Cyber Security Degree Apprenticeship Programme Gains Certification From National Cyber Security Centre

The University of Strathclyde’s MSc Cyber Security Graduate Degree programme has been fully certified by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

The certification means the programme meets the criteria defined for Scottish Graduate Apprenticeship Master’s Degrees as providing a General Foundation in Cyber Security.

The MSc offers work-based learning in combination with online and on-campus study over 18 months.

This allows students to gain a Master’s degree whilst spending the majority of their time applying their learning in the workplace, attending the University campus one day every three weeks to learn directly from Strathclyde’s experts and network with peers.

Created in partnership with industry, the programme is focused on building the expert knowledge and the skills that industries need in the essential field of cyber security including the latest cyber security strategies, theories and techniques, for protecting and defending information systems from attack.

Valued by industry

Professor Scott MacGregor, Vice-Principal of Strathclyde, said: “We are very happy that this graduate apprenticeship degree programme has received certification from the NCSC.

“This certification recognises the quality of the programme and will give students confidence that their qualification is valued by industry.

“Graduate apprenticeship degrees provide an ideal opportunity for employers and employees alike to gain new skills and knowledge that can be immediately applied in the workplace.”

“Offering a certified degree helps prospective students make more informed choices about their future career prospects in cyber security and employers can rest assured that graduates of these courses will be well-taught and have valued industry skills.” 

The NCSC – a part of the Government Communications Headquarter (GCHQ) intelligence agency – runs the certified degree programme to recognise courses that offer a high standard of cyber security education.

The scheme aims to help students make informed decisions about the range of courses on offer at UK universities and give employers confidence that graduates from these courses will have valued cyber skills.

The NCSC is committed to growing the UK’s cyber skills pipeline to address the current skills gap. According to the UK government National Cyber Strategy, the cyber security sector workforce has grown by around 50% in the last four years, with demand for skills often outstripping supply.

For more information on the newly accredited MSc Cyber Security Graduate Degree programme visit: https://www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/graduatedegreeapprenticeships/cybersecurity/