MSc Cyber Security (Software Security) 12 months Postgraduate Programme By University of Bristol |TopUniversities
Subject Ranking

# =134QS Subject Rankings

Programme Duration

12 monthsProgramme duration

Tuitionfee

36,600 GBPTuition Fee/year

Application Deadline

27 Aug, 2026Application Deadline

Programme overview

Main Subject

Computer Science and Information Systems

Degree

MSc

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

New approaches to building software, such as continuous delivery cloud-based scalability, and Open Source have accelerated technological innovation. Modern software now underpins vast, complex systems across society, from energy and finance to healthcare and smart transport.

This new software ecosystem has also given rise to new forms of security threats, malware and system vulnerabilities. There is also now a heightened need from end-users, regulators and other stakeholders for accountability, privacy, and demonstrable and effective data protection measures from developers.

The consequence is an increased worldwide demand for software security experts who are able to understand the security challenges that modern software brings and offer strong solutions to mitigate harm to valuable software-enabled infrastructures. There is a major shortage of software security experts with the skills required to protect software-intensive businesses from disruption that can have large-scale impacts on society and massive business losses.

A strong ethos of rigorous experimental and empirical cybersecurity and privacy research underpins the MSc, facilitated by a state-of-the-art testbed for studying threats and vulnerabilities related to data flows in the software and its dependencies (supply chain), critical national infrastructure (CNI) and Internet of Things (IoT).

Leveraging our bespoke teaching equipment, you'll learn to apply foundational software techniques necessary to protect often interdependent software systems and will develop the skills for engineering scalable solutions. You'll be exposed to real-world problems that are practical and challenge-oriented but underpinned by rigorous research.

This MSc aims to:
  • Enable a deep understanding of fundamental concepts, design principles, building blocks and methods to understand and mitigate against cyber threats that impact critical and complex software systems.
  • Give you hands-on experience in articulating software security issues by working with devices, systems and networks utilised in realistic environments such as state-of-the-art testbeds for inter-meshed systems, CNI and IoT.
  • Equip you with the ability to apply these security principles in analysing cybersecurity problems and challenges from a variety of vantage points: networks, systems, human factors and risk, control systems and Internet of Things devices, reason about the security and privacy properties of underlying software and implications in large-scale and inter-meshed settings.
  • Enable you to apply secure software engineering principles and lifecycle to design and implement software solutions that proactively and reactively address security and privacy issues by default.
  • Provide you with the skills to reason critically about complex problems that require evaluation and analysis from a multi-dimensional perspective including technical, human and organisational aspects.


Teaching for this postgraduate programme will be delivered at our new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, opening 2026. Home to our pioneering research groups and designed to enhance links with industry in collaborative spaces, students will gain the networks, skills and knowledge to succeed once you graduate. Depending on your choice of optional units, you may also be taught on the Clifton Campus.



We also offer a related programme in Cyber Security (Infrastructures Security).

Programme overview

Main Subject

Computer Science and Information Systems

Degree

MSc

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

New approaches to building software, such as continuous delivery cloud-based scalability, and Open Source have accelerated technological innovation. Modern software now underpins vast, complex systems across society, from energy and finance to healthcare and smart transport.

This new software ecosystem has also given rise to new forms of security threats, malware and system vulnerabilities. There is also now a heightened need from end-users, regulators and other stakeholders for accountability, privacy, and demonstrable and effective data protection measures from developers.

The consequence is an increased worldwide demand for software security experts who are able to understand the security challenges that modern software brings and offer strong solutions to mitigate harm to valuable software-enabled infrastructures. There is a major shortage of software security experts with the skills required to protect software-intensive businesses from disruption that can have large-scale impacts on society and massive business losses.

A strong ethos of rigorous experimental and empirical cybersecurity and privacy research underpins the MSc, facilitated by a state-of-the-art testbed for studying threats and vulnerabilities related to data flows in the software and its dependencies (supply chain), critical national infrastructure (CNI) and Internet of Things (IoT).

