Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigation (with Advanced Practice)

Teesside University

United Kingdom, Middlesbrough

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Home/United Kingdom/Middlesbrough /Teesside University/Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigation (with Advanced Practice)

Teesside University

United Kingdom , Middlesbrough

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Main Site

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesJanuary-2024

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 2 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 9,000 / year

Next Intake January-2024

Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigation (with Advanced Practice)

About

Digital forensics is a key part of your studies, alongside aspects of computer science. You apply core computer science principles within the context of a cyber investigation, considering how they can be used to collect, examine and interpret digital evidence. There is a strong emphasis on interpreting raw digital data and developing reverse engineering skills. In practical sessions, you use industry-standard software and practices, understanding the intelligence aspects of evidence and intelligence acquired from examining material.

Our dedicated digital forensics lab gives you access to forensic software used worldwide by industry practitioners to investigate digital devices, including forms of mobile device (mobile phones, tablets, drones). You also use the vehicle lab to examine Sat Nav and wifi-connected cars. And you use our crime scene house for digital investigations on devices such as smart speakers and smart video doorbells.The regulatory landscape within digital forensics is changing. Working with current professionals within the digital and forensic industries, this course addresses the key competencies you need in the digital forensics industry and exposes you to the range of careers available. We embed knowledge of ISO 17025 within the curriculum, providing you with legal and courtroom training using our replica courtroom facilities. We work closely with local police forces - Durham Constabulary, Cleveland Police and North Yorkshire Police. Durham Constabulary is one of our strategic partners, which offers research project opportunities.The course design also offers a flexible method of studying digital forensics and cyber investigation for existing practitioners to complete alongside their day jobs.This two-year master's degree with advanced practice enhances your qualification by adding to the one-year master's programme a vocational or research based internship. A vocational internship is a great way to gain work experience and give your CV a competitive edge. A research internship provides you with the opportunity to develop your analytical, team-working, research and academic skills by working alongside a research team in an academic setting. We guarantee a research internship, but cannot guarantee a vocational internship. We will, however, provide you with practical support and advice on how to find and secure your own vocational internship position should you prefer this type of internship.

With a clear focus on forensics and industry practices, this course equips you with the knowledge and skills to become a professional digital or cyber analyst, or investigator.

Core modules

Advanced Forensic Computing

You learn about advanced digital forensic and cyber-investigation techniques. You are exposed to advanced topics, including complex data recovery, and advanced and non-standard data acquisition techniques. You cover threshold concepts in-depth and explore topics relating to current professional practice such as accreditation. You examine advanced topics with a focus on manually interpreting and verifying evidence. You learn through diverse, embedded sessions in the digital forensic laboratory.

Advanced Internet Forensics

In this module you explore advanced internet investigation techniques. You are exposed to advanced topics in computer and digital forensics associated with internet investigations, including browser data investigations, internet history recovery, cache reconstruction and the reverse engineering of browser log data. You are also exposed to privacy enhancing technologies such as in-private browsing and the implications of these technologies on forensic investigations. You learn suitable investigation techniques and methods for analysing and interpreting information related to an investigation where internet technologies are involved.

You learn through diverse, embedded sessions in the digital forensic laboratory. Your assessment involves investigating an internet technology - you select an appropriate technology (browser, service, application) and forensically test its usage and document the forensic implications of its simulated use.

Advanced Mobile Forensics

This module focuses on advanced mobile investigation techniques within the newly emerging specialist sub-discipline of mobile forensic investigation. You are exposed to topics which include data acquisition methods, advanced techniques such as jailbreaking and rooting, and methods of developer interaction with mobile devices including JTAG and similar techniques. Although you cover fundamental concepts, this is an advanced module. You cover threshold concepts in-depth and explore topics relating to current professional practice such as the challenges relating to acquiring data from handsets. You explore advanced topics with a focus on manually interpreting and verifying evidence. You learn through diverse, embedded sessions in the digital forensic laboratory.

