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Cybersecurity MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

It has long been recognised that cybersecurity is a ‘wicked problem’ – one that spills across disciplines, jurisdictions, and borders of all kinds. Our programme breaks with disciplinary tradition to rethink how we develop people equipped to deal with the cybersecurity challenges of the future. To do so, we select students who already recognise these intersections and seek to explore them further. We offer supervision in computing (systems security, cryptography, software security, network security), crime science (cybercrime and policing issues) and in domestic and international policy (digital tech policy, global cybernorms, international peace and security). You will develop a level of expertise in your topic that incorporates the dimensions covered in our CDT and you will leave with a network of colleagues working in and across these domains.

UK students International students

Study mode

Full-time

UK tuition fees (2023/24)

£5,860

Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)

£29,000

Duration

4 calendar years

Programme starts

September 2023

Applications accepted

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Notification

Application closes at 5pm (UK time).

We normally hold two recruitment cycles in Spring and Summer each year – please see the centre’s website for detailed information on deadlines. Applications submitted or completed after this time will still be considered, but will not be eligible for funding. If you are self-funding or you have applied for funding elsewhere, we may not be able to process applications received after the end of July 2023.

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

If you are intending to apply for a time-limited visa to complete your UCL studies (e.g., Student visa, Skilled worker visa, PBS dependant visa etc.) you may be required to obtain ATAS clearance. This will be confirmed to you if you obtain an offer of a place.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

This programme provides students with core skills and knowledge at the forefront of computing, cybercrime, and digital technology policy. Our multidisciplinary approach ensures that doctoral students achieve deep domain-specific expertise, while developing into individuals who can resolve problems using a range of tools and methods, confident in their ability to work effectively with experts from across the socio-technical divide.

Who this course is for

This MPhil/PhD is for applicants with a strong interest or background in cybersecurity issues who would like to undertake multidisciplinary research to solve today’s societal problems and explore innovative solutions. It is suitable for both Masters graduates as well as early or mid-career professionals.

Read about what it takes to become a UCL graduate research student

What this course will give you

UCL is ranked 8th globally and 5th in Europe in the QS World University Rankings 2023, giving you an exciting opportunity to study at one of the world's best universities.

UCL is one of the UK's elite Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security and hosts the UK Research Institutes in Science of Cyber Security (RISCS). The team is led by UCL Computer Science, a department ranked first in England and second in the UK for research power in Computer Science and Informatics in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2021). Over 40 members of faculty with internationally recognised expertise across all aspects of cybersecurity run a diverse and ambitious portfolio of projects, working closely with industry and policy partners.

Estimates from the DCMS Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2021 suggest that around 40% of businesses and 24% of charities suffered cyber security breaches in the previous 12 months. Data from the Telephone Crime Survey of England and Wales suggest that for the same period, around 11% of individuals were victims of online fraud or computer misuse one or more times, collectively suffering over 6 million offences. These offences are on the rise and are associated with huge financial (and other) costs to individuals, businesses, and the UK government. In order to address this, the Security and Crime Science department hosts the Jill Dando Institute, the Dawes Centre for Future Crime, and a secure data lab.

Acknowledging that technology alone cannot address the challenges of cyber insecurity, the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy focus on improving knowledge exchange between technical and policy stakeholders. Providing advice and support to both industry and government around the world, faculty in STEaPP run a portfolio of funded projects that explore how cybersecurity impacts at the societal level as well as on international peace and security.

Find out how your research could have an impact

The foundation of your career

Depending on your research agenda, the programme will provide you with core skills and knowledge at the forefront of computing (systems security, cryptography, software security, network security), crime science (cybercrime) and policy (information security management, public policy). Suitable careers will include technology R&D, intelligence and policing, international and domestic public policy, cyber diplomacy and digital infrastructure project implementation.

Employability

The UK National Cyber Security Strategy 2016-2021 identifies the “cyber skills shortage” as a systemic issue, with estimates suggesting that by 2022 there will be a shortage of 350K cybersecurity professionals. To help fill this gap, you will be trained in how to address evolving cybersecurity challenges through multidisciplinary means. By developing a holistic understanding of how technology, policy, industry and law enforcement interact, you will be equipped for high-level leadership positions that will help to shape the future through secure digital technologies.

Networking

The CDT is conveniently located in the heart of London and subsequently has strong links with both industry and policy stakeholders. The three partner departments in the CDT between them host the Information Security Group, the Jill Dando Institute of Security and Crime Science, the Dawes Centre for Future Crime, the Research Institute for Science of Cyber Security, the Digital Technologies Policy Lab and the PETRAS National Centre of Excellence for Cybersecurity of the Internet of Things. All of these offer exceptional networking platforms for the CDT candidates who become part of our research community.

https://www.rephrain.ac.uk/

Teaching and learning

Research areas and structure

Supervision within this programme is available in an extensive range or research areas including:

artificial intelligence (AI)
applied cryptography
on-line propaganda / hate speech / fake news
authentication and verification
financial technology and cryptocurrencies
blockchains
global politics of cybersecurity, cyberwar, cyber norms
national cyber security strategies
systems modelling
security economics
smart contracts
distributed systems security
network security
the Internet of Things
security testing
secure software engineering methodologies
malware and binary analysis
watermarking and copyright protection
robotics
cybercrime, child protection, and dark marketplaces
cyber risk and cyber security policy
standards and regulation of digital and telecommunications
connected autonomous vehicles
gender issues and tech abuse
hacking and hacktivism
privacy, censorship, surveillance
applications to secure communications
quantum computing, quantum information theory

Fieldwork

Some projects will call for fieldwork and you will be able to apply to the Research Training Support Grant for funding to support this. Supervisory teams provide contacts and introductions where needed to help you maximise the value of your fieldwork.

Placement

All CDT candidates will undertake a placement as part of their programme. Supervisory teams work with candidates and with our industry and policy partners to devise an appropriate placement for each case. These are integrated into the research project to support and enhance it while also offering valuable insights into `real world'cybersecurity problems and work environments.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time
Tuition fees (2023/24)	£5,860
Tuition fees (2023/24)	£29,000

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

Your research degree may be subject to an Additional Fee Element (AFE). The AFE (also known as bench fees) is an additional cost, incurred by yourself or your sponsor. It is levied to cover the costs related to consumables, equipment and materials etc. which are not included in the tuition fee. As each research project is unique in nature, the AFE is calculated on a student by student basis and is determined by your academic supervisor.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

EPSRC studentships available. For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

: CSC-UCL Joint Research Scholarship

Value: Fees, maintenance and travel (Duration of programme)

Criteria Based on academic merit

Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Next steps

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.