Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class honours degree in a relevant subject (Social Science, Humanities, Law, Psychology, or Management subject). Information Technology or science related subjects will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants with equivalent professional experience in a relevant organisation will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Overview

Explore the human dimensions of cybercrime on this part-time, distance learning Master's course, delving into the causes of cybercrime, digital investigations and the methods and motivations of cybercriminals.

Studying online at your own pace, you'll gain the critical knowledge and analytical skills to meet the growing threat of cybercrime, allowing you to facilitate investigations and operate as a link between the police and technological forensic investigation teams.

You'll learn how investigative cybercrime practices work in the public and private sectors, in areas such as hacking, online drug markets, the dark web, and sexual exploitation and child protection online.

You'll graduate with the skills needed to play your part in mitigating and tackling all kinds of cybercrime, from the local to the global.

What you’ll study

This course will give you the skills to pursue a career in combating cybercrime.

On this course, you'll:

Immerse yourself in the world of contemporary cybercrime and approaches for tackling it, covering topics including cyber offender and victim characteristics, debates around freedom of information and privacy, challenges of national cybersecurity, and the impact of global cybersecurity governance
Study with one of the first UK universities to offer a campus-based Master's degree in cybercrime and to bring a criminological strategy to the subject - expert academics from our School of Criminology and Criminal Justice have been researching and publishing in the field of cybercrime and online deviance for over 15 years
Learn alongside Master's students specialising in a wide range of criminology subjects, giving you a diverse learning experience with the opportunity to discuss and develop interdisciplinary ideas
Be taught by academics with previous experience as police officers, crime scene officers, probation officers and intelligence analysts
Get involved with our criminology research groups, such as the Cybercrime and Cybersecurity group, the Economic Crime group, and the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime
Complete a major project based on your chosen area of research, with the support of qualified and enthusiastic experts in the field

Accreditation

NCSC provisionally certified.

Careers this Master's prepares you for

The risks and threats of cybercrime are only continuing to grow, yet there's a recognised shortfall in the cybersecurity skills needed to tackle cybercrime skills around the world (securitybrief.co.uk). What's more, there's also a lack of non-technical ‘soft skills’ relating to cybercrime – such as understanding and communicating risks and the ability to appreciate the wider context of threats.

So there's an increased demand for more people with the right skills to identify, investigate and counteract the problem of cybercrime, and not just from security and technological backgrounds. Cybercrime investigation agencies need to substantially increase their understanding of the criminological behaviour of online offenders in the UK and abroad, as well as how cybercrime intersects with serious crime in the 'real' world.

These are the skills and perspectives you'll gain on this distance learning Master's course in cybercrime, supported by specialist academics and active researchers in cybercrime and criminology. You’ll graduate with knowledge of practice and theory in cybercrime, as well as the research and analytical skills needed for private or public sector careers in the UK or abroad.

If you already work in the field of criminal justice, you'll be ready to pursue higher-level roles, or to break into a different area of the discipline. If you're preparing to start your career in criminal justice, you'll gain the knowledge and advanced research problem-solving skills you need to stand out to employers.

You could also go on to a graduate scheme such as PoliceNow or the Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme.

Graduates of this course can go on to roles such as:

cybercrime investigator
online behavioural analyst
policing (as an officer or civilian staff)
crime, security and intelligence analysis
private security
data analyst

Graduates of this course can go on to work for organisations such as:

the Civil Service
national and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
international government agencies and departments
probation and prison service
the Courts
local administration / authorities
charities

Career planning

During your course you'll have expert career support from your tutors and from our Careers and Employability Centre, which you can access for 5 years after you graduate.

You'll benefit from:

Networking events
1-to-1 appointments
CV and cover letter advice
Interview preparation and practice
Workshops to enhance your employability skills
Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
Support starting your own business

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

MSc
part time
24 months
- Online learningis available for this qualification

Course contact details

Name: University Admissions Centre
Email: admissions@port.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)23 9284 5566

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Cybercrime (Distance Learning)