Course summary
Digital technologies drive economic growth yet create new cyber risks requiring ever more sophisticated solutions. There is worldwide demand for new and innovative approaches to tackling global cyber threats specific to large-scale infrastructures, from energy production to finance through to healthcare and smart transportation. The cyber security of such infrastructures is paramount – their disruption can have large-scale impacts on society as well as massive business losses. There is a major shortage of cyber security professionals globally, and the specialist nature of critical infrastructures makes the problem even more acute. A strong ethos of rigorous experimental and empirical cyber security research underpins the MSc, facilitated by a state-of-the-art testbed for studying critical national infrastructure (CNI) and Internet of Things (IoT) security, and bespoke teaching equipment. You'll learn to apply foundational cyber security techniques to infrastructure and will develop the skills for engineering scalable solutions. You'll be exposed to real-world problems that are practical and challenge-oriented, but underpinned by rigorous research. This MSc aims to: Enable a deep understanding of fundamental concepts, design principles, building blocks and methods to understand and mitigate against cyber security threats; Give you hands-on experience of working with devices, systems and networks utilised in realistic infrastructure environments; Equip you with the ability to apply security principles and technical knowledge to analyse complex real-world infrastructures systems (including software systems, networks, control systems and IoT) to identify potential security issues and solutions; Provide you with the skills to reason critically about complex problems that require evaluation and analysis from a multi-dimensional perspective including technical, human and organisational aspects. We also offer a related programme in Cyber Security (Software Security).
Assessment method
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/media/postgraduate/admissions-statements/2025/msc-cyber-security-infrastructures-security.pdf
How to apply
International applicants
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students and accepts a wide range of qualifications for postgraduate study. If you study or have studied at a university outside the UK, please select the relevant page for further information on qualifications, scholarships and education representatives in your country/region: bristol.ac.uk/international/countries
Entry requirements
You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or international equivalent in Computer Science, Electrical or Electronic Engineering, Cyber Security, Network Security or Information Security. Other disciplines will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants from other related subjects are required to have studied modules relevant to the programme at minimum of 60%, or international equivalent: Relevant Modules: Algorithms Computer Security Data Privacy/Security Data Structures Databases/Structured/Unstructured Databases Internet of Things JavaScript Network Security Cloud Security Software Architecture Operating Systems Programming (please see additional list of suitable programming modules) Software Security Software Tools/Software Development Structured Programming Unstructured Programming System Security Systems Development Systems Engineering Systems Programming Web applications Suitable Programming modules(one module from this list): Assembly Language C/C++ Java Object Orientated Programming Problem Solving and Programming Programming Fundamentals Machine Learning Fundamentals Programming Lab Parallel Programming Cloud Computing Serverless computing Python Scala. MATLAB, FORTRAN, Basic or Visual Basic will not be considered suitable for this programme. We will also consider your application if your final achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements, if you have at least one of the following: evidence of significant, relevant work experience with a minimum of two years (full or part-time) experience within a computer science or electronic/electrical engineering role or as a software developer. Examples include software testers (especially penetration testing), technical role in cybersecurity, system engineer, security officer, data protection officer, information officer, product manager; a relevant postgraduate qualification. If this is the case, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing details of your relevant qualifications. See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/countries/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £6133 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £6133 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £6133 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £6133 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £6133 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
For more information, please view the programme page on our website.
Provider information
University of Bristol
Beacon House
Queen’s Road
Bristol
BS8 1QU