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Course description
Individuals, governments and organizations now routinely connect their computers to the Internet to communicate, provide services, and access massive stores of shared information. These on-line activities, many conducted beyond national boundaries, have opened up enormous opportunities for security attacks such as identity thefts, computer hackings, privacy breaches, technical sabotages, etc. Addressing security threats and attacks in this vast and complex distributed environment is an immensely challenging task.
The Computer Security pathway is centred round a core Security theme that introduces students to fundamental security topics that arise in the design, analysis, and implementation of networked and distributed systems. Subsidiary themes allow students to investigate broader areas in which they may apply their newly acquired skills. The pathway is designed for students who wish to specialize in the security aspect of the Information Technology field.
Teaching and learning
Coursework and assessment
Lectures and seminars are supported by practical exercises that impart skills as well as knowledge. These skills are augmented through an MSc project that enables students to put into practice the techniques they have been taught throughout the course.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automated Reasoning and Verification | COMP60332 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Cryptography | COMP61411 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Cyber Security | COMP61421 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Software Security | COMP63342 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Masters Project | COMP66090 | 90 | Mandatory |
| Data Engineering | COMP60711 | 15 | Optional |
| Systems Governance | COMP60721 | 15 | Optional |
| Foundations of Machine Learning | COMP61011 | 15 | Optional |
| Representation Learning | COMP61021 | 15 | Optional |
| Querying Data on the Web | COMP62421 | 15 | Optional |
Additional fee information
Scholarships and bursaries
Across our institution, we offer a number of postgraduate taught scholarships and awards to outstanding UK and international students each year.
The University of Manchester is committed to widening participation in master's study, and allocates £300,000 in funding each year. Our Manchester Masters Bursaries are aimed at widening access to master's courses by removing barriers to postgraduate education for students from underrepresented groups.
For more information, see the Computer Science Fees and funding page or visit the University of Manchester funding for masters courses website for more information.
Facilities
- Newly refurbished computing labs furnished with modern desktop computers
- Access to world leading academic staff
- Collaborative working labs complete with specialist computing and audio visual equipment to support group working.
- Over 300 computers in the department dedicated exclusively for the use of our students.
- An Advanced Interfaces Laboratory to explore real time collaborative working;
- A Nanotechnology Centre for the fabrication of new generation electronic devices;
- An e-Science Centre and Access Grid facility for world wide collaboration over the internet.
- Access to a range of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)
- Specialist electronic system design and computer engineering tools.