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MSc Computer Networks and Systems Security with Placement Year

Why choose Herts?

  • Industry Accreditation: Accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS) enabling graduates to register at The Chartered Institute for IT as a chartered IT professional, to work as a chartered engineer.
  • Work Placement Opportunities: You will have a one-year industry placement. Previous graduates have worked for organisations including Apple, Leonardo and Vodafone.
  • Industry-Focused Content: You will develop technical expertise and practical skills required in industry for the design, management, and evaluation of network using tools including VMWare, Cisco Packet Tracer and Wireshark.
  • This course is up for review

    To ensure this course continues to be cutting-edge and enables you to be ready for the modern workplace, it is due to be reviewed by March 2025.

    Our website will typically be updated within a month of the review confirming any enhancements, including:

    • module titles (and whether they are core or optional)
    • expected contact hours
    • assessment methods
    • staff teaching on the course
  • Entry requirements and key information

    For admission to MSc Computer Networks and Systems Security, the normal requirement is a good honours degree (or equivalent) in computer science or cognate discipline. The choice of award title students may be accepted on to will be determined by the award applied for and the prior learning of the student as demonstrated by the transcript for existing qualifications held by the applicant.

    Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate sufficient competence in English to benefit from the Programme.  This is normally demonstrated by recognised awards equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0. Candidates who do not satisfy these requirements will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

    The programme is subject to the University's Principles, Policies and Regulations for the Admission of Students to Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes (in UPR SA03), along with associated procedures.  These will take account of University policy and guidelines for assessing accredited prior certificated learning (APCL) and accredited prior experiential learning (APEL).

    Institution code

    		 H36

    School of study

    		 School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science

    Course length
  • Sandwich, 2 Years
    		•

    Location
  • University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield
    		•
  • Employability

    What job can I get?

    Our master's programme is designed to give Computer Science graduates the specialist, up-to-date skills and knowledge sought after by employers, whether in business, industry, government or research.

    The MSc Computer Networks and Systems Security course will equip students with in-depth knowledge and practical skills in modern computer networks and systems security.

    Successful graduates may pursue a career in computer networking or security companies, or any other industries that require in-house technical support and maintenance in IT and systems security such as educational institutions, hospitals, retail chains, banks, or government. 

    Work placement

    The course offers you the opportunity to work for one year in a highly professional and stimulating environment. You will be a full time employee in a company earning a salary and will learn new skills that can't be taught at University. During the placement, you will be able to gain further insight into industrial practice that you can take forward into your individual project.

    We will provide excellent academic and personal support during both your academic and placement periods together with comprehensive careers guidance from our very experienced dedicated Careers and Placements Service.

    Although the responsibility for finding a placement is with you, our Careers and Placements Service maintains a wide variety of employers who offer placement opportunities and organise special training sessions to help you secure a placement, from job application to the interview. Optional one-to-one consultations are also available.

    In order to qualify for the placement period you must pass all the first 60 credits of your study in your first attempt.

Professional Accreditations

Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional. Students on the specialist MSc with placement (Semester B entry) must pass the 7COM1064 Preparation for Placement module as a condition for accreditation.

About the course

This course is part of our master's programme in Computer Science. 

The MSc in Computer Networks and Systems Security considers current research and practice in computer networks and systems security. You will develop technical expertise and practical skills in the design, management and evaluation of networks, and in the use of tools and techniques for systems security. This MSc can lead to a career such as a network system designer or administrator, or as a security consultant.

The programme offers three award routes that you can choose to study:  

Why choose this course?

  • You will gain industrial experience by applying the skills you have learned throughout your studies into practice.
  • One of a range of advanced courses within our postgraduate master's programme in Computer Science, this particular course provides you with a specialism combining theoretical knowledge and practical skills in computer networks and systems security.
  • You will develop technical expertise and practical skills in the design, management and evaluation of networks, and in the use of tools and techniques for systems security. Advanced topics studied include network systems administration, wireless mobile and multimedia networking, distributed systems security, and secure systems programming.
  • Taught by a highly-regarded and long-established computer science department with strong links to business.
  • Computer Science saw 90% of its research ranked as world-leading (Research Excellence Framework, 2021). 

What will I study?

Teaching is through a combination of lecturer-led presentation of specific topics using lectures, tutorials and practical classes and via guided reading among specialist textbooks and journals.

You will be encouraged to undertake independent study both to supplement and consolidate what is being taught in class to further your understanding and explore new areas of research and interest.

Where will I study?

Learn in our new School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science building (SPECS), where you’ll experience a range of experiential learning zones.

The computer science labs are home to telecommunications, robotics and UX empathy labs, with a variety of research spaces that range from dark rooms to clean rooms, and sample prep labs to calibration and assembly labs.

You will also benefit from our Academic Support Hub, which is aimed at helping you build your employability and academic skills. Plus, have access to industry mentors who will provide you with pastoral support, vocational guidance, and career progression opportunities.

Spectra also provides space to collaborate, with plenty of workshops, social and meeting spaces available. Even better, the building has been designed with the University’s net zero carbon target in mind, and forms part of our plan to replace or upgrade older sites that are energy inefficient.

  • Level 7
    ModuleCreditsCompulsory/optional
    Distributed Systems Security30 CreditsCompulsory
    Secure Systems Programming15 CreditsCompulsory
    Network System Administration15 CreditsCompulsory
    Preparation for Placement0 CreditsCompulsory
    Wireless Mobile and Multimedia Networking30 CreditsCompulsory
    Computer Networks and Systems Security Masters Project60 CreditsCompulsory
    Team Research and Development Project15 CreditsCompulsory
    Professional Work Placement for MSc Computer Science60 CreditsCompulsory
    Responsible Technology15 CreditsCompulsory

    • Further course information

    Course fact sheets
    MSc Computer Networks and Systems Security - Extended Download
    Programme specifications
    MSc Computer Networks and Systems Security - Extended Download
    Additional information

    Sandwich placement or study abroad year

    Mandatory

    Applications open to international and EU students

    		 Yes

    Student experience

    At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible. We offer a range of support services including; student wellbeing, academic support, accommodation and childcare to ensure that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying and having fun.

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