With the increasing sophistication of threats to the cyber landscape coupled with the rapid increase in attempts to disrupt our critical systems and gain commercial and personal data, there is an ever-increasing demand for high skilled cyber security graduates to defend individuals and organizations from a diverse range of cybercrimes.

The MSc Applied Cyber Security course will equip students with the latest knowledge and understanding of the cyber threats associated with the use of technology in business and how best to deal with them.

Through a range of learning experiences, students will gain the knowledge of how to keep computer systems free of interference by testing and evaluating them for vulnerabilities and forensically examining the evidential data they provide, to find solutions to real-life problems.

The course is part of the National Cyber Security Academy, which brings the University, Welsh Government and industry experts together to tackle the skills gap and create experts who can fight against cybercrime. USW has been named Cyber University of the Year for three consecutive years at the National Cyber Awards, and it is one of only 8 Universities in the UK to be awarded Gold by the National Cyber Security Centre as an Academic Centre of Excellence.

Students will cover both the technical and management or governance areas required to operate in the cyber security profession, allowing them to enhance their existing skills and develop a range of key transferable skills valued by employers in both the public and private sectors. They'll also benefit from being taught by staff who are at the forefront of their subject area.

The University offers cutting edge facilities which means students will be learning in specialist Cyber Security labs. Practical learning will also be undertaken in the Digital Forensics lab, which is a computer forensic facility, typical of those used by law enforcement agencies to analyze digital files and media for use as evidence in legal proceedings. Students will also study in the Secure Operations Centre (SOC), which has been designed to emulate the workplace.

Career opportunities for those with a cyber security qualification continue to grow with many roles offering an interesting, challenging and rewarding environment to work in. From implementing security policies and managing protective measures in network systems, to advising organizations on how to reduce risks and their vulnerability, there are a variety of opportunities throughout the computer industry.

Typical roles commonly associated with cyber security include information security and risk analysts, IT security managers and network security consultants. Graduates could also consider a computing research degree or computing PhD.