security properties and application challenges K PGCert, PGDip, MSc
The ability to implement or apply existing information security mechanisms and technologies in practice K PGDip, MSc
The ability to design, develop and analyse secure systems and applications by taking into account both technical and non-technical perspectives K PGDip, MSc
The ability to critically evaluate new ideas, develop own ideas and conduct supervised research in information security K MSc
The ability to analyse and solve problems of technical nature under consideration of various risks and constraints C PGCert, PGDip, MSc
The ability to make effective and efficient decisions in an environment of conflicting interests C PGCert, PGDip, MSc
The ability to think strategically C PGCert, PGDip, MSc
The ability to synthesise and critically evaluate the work of others C PGDip, MSc
The ability to apply fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies C PGDip, MSc
The ability to carry out an independent research investigation aiming to improve the state-of-the-art knowledge in the field C MSc
Ability to come up with technical solutions to a range of problems P PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Ability to use concepts and theories to make judgements on the suitability of solutions, their advantages and disadvantages P PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Ability to implement mechanisms and apply them in a wider context of more complex systems P PGDip, MSc
Ability to present their opinions and findings and to produce a high-quality report P PGDip, MSc
Ability to communicate concepts and results in a clear and effective manner T PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Time and resource management planning T PGCert, PGDip, MSc
Ability to work with available resources, to collect and analyse research-oriented material T PGDip, MSc

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Programme structure

Full-time

This Master's Degree programme is studied full-time over one academic year, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7*. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
*some programmes may contain up to 30 credits at FHEQ level 6.

Full-time with Placement

This Master's Degree programme is studied full-time over 24 months, consisting of 240 credits at FHEQ level 7. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)

Part-time

This Master's Degree programme is studied part-time over three academic years, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7*. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
*some programmes may contain up to 30 credits at FHEQ level 6.

Programme Adjustments (if applicable)

N/A

Modules

Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Module code Module title Status Credits Semester
COMM034 CLOUD COMPUTING Optional 15 2
COMM037 INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGEMENT Compulsory 15 1
COMM044 SYMMETRIC CRYPTOGRAPHY Compulsory 15 1
COMM045 ASYMMETRIC CRYPTOGRAPHY Compulsory 15 1
COMM046 MULTIMEDIA SECURITY AND DIGITAL FORENSICS Compulsory 15 2
COMM047 SECURE SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS Compulsory 15 2
COMM048 INFORMATION AND NETWORK SECURITY Compulsory 15 2
COMM050 INFORMATION SECURITY FOR BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT Optional 15 2
COMM051 DATABASE SYSTEMS Optional 15 1
COMM002 MSC DISSERTATION Core 60 Year-long
COMM058 ARCHITECTURAL THINKING FOR SECURITY Optional 15 1
COMM002 MSC DISSERTATION Core 60 Cross Year

Module Selection for Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Students must choose 2 out of 4 optional modules.

Students starting the programme in February will undertake the below module 'Across Academic Years' rather then Year-Long:
COMM002

Year 1 (full-time with placement - 2 years) - FHEQ Level 7

Module code Module title Status Credits Semester
COMM037 INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGEMENT Compulsory 15 1
COMM044 SYMMETRIC CRYPTOGRAPHY Compulsory 15 1
COMM045 ASYMMETRIC CRYPTOGRAPHY Compulsory 15 1
COMM058 ARCHITECTURAL THINKING FOR SECURITY Optional 15 1
COMM034 CLOUD COMPUTING Optional 15 2
COMM046 MULTIMEDIA SECURITY AND DIGITAL FORENSICS Compulsory 15 2
COMM047 SECURE SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS Compulsory 15 2
COMM048 INFORMATION AND NETWORK SECURITY Compulsory 15 2
COMM050 INFORMATION SECURITY FOR BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT Optional 15 2
COMM051 DATABASE SYSTEMS Optional 15 1

Module Selection for Year 1 (full-time with placement - 2 years) - FHEQ Level 7

Students must choose 1 optional module in semester 1 and 1 optional module in semester 2.

Year 2 (full-time with placement - 2 years) - FHEQ Level 7

Module code Module title Status Credits Semester
COMM002 MSC DISSERTATION Core 60 Year-long
COMM060 PROFESSIONAL POSTGRADUATE YEAR (INFORMATION SECURITY) Compulsory 60 2
COMM002 MSC DISSERTATION Core 60 Cross Year

Module Selection for Year 2 (full-time with placement - 2 years) - FHEQ Level 7

Students must choose 1 optional module in semester 1 and 1 optional module in semester 2.

Students starting the programme in February will undertake the below module 'Across Academic Years' rather then Year-Long:
COMM002

Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Module code Module title Status Credits Semester
COMM034 CLOUD COMPUTING Optional 15 2
COMM037 INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGEMENT Compulsory 15 1
COMM044 SYMMETRIC CRYPTOGRAPHY Compulsory 15 1
COMM045 ASYMMETRIC CRYPTOGRAPHY Compulsory 15 1
COMM046 MULTIMEDIA SECURITY AND DIGITAL FORENSICS Compulsory 15 2
COMM047 SECURE SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS Compulsory 15 2
COMM048 INFORMATION AND NETWORK SECURITY Compulsory 15 2
COMM050 INFORMATION SECURITY FOR BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT Optional 15 2
COMM051 DATABASE SYSTEMS Optional 15 1
COMM058 ARCHITECTURAL THINKING FOR SECURITY Optional 15 1

Module Selection for Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Semester 2 - optional modules

Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Module code Module title Status Credits Semester
COMM034 CLOUD COMPUTING Optional 15 2
COMM037 INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGEMENT Compulsory 15 1
COMM044 SYMMETRIC CRYPTOGRAPHY Compulsory 15 1
COMM045 ASYMMETRIC CRYPTOGRAPHY Compulsory 15 1
COMM046 MULTIMEDIA SECURITY AND DIGITAL FORENSICS Compulsory 15 2
COMM047 SECURE SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS Compulsory 15 2
COMM048 INFORMATION AND NETWORK SECURITY Compulsory 15 2
COMM050 INFORMATION SECURITY FOR BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT Optional 15 2
COMM051 DATABASE SYSTEMS Optional 15 1
COMM058 ARCHITECTURAL THINKING FOR SECURITY Optional 15 1

Module Selection for Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Semester 2 - optional modules

Year 3 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Module code Module title Status Credits Semester
COMM002 MSC DISSERTATION Core 60 Year-long
COMM002 MSC DISSERTATION Core 60 Cross Year

Module Selection for Year 3 (part-time) - FHEQ Level 7

Students starting the programme in February will undertake the below module 'Across Academic Years' rather then Year-Long:
COMM002

Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity

Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics Y
Professional Training Year (PTY) N
Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) Y Yes: possible as summer internship within the dissertation projects (up to 2 months)
Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) N
Study exchange (Level 5) N
Dual degree N

Quality assurance

The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/quality-enhancement-standards

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2022/3 academic year.