Information Security at University of Surrey at Main

In an expanding digital age, protecting data is of vital importance. The Information Security MSc sits within the University of Surrey's renowned Department of Computer Science and the outstanding Surrey Centre for Cyber Security, which is an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research.

The University, meanwhile, has been recognised as a gold-standard Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education. Both accreditations were awarded by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which is a part of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). This means that teaching will be informed by world-class research conducted by nationally and globally rated experts in the subject. Learners will also benefit from the University's strong links with local and international industry. 

This course will equip students with the theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to pursue a successful career in this sector. The science behind this course connects various disciplines, from computer science, mathematics and business, to design and critically analyze concepts, mechanisms and technologies used in the depth and breadth of cyber security. Not only will students learn the foundations of systems and information security such as cryptography, they'll also be educated on advanced and state-of-the-art concepts linked to electronic payments or distributed ledgers. 

The additional option of an MSc with a placement year will allow students to get experience of cyber-security applied in research and development in the real-world. The University has strong, established links with many national and international businesses and institutions such as Airbus, BAE Systems, CGI Group, DSTL, IBM, Infineon, Microsoft, Sophos and Sky TV.   

The University labs are kitted with TPMs mounted on Raspberry PIs, so learners can try their hands at interacting with and programming secure applications using TPMs. Moreover, they'll be taught its mathematical fundamentals by one of the scientists at the heart of the ISO-standardization of the cryptography on TPMs, Professor Liqun Chen. Other key facilities include a high performance computing (HPC) cluster; an access grid node (AGN) which provides a 6m screen for video conferencing, presentation sharing and software demonstration 

The MSc Information Security programme with placement opens up a huge range of career opportunities across the cyber security and IT sectors. Recent graduates have secured jobs at Bosch, Ernst & Young, IBM UK and RGA Consulting.