Course Information
About this course
This postgraduate course is delivered by Cranfield University on behalf of the Defence College for Military Capability Integration.
The course focuses on understanding and articulating the strategic and executive-level responses to serious present and emerging threats in the information domain. You will be one or more of the following:
- managers or leaders in a cyber environment who needs to understand information risk and respond to cyber threats
- procurement staff commissioning critical or sensitive projects
- policy and planning staff interested in computer network and security operations
- those charged with accreditation and assessment of security measures
- those holding the positions of, or aspiring to be, chief information officers (CIO) or chief information security officers (CISO)
The course will specifically focus on responses to serious, present, and emerging threats in the information domain. The course enables you to gain an organisational view of cyber from a defence and security perspective, the domain, the drivers, and constraints. While a technical understanding is of value, the course is designed to ensure that the bigger, contextual, aspects of cyber is understood thereby enabling decision making in relation to cyber to be undertaken within an organisation.
The course has two component parts:
- a taught phase comprising twelve 10-credit modules (PgDip); (PgCert has six 10-credit modules)
- (MSc only) an 80-credit research project assessed by dissertation
The course is delivered via blended learning, with a mixture of residential and online teaching, and assessment is through coursework, group practical's, presentations and (MSc only) an individual dissertation.
Cranfield's requirement to keep their courses up-to-date and current requires constant innovation and change. The modules they offer reflect the needs of business and industry and the research interests of their staff and, as a result, may change or be withdrawn due to research developments, legislation changes or for a variety of other reasons. Changes may also be designed to improve the student learning experience or to respond to feedback from students, external examiners, accreditation bodies and industrial advisory panels.
The module list is detailed below. Modules are indicative only and may be subject to change for your year of entry.
Compulsory for MSc:
Elective modules:
A selection of modules from the following list needs to be taken as part of this course:
Critical Networks and Cyber-Physical Systems
Cyber Attack - Threats and Opportunities
Data-led Decision Support and Artificial Intelligence
Emerging Technology Monitoring
Systems Thinking for Organisational Viability
You may also elect to undertake a number of standalone modules as opposed to an MSc, PgDip or PgCert, with the associated assessment, less for the dissertation module. In these circumstances. you will need to have previously undertaken the Foundations of Cyber module which runs once a year in September. Applications for standalone modules can be made direct to Cranfield University via the web page linked above.
How this course will help your career
This qualification may take you on to become one of the next generation of managers who can understand and effectively manage and exploit the threats and opportunities of cyberspace at the organisational level. Crucially, it will also enable you to communicate cyber issues to senior management or executive board level.
The course is directly relevant to you if you wish to improve your knowledge and skills, or if you aspire to become a CIO or CISO.
Entry requirements
Who can attend this course
- Military
- MOD civil servants
- Partners across government (PAG)
All applicants to courses that are wholly or partially delivered at Shrivenham must complete the BPSS (HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard V4 April 2014) prior to registration on the course or must already hold a security clearance to this level or higher.
This course is for British military.
Before you attend
You must have one of the following:
A first or second-class honours degree; or third-class degree with three years' relevant experience; or pass degree with five years' relevant experience; or HND/C with seven years' relevant experience.
Exceptional candidates may be accepted with ten years' relevant experience, where this experience is gained in information security, information operations, information risk or a related role. You must clearly demonstrate this experience in your application for consideration.
Additional information
How the course will be taught
- Face-to-face/Residential
- Blended
How you will be assessed
Assessment is through coursework, group practicals, presentations and (MSc only) an individual dissertation.