Cyber security master's degrees: 100% online

Walbrook offers three 100% online cyber security master’s routes: MSc Cyber Security, MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security and MBA Cyber Security.

All programmes are studied fully online, with flexible start dates throughout the year – so you can start within weeks.

• Our MSc Cyber Security is a specialist postgraduate taught degree for people who already have a relevant technical foundation and want to get a deeper cyber security education. 

• Our MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security is ideal if you want to build hands-on skills or move into the field.

• Our MBA Cyber Security is designed for professionals who want to lead, manage risk, and shape cyber strategy.

The difference between these cyber security master’s degrees comes down to your experience and goals:

• The MSc Cyber Security is a specialist degree. It’s for people with an existing technical foundation who want to deepen their expertise across areas such as cyber threats, resilience, cryptography, AI, networks, and security management.

• The MBA focuses on leadership, strategy, and decision-making. It’s for professionals who want to take on greater responsibility for cyber risk, governance, and security at an organisational level.

• The MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security combines broader computing with a cyber specialism. It’s designed for people who want to build computer science foundations while developing the technical knowledge needed to work in cyber security.

Computer science is a broad field covering how software, systems, data, and computing technologies work. Cyber security is more specialised, focusing on how digital systems are protected from threats, vulnerabilities, and attacks.

At Walbrook, you can choose the route that fits your starting point:

• Our MSc Cyber Security degree is for people with an existing technical foundation who want to build deeper specialist expertise across areas such as threats, resilience, cryptography, AI, human factors, and network security.

• Our MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security is designed for people who want to build broader computer science foundations while developing a cyber security specialism.

A master’s in cyber security can help you build towards specialist technical roles, broader computing careers, or senior cyber leadership – depending on the programme you choose and the experience you already have:

• With an MSc Cyber Security, you could progress towards specialist roles such as Cyber Security Analyst, Cyber Security Engineer, Penetration Tester, or Cyber Security Architect. Harvey Nash reports UK permanent salaries ranging from £50,000–£70,000 for Cyber Security Analysts to £90,000–£110,000 for Cyber Security Architects.

• With an MSc Computer Science with Cyber Security, you can build broader computing foundations alongside cyber expertise, supporting routes into areas such as security analysis, engineering, systems, and other technical roles.

• With an MBA Cyber Security, you can combine cyber knowledge with business and leadership skills, supporting progression into roles with greater responsibility for security strategy, risk, and teams. With experience, that could include positions such as Head of Cyber Security or Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) – roles with average UK salaries of £110,000 and £160,000 respectively in Harvey Nash’s 2026 data.

Cyber security can offer strong career opportunities in the UK, particularly for people who continue developing their skills as threats and technologies evolve. Here’s what’s driving demand:

A growing sector – Around 69,600 people now work for UK cyber security firms, up 3% in a year, while sector revenue has reached £14.7 billion (Cyber Security Sectoral Analysis 2026).

Rising cyber threats – UK businesses reported 8.58 million cyber crimes in a single year, with the total cost to the UK economy estimated at £14.7 billion annually (Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025, UK Government; World Economic Forum, Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026).

A clear skills gap – Cybersecurity ranks as the third biggest tech skills shortage in the UK, according to Harvey Nash’s Tech Talent & Salary Report 2026. Globally, 95% of organisations surveyed by ISC2 reported at least one cyber security skills gap (ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study 2025).

Strong earning potential – Harvey Nash reports average UK salaries of around £60,000 for Cyber Security Analysts, £80,000 for Cyber Security Engineers and £100,000 for Cyber Security Architects, with higher salaries possible in senior leadership roles (Tech Talent & Salary Report 2026).