Welcome to your Cyber Security course

Welcome to the Masters course in Cyber Security at University of Staffordshire!

If you're starting your postgraduate journey with us, we're thrilled to have you. If you're continuing your studies, welcome back! You are now part of the Department of Computing within the School of Digital, Technology, Innovation and Business.

We have over 50 years of experience delivering computing degree courses and our staff are enthusiastic and highly qualified academics with extensive commercial and research backgrounds. We are dedicated to helping your acquire subject-relevant knowledge and develop skills that will unlock your potential and pave the way for a successful and rewarding career.

Remember we are here to support you. If you encounter any issues, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Course delivery

For full-time on-campus students

Lectures and tutorial sessions will be delivered live on campus, with class sizes designed to enhance your learning experience. Our labs are equipped with a limited number of computers to ensure you have ample opportunity to interact with your tutor during sessions. We offer a variety of session types and adjust them to provide the best possible experience for you. Formal lectures will be accompanied by electronic materials available on our learning system, allowing you to pre-read or follow along with downloaded content. The most crucial aspect of your learning will be our labs, where you can deepen your understanding through practical work and discussions.

For distance learning students

Lecture materials will be pre-recorded and accessible on our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Blackboard, along with tutorial materials. You will also have access to virtual labs and state-of-the-art simulation software. This innovative approach allows remote learners to engage with the curriculum fully, providing them with the opportunity to work with real-world equipment and scenarios.

Semester one activities

In the first few weeks of this course, you will become more familiar with our friendly and professional teaching team and learn how to use our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Blackboard. You will also be introduced to our library resources, giving you access to a variety of online platforms.

The modules in your semester one are:

Research Methods and Dissertation Proposal

The purpose of this module is to introduce the foundational knowledge and abilities you will need to start working on your MSc project. The syllabus will consist of identifying a project, defining goals and objectives, deliverables, and value addition, selecting literature to go in your research review section, how to study research papers, academic writing, and preparing for your MSc dissertation.

Machine Learning in Cyber

On this module you will learn about some of the main methods for data analysis and machine learning in the field related to Cyber Security. Different algorithms will be explored, and students will learn how to use them to analyse data, forecast the future, and assess performance. The module will look at how these types of concepts and technologies are applied to the cyber security industry, and how they are being used to detect malicious agents and actors across both hosts and networks.

Digital Forensics

A digital forensic investigation is a special case of investigation where the procedures and techniques (and their use) that are used to gain evidence from target digital devices are critical in order that findings can be presented in a Court of Law. The analysis of digital evidence is a very structured and formal process. This module will allow learners to develop knowledge and understanding of digital forensics, focusing on different platforms (computers, mobile phones, smartphones, and vehicles). A key objective of this module is to introduce the principles of digital forensic investigation.

Pre-learning

To prepare you for the practical aspect of the course, please complete these online courses. There is no cost involved other than some of your time. Most of these courses tend to take between 10 and 30 hours of learning and are aimed at people starting higher education so should give you a good head start. These are online and available 24/7, some require you to download a simulation package called Packet Tracer, which is available for Windows and Mac OS.

Equipment and software

Software

The software requirements will vary based on the individual modules you are studying. The University provides software at no extra cost to all students, which you can access from our University Software Portal.

Hardware

All of our labs are equipped with powerful computers, and additional computers are available in various areas for student use.

For personal hardware, we recommend a laptop with at least an i5 processor (or equivalent.) Most modern processors are sufficient for general software development tasks. However, we recommend at least 16 GB of RAM to allow you to complete specific assignments. 

Using Apple-based laptops is perfectly fine, but please note that not all software has a compatible version for macOS. This is particularly true for some freeware utilities that might be used in your modules.

Trips and activities

In addition to our activities during welcome week there may be opportunities to join guest lectures, either on campus or online, relevant to your course. We will advertise these in advance to give you the chance to plan your time so you can fit them into your schedule should you wish to attend. Please note that attendance of these is optional but highly recommended.

Additional information

Some of the modules in this course offer the opportunity to gain specialist knowledge in fields where you can obtain industry-recognised certifications. While this may involve additional study and a small investment, these certifications are an excellent way to make your CV stand out when applying for placements or positions in the industry after completing your course.

The Academic Alliance between University of Staffordshire and industry vendors such as Cisco, Juniper, Microsoft, WMware or AWS allow us to provide you with the official certification learning material, latest tools and most current professional practice within the field of computing and cyber security.

Understanding the value of these certifications in the job market, we highly encourage students to take full advantage of these opportunities.

Meet the team

Dr Ange ALY

Senior Lecturer

Dr Ange Aly is leading the MSc cyber security award as well as an active researcher in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Her main area of interest is the application of Physics-informed Machine Learning to Forensic and Cyber Security.

Ange's profile

Tomasz Bosakowski

Senior Lecturer

Tomasz has obtained his MSc in Computer Engineering and is currently close to completing his PhD degree. He currently lectures in Computer Networks and Security at Staffordshire University. Tomasz is also a member of the university's Cisco teach…

Tomasz's profile

Dr Mostafa Tajdini

Senior Lecturer

Mostafa is Course Leader for BSc (Hons) Cyber Security course at Staffordshire University as well an active researcher in Cyber and Network Security. His main area of the interest is Intrusion Detection/Prevention System in IPv6 and Phishing Attack.

Mostafa's profile

What to expect on Welcome Week

We're so excited for you to join us on campus and to welcome you to where you matter. During your welcome week you'll be able to meet our friendly student services teams, connect with new friends, join societies, explore on-campus venues attend club nights and much more.

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025

for Social Inclusion

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026

for First Generation Students

The Mail University Guide 2026

in the UK for Games Education

Rookies Games Design and Development 2023, 2025

TIGA Best Games Institution 2024, 2025

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021