Advanced Practice in Sciences

This module provides you with the opportunity to either undertake a vocational internship with an outside organisation or undertake an academic research internship within the University, for a maximum of 12 weeks as part of your course. You have the opportunity to enhance your transferrable and analytical skills and develop your experience to strengthen your CV. We can guarantee you a research internship. We can't guarantee a vocational internship, but we can provide practical support and advice on how to find and secure vocational internship positions. You develop educationally and experience the wider benefits of study here, due to the extended course duration.

Coding for Intelligence Analysts

You learn basic coding with teaching geared to providing support to first-time coders. Coding is primarily about data analysis, cleaning and merging data before it's visualised in charts and tables. Learning some scripts to manipulate tabulated data is a valuable skill – and will become increasingly valuable when dealing with big data. You learn the principles of the programming language Python and how it can be used to change, group and strip out irregularities in data frames. Performing these simple scripts on large datasets makes life easier – it also provides a platform for you to be able to research on your own with publically available data. Cleansing data in this way makes utilising old favourites like Microsoft Excel much easier too.

You study SQL (structured query language) to develop the skills to grab data from a database. Today everything from mobile phone data to performance business metrics in policing is packaged ready for extraction, provided the user has the knowledge and understanding to 'query' its contents.

Crime Science: Theories, Principles and Intelligence Sources

You study crime theories, such as rational choice and routine activity packaged up in environmental criminology. You appreciate how the environment has the potential to facilitate or inhibit criminal behaviour. You consider problem-orientated policing and how we can use theoretical models to understand crime and responses to it – along with emerging debates as to whether traditional theories are still relevant with 21st-century online criminal activity. You study intelligence sources and the explosion of openly available material for analysis. You also consider the software and applications available for this research or data capture.

Legal Issues and Evidence Reporting

Forensic evidence of all types plays a major role in the detection of crime and the successful investigation of other types of incident such as road traffic collisions and natural disasters. You explore the legal and procedural contexts in which forensic science operates, providing you with opportunities to develop skills and knowledge for the gathering, examination and presentation of evidence in a range of situations.

You attend a series of keynote lectures, seminars and a practical session in the University's replica courtroom. You may have an opportunity to visit a local coroner's office and/or court. You are assessed by a portfolio (30%) and evidence in the form of a written statement and verbal presentation in a simulated courtroom situation (70%).

Research Project

This module will provide an appropriate environment for an in-depth investigation of a subject relevant to the programme chosen and the continued development of cognitive, professional and transferable skills. It aims to unify your understanding and awareness of engineering or science as developed in the programme, with individual and independent research and analysis on a selected topic within the discipline. It also aims to expose you to the management of a significant project and to enable you to apply research methods relevant to your specific field and related discipline.

You investigate problems which involve the consideration of relevant legal, social, ethical, environmental and other professional issues.

You will be expected to develop and practice a professional approach to the presentation, delivery and appraisal of your written and oral presentations.

Modules offered may vary.

How you learn

Through this course you gain detailed knowledge and understanding of digital forensics, and the skills needed to carry out complex cyber investigations. You study the latest literature and methods in the field. You learn in a variety of ways including lectures, e-learning, seminars, case-based learning and laboratory sessions – you are also expected to study in your own time outside of classes. Reflective practice throughout is a key element of the course and you are encouraged to examine your own work, identify your own learning needs and challenges, whilst providing evidence of what is required to operate confidently, efficiently and ethically in the workplace. In this way, you develop an understanding of good practice and the ability to solve foreseen and unforeseen problems.

How you are assessed

Formative and summative assessments test your knowledge, independent thought and skills. You are assessed through coursework, including technical and laboratory reports, written and practical examinations, and your dissertation/thesis.

Disciplines

Computing & Cyber Security

Requirements

Entry Requirements

A bachelor degree with a minimum of 65%, 2.5/4.0 or good

Career

Successful graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to become a professional digital or cyber analyst or investigator. You are highly employable in the computer security and forensic intelligence fields.

You also have the appropriate knowledge in advanced technical skills to get a job within a number of other careers such as within a government organisation, security services and the financial sector, forensic science agencies, the police service, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, and trading standards.

