Digital Forensics - MSc

    Digital Forensics - MSc

    Duration1 year (s)
    Tuition Fee
    GBP 24,072 / Year
    Next IntakeSeptember 1, 2026
    Digital Forensics - MSc

    About

    Whether you want to solve crime using technology for law enforcement or if you want to investigate and prevent cyber-attacks, our course will empower you with invaluable skills and technological experience for a variety of fast-paced jobs in cyber.

    Digital Forensic Standards and Compliance
    Critically evaluate standards, regulations, and accreditation in an operational laboratory. Learn to apply tools, techniques, and practices in the industry while applying digital forensic principles to diverse problems.

    Networking Technologies
    Gain the skills and theoretical understanding relating to how computer systems and technology communicate so you can develop network solutions, based on international standards, using appropriate analysis and design techniques.

    Emerging Technology and Digital Forensics
    Critically analyse data associated with emerging technology. Examine its impact on the digital forensic industry, applying your skills and knowledge to vehicles as well as equipment like drones and AI.

    Secure Operations and Incident Management
    You will evaluate, analyse and synthesize the capability to perform security operations and incident management in the event of a cyber-attack against an organisation, while maintaining and ensuring business functionality.

    Advanced Digital Forensic Techniques
    This module with help you to critically evaluate and analyse at an advanced level, both practical and theoretical principles, regarding digital forensics and data recovery for a range of sources.

    Mobile Device Forensics
    In this module you will evaluate, analyse, and investigate a range of mobile devices, including challenges surrounding encryption, Apple Security, applications, and many more.

    MSc Project
    You will use your computing and research skills to investigate a topical and original award-relevant issue of your choice before producing a justified and informed solution to assist industry.

    Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    Academic Qualifications

    • Students who have completed a 4 year Bachelor degree (60% overall or a GPA of 2.5 or above on the scale of 4, 4 being the highest) can be considered for entry onto a relevant postgraduate programme of study.
    • Applicants with other relevant qualifications or work experience may be considered on a case by case basis.

    English Program Requirements

    English language requirements

    International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing or equivalent.

    Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.

    If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.

    If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.

    Career

    Career Paths

    • Law enforcement
    • SOC (Security Operations Center) Analyst
    • Government Intelligence Agencies
    • Incident Response Analyst
    • Digital Forensic Investigator

    Careers and Employability

    Graduate careers

    Career opportunities for those with a digital forensic qualification continue to grow with many roles offering an interesting, challenging and rewarding environment to work in. From implementing digital forensic policies and law enforcement investigations to corporate investigations and incident response capabilities - there are a variety of opportunities throughout the digital forensic industry. Graduates could also consider a computing research degree or computing PhD.

    Possible career paths

    Studying our MSc Digital Forensics will open different career pathways in the cyber industry. Our graduates have become security analysts, incident response analysts, SOC analysts, and digital forensic investigators in various areas, including law enforcement, government intelligence agencies and private technology companies. You will stand out to employers as you will hold a degree from USW – the first university in Wales to be awarded a Gold Standard Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education by the UK’s National Syber Security Centre and still one of only 13 universities to hold the award across the UK.

    Careers support

    You will be supported by our staff throughout your time on the course - with your studies, the technology, developing your skills and looking at your future career in the industry. As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.

    This includes one-to-one appointments from faculty-based Career Advisors, in person, over the phone, or even Teams and through email via the “Ask the Question” service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers.

    Industry partners

    You will have the opportunity to work with multiple companies who are at the forefront of cyber security during your time on this course. Tarian RCCU (Regional Cyber Crime Unit), South Wales Police, Gwent Police, EX1 Forensics, JTOL, Gwent Police, Harper Shaw Investigation Consultants Ltd, and Virgin Media are just some of the companies our students learn alongside. Through our staff’s incredible industry links, you will enjoy a range of guest lectures and resources from cyber specialists within the industry.

    Fee Information

    Tuition Fee
    24,072 / year
    Digital Forensics - MSc
    University of South Wales
    University of South Wales
    United Kingdom

    United Kingdom, Cardiff

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