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Course type: Masters degree
Credits: 180

Credits

Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.

One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.

You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.

For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
How long it takes: 3 years part-time study
Read more about how long it takes
Study method: Distance learning
Course cost: Postgraduate loan available
See Fees and funding
Entry requirements: Find out more about; Entry requirements

MSc in Cyber Security

: Course code: F87

Equip yourself to meet the urgent global demand for cyber security experts. This masters degree deepens your understanding of information security, digital forensics and threat-driven system design, and strengthens your ability to apply what you learn in real-world contexts. Through the core modules and a substantial independent project, you’ll build the skills and confidence needed to lead in technical and managerial roles. Certified by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of GCHQ, this qualification will unlock professional opportunities or prepare you for research in this fast-evolving field.

This course is provisionally certified by:

This course is certified by:

Compulsory modules	Credits	Next start
Information security (M811) Explore the professional and technical skills necessary to understand, document, manage and implement strategic and operational aspects of your organisation’s information security. See full description Register	30	01 Nov 2026
Digital forensics (M812) M812 covers the history of forensics, both criminal and criminal digital law, digital investigation techniques for desktop and mobile devices as well as forensic readiness. See full description Register	30	01 May 2026
Systems security (M817) This module teaches how to apply a threat modelling approach to help design and implement secure system architectures, one of the essential technical areas of cyber security. See full description Register	30	01 May 2026
Network security (T828) This module includes Cisco CCNA Security and Cyber Security Operations; explore information systems security management and secure internetworked systems. See full description Register	30	01 Nov 2026

Compulsory modules

Credits

Next start

Information security (M811)

Explore the professional and technical skills necessary to understand, document, manage and implement strategic and operational aspects of your organisation’s information security.

See full description

01 Nov 2026

Digital forensics (M812)

M812 covers the history of forensics, both criminal and criminal digital law, digital investigation techniques for desktop and mobile devices as well as forensic readiness.

See full description

01 May 2026

Systems security (M817)

This module teaches how to apply a threat modelling approach to help design and implement secure system architectures, one of the essential technical areas of cyber security.

See full description

01 May 2026

Network security (T828)

This module includes Cisco CCNA Security and Cyber Security Operations; explore information systems security management and secure internetworked systems.

See full description

01 Nov 2026

Module	Credits	Next start
MSc project: researching in context (T803) T803 is the capstone module of multiple masters qualifications, during which you’ll complete a small research project. See full description Register	30	01 Nov 2026
Subject to regulations, if you’ve passed the discontinued module T847, or you complete T802 before April 2028, you may count one of these instead.

Module

Credits

Next start

MSc project: researching in context (T803)

T803 is the capstone module of multiple masters qualifications, during which you’ll complete a small research project.

See full description

01 Nov 2026

Subject to regulations, if you’ve passed the discontinued module T847, or you complete T802 before April 2028, you may count one of these instead.

Option modules	Credits	Next start
Data management (M816) Discover the data management principles, practices and technologies required to develop policies, procedures and systems that control, protect, deliver and enhance the value of an organisation’s data asset. See full description Register	30	01 Nov 2026
Project management (M815) This APM accredited module is ideal for aspiring project managers and practising project managers who wish to develop their knowledge and skills of managing technological projects. See full description Register	30	01 May 2026
Software development (M813) Gain the fundamental knowledge and understanding, and analysis and synthesis skills that you will need to develop software artefacts fit for a real-world organisational context. See full description Register	30	01 May 2026
Software engineering (M814) Explore the advanced concepts and techniques used throughout the software life cycle, for the effective production and management of large, complex, and long-lived software systems. See full description Register	30	01 Nov 2026
Strategic capabilities for technological innovation (T849) This module draws on a range of theoretical perspectives from both strategic and innovation management to produce a multi-layered, practical, approach to strategic management of technological innovation. See full description Register	30	01 May 2026
Technology and innovation management (TB801) This module examines innovation from a management perspective, enabling you to develop an understanding of how to contribute to the process and management of technological innovation. See full description Register	30	01 May 2026
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules T848 and U810.

Option modules

Credits

Next start

Data management (M816)

Discover the data management principles, practices and technologies required to develop policies, procedures and systems that control, protect, deliver and enhance the value of an organisation’s data asset.

See full description

01 Nov 2026

Project management (M815)

This APM accredited module is ideal for aspiring project managers and practising project managers who wish to develop their knowledge and skills of managing technological projects.

See full description

01 May 2026

Software development (M813)

Gain the fundamental knowledge and understanding, and analysis and synthesis skills that you will need to develop software artefacts fit for a real-world organisational context.

See full description

01 May 2026

Software engineering (M814)

Explore the advanced concepts and techniques used throughout the software life cycle, for the effective production and management of large, complex, and long-lived software systems.

See full description

01 Nov 2026

Strategic capabilities for technological innovation (T849)

This module draws on a range of theoretical perspectives from both strategic and innovation management to produce a multi-layered, practical, approach to strategic management of technological innovation.

See full description

01 May 2026

Technology and innovation management (TB801)

This module examines innovation from a management perspective, enabling you to develop an understanding of how to contribute to the process and management of technological innovation.

See full description

01 May 2026

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules T848 and U810.

Credit transfer

If you have already completed some successful study at postgraduate level at another institution you may be able to transfer credit for this study and count it towards this Open University qualification. If you wish to apply to transfer credit you must do so as soon as possible as it may affect your choice of OU modules. If you are awarded credit for study completed elsewhere, you may find that you need to study fewer OU modules to complete your qualification with us.

Visit our Credit Transfer site for more information and details of how to apply for credit transfer.

On completion

On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our Master of Science in Cyber Security. You’ll be entitled to use the letters MSc Cyber (Open) after your name.

If your masters degree is awardable with a distinction or a merit, the qualification regulations explain how you can achieve these.

You’ll have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

MSc in Cyber Security

We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available modules – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which the University might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 18 March 2025.

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MSc in Cyber Security

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