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

GBP 9,000

How to Apply

Applying Online - Information Required to Complete Your Application

Personal Details

- Full Name, including title
- Sex
- Date of Birth
- E-mail Address
- Telephone Number
- Home and Correspondence addresses, including postcode
- Alternative email Addresses
- Country of Permanent Residence or Local Authority
- Country of Birth
- Nationality
- Ethnicity - this data will not be accessible to those making the application decision
- Type of applicant - choose from UK/EU or Overseas
- Who is entering the application - choose from Applicant, University Staff/Overseas Office or Other Third Party
- Disability
- Whether your parents/guardians have Higher Education qualifications
- Details of any previous study or application to this University

Payment of Fees

- Who is paying your fees
- Name and address of your Fee Payer
- Details of any previous funding body and previous course

Overseas Applicants Only

- Date of entry to UK/EU
- Passport Number (if you need a visa)
- Previous UK study, including details of any previous visas, overstays in the UK and visa refusals

University Staff and Office/Agent Applications Only

- School/Office Code
- Agent Code
- Agent Name
- Agent Company
- Reference Number

Qualifications

Qualifications Held (maximum of 6)
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, this information is not requested)

- Year and month awarded
- Qualification type, level and subject
- Grade
- Awarding Establishment e.g. College/University Name

Qualifications Pending (maximum of 6)
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, this information is not requested)

- Year and month of exam
- Qualification type, level and subject
- Date grade expected
- Awarding Establishment e.g. College/University Name

Highest qualification

Portfolio Details

Foreign Language Courses Only

- Qualifications and experience in chosen language
- where more than one occurence of a courses runs in paralell, indicate which group you wish to join

Professional Qualifications

- Professional/Statutory Body and Registration PIN
- Other course specific professional details as required

School of Health & Social Care courses only

- NHS PIN
- NHS Trust / Practice details
- National Insurance Number
- Assignment/Employee Number
- Line manager name and email address
- Full or part time
- Pay band
- Profession, Staff Group and Job Role
- Other course specific details as required

Social Work Practice Education courses only

- Social Work Registration Number

Erasmus Applications

Details of the Exchange Co-ordinator at Your Home Institution
- Name
- Position
- Email Address

Higher and Degree Apprenticeships

- Unique Learner Number
- National Insurance Number
- *Employer Code
- *Employer Postcode (This is your normal place of work which may be different from the company's main postcode)
- *Number of employees at this postcode
- Highest level qualifications in English language and mathematics

*Your employer should be able to supply this information

Last Two Education Establishments Attended
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, this information is not requested)

- Name and address
- Dates from and to
- Full or Part time
- Level of study

English Language Ability
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, this information is not requested)

Whether English is your first language

If not

- IELTS - score, date of exam and Test Report Form Number
- Other test - name, score and date of exam

Work Experience (maximum of 2)
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, a reduced set of employment information is requested)

- Employers name
- Job title
- Dates from and to
- Full or Part time
- Main responsibilities

Summer & Winter University Courses Only

- Whether you are enrolled or due to enrol on a college or university course
- If so, where and which course
- Whether you are thinking of starting a Higher Education course
- If so, area of interest/study
- Reason for applying to Summer/Winter University

Referee
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, this information is not requested)

- Name
- Address
- Other contact details

Note : some course will require two referees, e.g. PHD courses

Personal Statement
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, this information is not requested)

Can be uploaded as a document or entered as text

It is suggested that your statement is prepared electronically in advance of starting the application

Enrolment

Some short courses may ask you to provide enrolment information as part of the application. This will require extra details but also means you will not be asked to complete the full on-line registration process at a later date.

This data will not be accessible to those making the application decision

- Type of Term-time Accomodation
- Next of Kin Name
- Next of Kin Telephone Number
- Next of Kin Relationship
- Religious Beliefs
- Criminal Conviction Declaration

Documents currently available for upload
(For certain courses e.g. Summer University courses & other short courses, this option is not available)

- Reference
- Personal Statement
- CV
- Results
- Proof of English Language Qualifications, e.g. IELTS or TOEFL certificate
- Passport
- Previous Visas
- Previous Visa Refusals

For Research courses, the following additional uploads are mandatory

- Research Proposal
- Research Training Document
- Research Personal Statement
- Research Sponsorship/funding letter