Leveraging our bespoke teaching equipment, you'll learn to apply foundational software techniques necessary to protect often interdependent software systems and will develop the skills for engineering scalable solutions. You'll be exposed to real-world problems that are practical and challenge-oriented but underpinned by rigorous research.

This MSc aims to:
  • Enable a deep understanding of fundamental concepts, design principles, building blocks and methods to understand and mitigate against cyber threats that impact critical and complex software systems.
  • Give you hands-on experience in articulating software security issues by working with devices, systems and networks utilised in realistic environments such as state-of-the-art testbeds for inter-meshed systems, CNI and IoT.
  • Equip you with the ability to apply these security principles in analysing cybersecurity problems and challenges from a variety of vantage points: networks, systems, human factors and risk, control systems and Internet of Things devices, reason about the security and privacy properties of underlying software and implications in large-scale and inter-meshed settings.
  • Enable you to apply secure software engineering principles and lifecycle to design and implement software solutions that proactively and reactively address security and privacy issues by default.
  • Provide you with the skills to reason critically about complex problems that require evaluation and analysis from a multi-dimensional perspective including technical, human and organisational aspects.


Teaching for this postgraduate programme will be delivered at our new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, opening 2026. Home to our pioneering research groups and designed to enhance links with industry in collaborative spaces, students will gain the networks, skills and knowledge to succeed once you graduate. Depending on your choice of optional units, you may also be taught on the Clifton Campus.



We also offer a related programme in Cyber Security (Infrastructures Security).

Admission Requirements

6.5+
168+
67+
88+
You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or international equivalent in Computer Science, Electrical or Electronic Engineering, Cyber Security, Information Security or Software Engineering. Other disciplines will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants from other related subjects are required to have studied modules relevant to the programme at minimum of 60%, or international equivalent:

Relevant Modules:
  • Algorithms
  • Cloud Native Systems
  • Computer Security
  • Continuous Integration Continuous Deployment/Delivery (CICD)
  • Data Privacy/Security
  • Data Structures
  • Databases/Structured/Unstructured Databases
  • DevOps
  • JavaScript
  • Network Security
  • Operating Systems
  • Programming (1 from the list below)
  • Requirements Engineering
  • Secure Coding
  • Service Orientated Architectures
  • Software Maintenance
  • Software Analysis
  • Software Architecture
  • Software Design
  • Software Development
  • Software Process
  • Software Security
  • Software Tools
  • Structured Programming
  • System Security
  • Systems Analysis
  • Systems Development
  • Systems Engineering
  • Systems Programming
  • Unstructured Programming
  • Web applications.

Suitable Programming modules (One module from this list):
  • Ansible
  • Assembly Language
  • C/C ++
  • Cloud Computing
  • Docker
  • Java
  • Kubernetes
  • Machine Learning Fundamentals
  • Object Orientated Programming
  • Parallel Programming
  • Problem Solving & Programming
  • Programming Fundamentals
  • Programming Lab
  • Python
  • Scala
  • Serverless computing
  • Shell Scripting
  • Terrafoam.

MATLAB, FORTRAN, Basic or Visual Basic will not be considered suitable for this programme.

If your achieved grade is lower than our entry requirements, your application may be more likely to receive an offer if you have additional relevant work experience or qualifications. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing:

  • evidence of significant, relevant work experience with a minimum of two years (full or part-time) experience within a computer science or electronic/electrical engineering role or as a software developer. Examples include software testers (especially penetration testing), technical role in cybersecurity, system engineer, security officer, data protection officer, information officer, product manager;
  • a relevant postgraduate qualification.

Specific module requirements would still apply.



English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level D.

27 Aug 2026
1 Year
Sep

  • Candidates are required to submit references or letter(s) of recommendation for acceptance

Tuition fees

Domestic
18,900 GBP
International
36,600 GBP

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