Degree type: MSc
UCAS Code: Apply direct to the University
Duration: Full-time: 1 year/ Part-time: 2 years
Interested in this course? Why not participate in our MSc Virtual Open Day. More details can be found on our Skype Live and Interactive and MSc Virtual Open Day web pages.
Why choose this course?
Threats to our societies, governments and commercial infrastructures are very real due to the growth of terrorism, criminal networks and cyber-attacks. These threats are high priority in government strategy planning. This course is focused on intelligence analysis to recognise and counter such threats by drawing on a multi-disciplinary skill set from the computing, information and social sciences. A graduate from this course will be equipped with a unique portfolio of analytical skills necessary to understanding the complexities of intelligence problems. Benefits will also be gained from the thriving multi-disciplinary research groups at the university in the area of national security.
Those exiting the course after successful completion of the taught component (i.e. Postgraduate Diploma) would be eligible for the award of Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) Intelligence and Security Informatics.
Have you ever had your biometric data collected at an airport? Your face or fingerprints, for example. What is your opinion on this for national security? Are you aware, or intrigued, that you leave a forensic trail when you are interacting with the internet? Are you interested in government intelligence but also in the intelligence of computers? What is your view on the growth of the surveillance society and the major threat now posed by cyber-crime and terrorist cells? These are just some of the fundamental questions addressed by the course.
The course covers the general theme of intelligence information gathering to analyse and counter terrorist cells, domestic criminal networks and cyber-crime, whilst also examining the detailed process of a digital forensic investigation. Psychology and sociology merge on attitudes towards and interaction with technologies connected with surveillance and cyberspace within a social, ethical and legal framework. The acquisition of the multi-disciplinary analytical portfolio is the single most exciting challenge of the course and fundamentally defines the unique requirements of a contemporary intelligence analyst.
How you learn
You will study through lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions and case studies with emphasis on participation and interactivity in group discussions. Working closely with a team of experienced staff, you will develop professional skills through directed reading, independent enquiry, case studies and practical hands-on sessions. There will be around 12 hours of timetabled classes per week, which should be supported by up to 30 hours a week of your own private study.
How you are assessed
For the taught course, key skills of written and oral communications will be assessed using a combination of coursework, case studies, presentations and examinations. At MSc level you will be assessed by a written dissertation.
A second class (2:2) Honours degree or better that includes data analysis techniques or experimental design. You will also need to have a computer literacy level equivalent to ECDL.
Applicant screening programme
Due to the nature of this programme, detailed procedures for applicant screening reflecting UK legislation are applied. These include applicant interviews and criminal record checks.
Overseas/EU
All applicants are required to provide certified proof of competence in English Language and the University's minimum requirements are listed here
Your future
The integration of multi-disciplinary education and research linked into current government strategies underpins the course as a whole, with a vision to produce professional graduates who can not only perceive and make sense of complex intelligence problems but also utilise their transferable skills in the field of corporate business. The focus for employability is in the high profile global security industry, which could mean entry into government agencies in a technical, analytical or policy making role. Other primary targets for employment are within the Police Force and the Ministry of Defence, though any graduate acquiring a high level of transferable skills would be eligible for entry into the corporate sector.
MSc Intelligence and Security Informatics - New
View the course video
| Fee Category | September 2012 Fees |
Scholarships & Bursaries |
| Scottish and other EU students |
£3,400 |
Other forms of support |
| English, Welsh and Northern Irish students |
£7,000 |
Bursaries & Scholarships |
| Overseas (non EU) students |
£9,975 |
Overseas Scholarships |
Fee quoted is the total cost providing that the MSc follows on immediately after the PG Dip element and is completed within the same academic year as started. Fees may be subject to increase.
