Cardiff University's Master of Cyber Security and Technology programme scoops one of the industry's top awards

Our MSc Cyber Security and Technology teaching team have picked up the 'Best Academic Programme' award at the FinTech Awards in Wales.

The Master's programme they deliver is based in the School of Computer Science and Informatics in the heart of the university’s campus and sees students learning from world-class cyber security researchers and industry experts.

The course – launched last year with a cohort of 15 academically-excellent students – was developed by the Cardiff Centre for Cyber Security research team in collaboration with PwC's industry experts (from their Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security team). It’s supported by the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal which sponsors up to 45 students on the programme over the three-year period.

Delivering knowledge and skills and a path into industry

Combining theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on learning, the Masters programme delivers an in depth understanding of the ever-changing cyber security threat and landscape and the technologies needed to combat it (ranging from networking traffic analysis through to the prevention of common web-app attacks) as well as the human-factors affecting cyber security, privacy issues and relevant legislation. Students come out of the programme knowing how to assess, identify and mitigate cyber security threats and to navigate an organisation's mission and deliver on their cyber security priorities so they can effectively influence business decisions in line. The programme has already received a provisional certification from the National Cyber Security Centre and will aim to apply a full certification later this year.

"This is an exceptional course delivering sought-after by industry technical and hands-on cyber security skills that are so urgent and relevant at the current time," explains Dr Yulia Cherdantseva, the Programme Lead.

"FinTech Wales champions the FinTech and Financial Services Industry across the country and this award ceremony put a spotlight on the emerging and established tech expertise in Wales,” adds Dr Cherdantseva “We were privileged to be recognised as part of that and won the prize in this category as the Best Academic Programme of the Year supporting FinTech. We are incredibly proud of the teaching team involved in its delivery and of our amazing students who graduate with strong technical expertise in cyber. They are securing security roles with leading companies in Wales and the UK and so supporting the growth of the cyber security sector and ecosystem regionally and nationally."

Find out more about our MSc Cyber Security and Technology programme.