To apply for a master’s degree in cyber security you’ll need to have a second class honours degree or above, ideally in Computer Science or Business Computing. Other degrees with strong computing and numeracy components such as engineering, mathematics or physics may also be considered. The typical IELTS requirement is 6.5 overall, and no lower than 6.0 in any one component.

Most AI and robotics undergraduate degrees will take around three years to finish in the UK, with many offering opportunities for a year of work experience and study abroad. Postgraduate degrees are usually between one and two years. Some universities also offer an integrated master’s degree, which allows you to complete both the undergraduate and postgraduate components in four years of full time study.

All UK courses are flexible and research-led, meaning you can specialise with modules relevant to your interests and chosen career as you go. Whatever your focus, you will leave with strong skills in the most useful areas of the field, such as Big Data Hadoop, Cisco-Networking, Ethical Hacking and Digital Marketing.

The UK is one of the most proactive countries battling cyber-terrorism anywhere in the world and has a cyber security sector worth £8.3bn. Given the massive number of businesses at risk from cyber threats, and the UK’s heritage in computing and innovation, there’s nowhere better to be exposed to the latest academic insights, research and industry trends.

Cyber security offers some great career prospects to UK graduates. The current unemployment rate is 0 per cent, and it’s forecast to stay that way. Cyber security professionals are employed by a variety of organisations across all sectors, from security consultancies, IT companies and network providers to financial services institutions, government departments and energy companies, and even schools and hospitals. Starting salaries for cyber security analysts are typically around £25,000 to £35,000. Many UK cyber security degrees also offer certification from the National Cyber Security Centre, which can be a big advantage when applying for jobs in a competitive field.

(* as per British Council)