The Masters in Information Security provides you with a thorough grounding in professional software development, together with experience of developing a project proposal and conducting a development project, preparing you for responsible positions in the IT industry.

Programme overview

• MSc: 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time
• PgDip 9 months full-time; 21 months part-time
• PgCert 9 months full-time; 9 months part-time

You will attend lectures, seminars and tutorials and take part in lab, project and team work.

Core courses

• Component-based software engineering
• Cyber security
• Human-centred security
• Requirements engineering
• Professional skills & issues
• Research methods & techniques
• Safety critical systems
• Trends in information security
• Computing science project proposal.

Optional courses

• Advanced networking & communications
• Advanced operating systems
• Algorithmics
• Artificial intelligence
• Big Data: Sytems, Programming and Management
• Computer architecture
• Computer Vision Methods and Applications
• Constraint programming
• Distributed algorithms & systems
• Enterprise computing
• Functional programming
• Human computer interaction
• Human computer interaction: Design and Evaluation
• Information retrieval
• Internet technology
• IT architecture
• Machine learning
• Mobile human computer interaction
• Modeling reactive systems.

Depending on staff availability, the optional courses listed here may change.

Project

• To complete the MSc degree you must undertake a project worth 60 credits. This is a project chosen by you to investigate a challenging but constrained information security problem.

Career prospects

You will be well qualified for responsible software development positions, not only in the IT sector but also in many other sectors such as education, engineering, health services, financial services, government, manufacturing, retail, and transport. Expertise in information security is particularly prized by employers. You will also be well qualified to proceed to a PhD in computing science.

Academic entry requirements

A minimum of a 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent (eg GPA 3.0/4 or equivalent) with computing as a major subject.

International students with academic qualifications below those required should contact our partner institution, Glasgow International College, who offer a range of foundation courses.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training):

• overall score 6.5
• no sub-test less than 6.0
• or equivalent scores in another recognised qualification (see below)
   

Common equivalent English language qualifications:

• ibTOEFL: 92; no sub-test less than 20
• CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): B minimum
• CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): C minimum
• PTE Academic (Person Test of English, Academic test): 60; no sub-test less than 59

Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the Language Centre Pre-sessional courses. We also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:

• Language Centre, University of Glasgow
• BALEAP guide to accredited courses 

FAQs

Visa requirements and proof of English language level

It is a visa requirement to provide information on your level of English based on an internationally recognised and secure English language test. All test reports must be no more than 2 years old. A list of these can be found on the UK Border Agency website. If you have never taken one of these tests before, you can get an initial idea of your level by using the Common European Framework self-assessment grid which gives you a level for each skill (e.g. listening B1/writing B2 etc.) However, please note that this is not a secure English language test and it is not sufficient evidence of your level of English for visa requirements.

If you require a Tier 4 student visa, your qualification must be one of the secure English language tests accepted by UK Border Agency:

• UK Border Agency Tier 4 English Language requirements
• UKBA list of approved English language tests [pdf]

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office: pgadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk

Apply now

For 2013-14

MSc