Cybercrime and Digital Investigation MSc

Why study MSc Cybercrime and Digital Investigation at Middlesex University?

As our lives become increasingly digitised the scope and potential impact of cybercrime is becoming ever broader. In both the business and personal worlds, cyber criminals have the ability to cause considerable harm from remote locations, with numerous industry reports* estimating that the global cost of cybercrime has grown to rival that of the illegal drugs trade. From financial theft to child abuse, cybercrime can take many forms, and the need for skilled professionals capable of tackling these problems will only grow as smart, connected devices increasingly become the norm.

This master's degree is designed to provide you with an understanding of the criminological, legal and research context of cybercrime. Furthermore, it aims to equip you with an understanding of computing skills and capabilities that will help to respond to online threats to personal information as well as to organisational environments.

This makes it the ideal postgraduate qualification for students and professionals seeking a specialist role in a community or support service environment, such as victim support services, the police force, child protection, offender services, as well as corporate environments where there is a need to prevent and respond to cybercrime and issues related to online safety.

Middlesex is home to some of the UK's foremost authorities on cybercrime and cyber safety. Among them is Dr Elena Martellozzo, who is currently co-leading a project on the use of online pornography funded by the NSPCC and the OCC and has recently worked with the Metropolitan Police to advance internet investigators' performance through the understanding of children and sex offenders' online activities.

Course highlights

• You will be taught by leading experts working in the field of online safety and child protection
• Learn how cyber criminals seek to take advantage of internet systems and ways of preventing these crimes from happening
• Gain specialist skills and knowledge in a relevant and increasingly essential area of criminology, with many employment opportunities

Careers

How can the MSc Cybercrime and Digital Investigation support your career?

This master's degree aims to develop social science graduates who have the skills needed to respond to cybercrime and e-security challenges, from issues relating to transnational crime, intellectual property, sexual offences, vulnerable victims, privacy legislation and law.

Potential career paths include policy development, corporate security, e-investigation, social media safety, anti-money laundering (investigatory and other roles in the Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Services Ombudsman etc.), safeguarding, designing and implementing data security and information strategies, business continuity and others.

Several major auditing firms also have graduate entry programmes that specifically identify criminology as a base qualification for applicants.

Those already in industry view their master's-level studies as a means to facilitating career progression within their organisations. A number of students have continued their studies in criminology and psychology at PhD level. Staff in the department will work alongside the employability office to facilitate your future career decisions.