MSc — 2026 entry Cyber Security

Build cyber expertise for a changing threat landscape with an NCSC-certified MSc designed for tomorrow’s careers. On this established masters programme, you’ll learn in a world-leading research environment and focus on developing skills to success in multiple cyber professions.

5,972+ people have created a bespoke digital prospectus

Key course information

Typical offer
2:2 minimum
Start date
September 2026
Attendance
Full-time
Duration
1 year
Scholarships
Funding available
UK fees
£12,900
Overseas fees
£25,900
Subject area
Computer science

Why choose
this course?

Study at the Surrey Centre for Cyber Security, one of the UK’s only Academic Centres of Excellence in both Cyber Security Education (Gold award) and Research. On this masters programme, you’ll build on your existing knowledge, exploring different approaches to protect networks and systems, then have opportunities to apply your knowledge in practice.

  • Benefit from a well-established programme that is constantly updated to reflect rapid technology change. Alongside covering foundational cyber security such as cryptography, you can choose to study topics from secure architectures to digital forensics, ethical hacking and cybercrime.
  • Design and test secure systems and try to break insecure ones in our computer science labs, implementing algorithms, programming secure applications and applying penetration testing techniques on systems.
  • Get closer to the latest research being undertaken in the Surrey Centre for Cyber Security, as you are taught by lecturers at the forefront of protecting payment systems, space software security, advising on online safety and defending against AI-powered attacks.
  • Explore security from both a business and technical perspective - cover topics such as governance, regulation and user behaviour to develop vital insights into how security architectures support organisational objectives and how polices can be applied and managed effectively within an organisation.
  • Connect with experts from leading cyber security businesses, based locally in Surrey or in nearby London. Get involved in team and individual programming challenges and hackathons both locally and nationally.
  • Get the perfect launchpad for a wide range of career paths – there is a high demand for cyber security professionals, not only in large organisations, but also in consultancy, research, software development and cybercrime investigation.
  • Study on a full or part-time basis: ideal if you’re balancing it with work or other commitments. You can start the full-time programme in either September or February, and there’s also the option of a year in industry as part of your masters.
  • We’re preparing you for the future by integrating AI into every course, building digital skills, confidence and creativity that employers value in tomorrow’s workplace.
Find out more information

Certified

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About the University of Surrey

Need more information?

Contact our Admissions team or talk to a current University of Surrey student online.

Terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to follow our policies and procedures, student regulations, and terms and conditions.

We provide these terms and conditions at the offer stage, and again at registration. You will be asked to accept these terms and conditions when you accept the offer made to you.

View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2025/26 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.

Disclaimer

This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.

Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.

It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer.