Cybercrime (Distance Learning)

Entry requirements

Months of entry

January, May, September

Course content

Overview

On this postgraduate course, you’ll focus on the acts of cybercrime and the criminals behind them. You'll gain the skills needed to meet the demand for experienced cybercrime investigators and help make the online world a safer place.

The studies you can expect to take on will encompass a range of topics, including cyber offender and victim characteristics; public and private responses to cybercrime; the regulatory influences that impact upon behaviour online; and much more.

You’ll learn how to analyse and apply different theoretical perspectives and research in relation to cybercrime, plus how to communicate this research to those outside of the field as well.

You'll take a global approach to cybercrime and investigate the international cooperation needed to tackle it.

Additionally, you’ll have opportunities to collaborate with specialists in the cybercrime field, through The University of Portsmouth's Cybercrime Awareness Clinic, and our affiliations with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), local constabularies, and regional organised crime units.

The critical and analytical knowledge you develop will help you contribute to the mitigation of cybercrimes on both a local and international level. Plus, with the prevalence of digital technology in most organisations, you can look forward to exploring a range of career opportunities across industries.

What you'll experience

• Take a holistic approach to cybercrime, developing critical thinking around responses to technological, human, legal and management perspectives
• Investigate sociological and criminological aspects of cybercrime, identifying offender characteristics and the main victims of cybercrime
• Collaborate with experienced personnel such as members of Hampshire Police and the Crime Commissioner’s Office on your dissertation/major project
• Explore debates surrounding the causes of cybercrimes, digital investigations and the methods and motivations of cybercriminals
• Assess new harms online such as bullying, harassment and technology-facilitated sexual violence, as well as potential shortfalls in legislation

Work experience and career planning

Our MSc Cybercrime is designed to equip you with the expertise needed to find success within the cybercrime field.

In addition to developing the specialist knowledge required to address cybercriminal activity, your research alongside our industry experts will familarise you with real-world processes and offer important experience collaborating with others.

These skills, coupled with the support you can receive from our exceptional Careers and Employability Service, will help position you as a valuable hire to employers across the world.

Roles open to graduates could include:

• Behaviour analysts
• Information security officers
• Risk management analysts
• Intelligence analysts
• Researchers

On-campus MSc Cybercrime graduates have gone on to secure positions such as:

• Data Protection Act Coordinator at Great Ormond Street Hospital
• Marketing at Data Protection World Forum
• Digital Team Leader at the NHS Trust
• Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst at Accenture

Fees and funding

For information about fees and funding your studies, please visit: https://www.port.ac.uk/study/masters-and-postgraduate-taught/fees-and-funding