100% online MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security
- 180 credits •
- 24 Months
This is Keele:
- 100% online MSc within 24 months
- Sought after programming and web languages taught, including Python, XML, R and Matlab
- Internationally recognised expertise in computational neuroscience, evolutionary systems, machine learning and AI, software and systems engineering
- 80% of research ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’*
- £7,440 total fees with option to pay per module
- Keele alumni discount available
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Become the expert organisations trust to keep them secure
This 100% online MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security equips you with the technical expertise and strategic insight to protect digital systems in an increasingly complex and evolving cyber security landscape.
Designed for professionals and graduates from any background, this part-time master’s combines strong computer science foundations with specialist cyber security training. You’ll develop practical skills in network security, cryptographic systems, security analytics, and risk management, preparing you for specialist roles at the heart of organisational security across financial institutions, government, defence, cloud providers, and large enterprises.
Learn from research-active experts at Keele’s School of Computer Science and Mathematics and connect with an international learning community. You’ll explore real-world cyber security challenges, engage with emerging threats including AI-driven exploits and zero-trust architectures, and explore the governance frameworks shaping the future of cyber security practice.
Fully online and built for flexibility, the programme runs on a carousel model with six entry points per year (January, March, May, July, September, and November). Study one module per two-month term, balance your learning with your professional commitments, and graduate with a UK-accredited MSc that prepares you for a range of cyber security careers in one of the world’s fastest-growing fields.
Why study this master's course at Keele?
Keele University holds a TEF Gold rating for teaching excellence and is recognised for producing highly employable graduates. Our programmes are shaped by research with real-world impact (REF, 2021), so you can be confident the skills you develop are in direct demand.
You'll study through a purpose-built online learning environment, designed to maximise your success and enable you to complete your MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security in as little as two years, entirely online.
Furthermore, you’ll be supported throughout your studies via a Student Success Coordinator and specialist module tutors.
What will I learn?
You'll gain expertise across the full breadth of computer science, with specialist modules in network security, cryptographic systems, and security analytics. From software engineering and programming to incident response and compliance, you'll graduate with the well-rounded technical and strategic skill set that today's cyber security professionals need.
You'll graduate equipped to:
- Assess, design, and implement secure computing solutions in professional and industry-relevant contexts
- Apply advanced skills in network security, cryptography, and vulnerability analysis to real-world environments
- Analyse security risks and respond to incidents using industry-standard tools and techniques
- Integrate compliance and governance frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO/IEC 27001 into security management practice
- Communicate security findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Lead independent research and deliver an original MSc project
Modules include:
- Design and Programming
- User Interaction Design
- Web Technologies and Security
- Statistical Data Analytics and Databases
- Network Security and Cryptographic Systems
- Systems Security - Analytics and Management
- Principles of Software Engineering
- Research and Consultancy Skills
- Preparing for the MSc Project
- MSc Project
What can I do with an MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security from Keele?
Cyber security professionals are in critical demand worldwide, and a specialist master’s from Keele prepares you to pursue technical and specialist cyber security roles. Graduates pursue careers including:
- Cyber security analyst or engineer
- Penetration tester or ethical hacker
- Security architect or systems security specialist
- Information security manager
- Network security engineer
- Security operations centre (SOC) analyst
- IT risk and compliance consultant
- Incident response specialist
From financial services and healthcare to government, defence, and tech — every sector is investing in cyber security expertise. Your MSc gives you the credentials and capabilities to meet that demand.
Programme Director
Dr Amirreza Khodadadian
School of Computer Science and Mathematics, Keele University
I obtained my Ph.D. from the University of Vienna, Austria, in November 2017. I got my first postdoctoral from the Technical University of Vienna in 2018. Then, I moved to Germany and joined the Institute of Applied Mathematics, Leibniz University of Hannover. During my doctoral and postdoctoral, I collaborated with several international scholars and visited a couple of institutes, including the University of Oxford. I joined the School of Computer Science and Mathematics, Keele University, as a Lecturer in August 2023.
Key Info
What are the entry requirements for this course?
Apply for the MSc Computer Science with Data Science at Keele if you have one of the following:
- A minimum of 2:2 undergraduate degree or a UK Master's degree (or international equivalent).
Or:
- A third-class honours degree or an ordinary degree (without honours), or a UK equivalent professional qualification, with a minimum of two years' appropriate work experience.
Or:
- Applicants who do not hold a recognised degree may be considered based on relevant professional experience. Contact us to discuss your eligibility.
No prior computing experience is required; the programme is specifically designed to welcome students from any academic background.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
- IELTS at 6.0 overall with no individual component below 5.5
- TOEFL overall minimum 79
- PTE Academic overall minimum 50
- Cambridge (CAE & CPE) overall 169 with minimum scores of 162 in each component
- Duolingo with 95 overall including minimum 85 in each element
- A degree qualification taught in English from specific countries within the last five years
Access to computer technology
You'll need access to a desktop computer or laptop with an up-to-date operating system and a web browser (e.g. Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome). Microsoft Office 365 is also required and is provided to Keele students at no extra cost.
Frequently asked questions
No prior computing or security experience is required. Your first module, Design and Programming, is specifically designed to build your foundations from scratch, and specialist online tutors guide you throughout. Students from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds thrive on this programme.
This programme is structured for working professionals studying part-time and is designed to be completed in as little as two years. The online format means you can balance study with your existing career.
The programme uses a carousel model with six start points throughout the year: January, March, May, July, September, and November. The first cohort for this pathway commences March 2026. Contact us to find out when you can begin.
The carousel model is designed to accommodate the demands of professional life. You can pause your studies at the end of any term and re-join in a subsequent term without penalty or loss of progress. If you exit permanently, you can request an official transcript confirming all modules you have successfully completed.
You’ll work with a range of industry-standard tools and programming languages, including Python, Java, and JavaScript, as well as TryHackMe for hands-on cyber security lab work. All required software will be provided or is freely available online.
No. This programme is delivered entirely online via Keele’s Canvas virtual learning environment. All learning, assessment, and support takes place remotely, giving you the flexibility to study from wherever you are in the world.
You’ll be assigned a named student success coordinator who provides pastoral and administrative support throughout your programme, as well as specialist online module tutors for all academic queries. Support is available year-round, including over summer. Keele’s full library and IT services are always available to you during your studies.
Programme Start dates
Fees
If you are based in the UK or the EU, you may be eligible for a government postgraduate loan to cover the full course fees.
Keele alumni discount: if you have successfully completed an undergraduate degree at Keele, you are eligible for a 10% tuition fees reduction, reducing total fees payable to £6,696.00 and per 15-credit module fee to £558.00.
You pay tuition fees for each module taken, either module-by-module or in full at the start of your course.
If you pay module-by-module, you will pay in instalments of £620.00.
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