Entry requirementsTo enter the course you need to have one of the following: * a good Honours degree or an equivalent qualification * a relevant professional qualification of equivalent standard, e.g. BCS Professional Graduate Diploma, CEng, CIM Diploma * an unclassified degree plus at least two years further study or professional experience If you have no formal qualifications but have professional business or industrial experience, we will consider your application on its merits. If English is not your first language, you must also have English Language at IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 250, or equivalent. Typically students on this course will already have some knowledge and experience in computer hardware and understand the principles of operating systems. Students may elect to include an update of these areas as part of their options.
Academic titleForensic Computing MSc/PgDip
Course descriptionIf you would like to support criminal and civil investigations by providing expert knowledge in computer forensics, be presented as an expert witness, or help solve crimes, then this course could be for you.
The course covers a range of skills that are needed by those in roles involving the recovery of computer-based information.
The central focus of this programme will be an in-depth coverage of the available tools and techniques investigating information sources. Significant supporting coverage will be provided about related security and legal issues.
Course content
This course has two parts, the Taught Modules and Master Project.
Successful completion of the taught modules, which involves eight single modules of study, leads to the award of Postgraduate Diploma and, if the appropriate performance is achieved, allows progression onto the Masters Project.
Taught Modules
* Forensic Computing Methods (double)
* Network Planning and Management (double)
* Internet and Information Security (double)
* Ethical Hacking
* Legal Aspects of Computing
* Research Methods
In addition to a sound understanding of essential hardware and software systems, formats, protocols and standards, there is coverage of essential legislation relating to all aspects of computer-based information.
Where possible guest lectures will be provided from industry contacts about state-of-the-art developments and case studies.
Master Project
The final stage of this course requires the completion of a master’s project, which must relate directly to the subject being studied. To complete this successfully students will develop a sound capability to carry out research. The project can be conducted either as a placement in an external organisation or working with one of the University research groups.
The MSc project serves to integrate, apply and further develop the different aspects within the taught part of the programme.
Assessment
The course requires full-time study over 12 months. It is divided into three semesters and you may start the course in either late September or early February. The taught modules will be studied and completed during the first two semesters. The master’s project will be undertaken over the third semester.
The modules are assessed by either coursework assignments or written examinations or both, which occur within the semesters.
Part-time study
Although these details describe full-time study it is possible to take this course on a part-time basis attending just two evenings a week. Details of the part-time course are given separately.