Cyber Crime and Terrorism, MA

Note for international and European applicants: details of how your qualification compares to the published academic entry requirements can be found on our Country Specific Entry Requirements page.

If you are passionate about countering cyber crime and terrorism, we want to hear from you! 

This programme will be of interest to those who are interested in both cyber crime and cybersecurity more generally as well as those seeking specialist study of terrorism. It will be useful for students who have undertaken an undergraduate degree in anything from criminology or law, to computer science and psychology, and who are looking to specialise in this important area. Continuing, mature, international and part-time students would also be welcome for this programme of study.

Ideally you will hold a 2:1 undergraduate degree in criminology and criminal justice or a cognate discipline i.e. Social Policy, Law, Psychology, Sociology, Computer Science and Politics (arts and humanities graduates whose degrees may have focused upon social or community justice are also welcome to apply). Candidates with a 2:2 or with relevant professional work experience may also be considered.

If English is not your first language, you will need an acceptable pass in an approved English language qualification. We consider a wide range of qualifications, including the Swansea University English Test, the British Council IELTS test (with a score of at least 6.5 and 6.0 in each component) and TOEFL (with a score of at least 88 and at least Listening: 21, Reading: 22, Speaking: 23, Writing: 21).

On-campus Live

• Weekly Sessions – Seminar style teaching sessions are recorded to enhance your at home learning
• Personal tutor meetings
• Guest lectures (on campus with live streams from stakeholders)

On-campus Self-directed

• Guided reading
• Lecture preparation
• Seminar preparation
• And in addition might include for example:
  Quizzes
  Self-test questions

Online Self-directed

• Lecture recordings
• And in addition might include for example:
  Blogs
  Vlogs
  Quizzes
  Self-test questions

Some provision

There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study some elements of this postgraduate course through the medium of Welsh but there is not yet enough provision to reach 40 credits in each year. The Programme Director can outline to you what is available in Welsh.

Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We can offer you:

• Access to generous Welsh-language study scholarships or bursaries.
• Access to the Arwain mobile app for the latest information about Welsh-medium courses and modules available to download free on the App Store and Google Play.
• An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
• Personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
• The option to create and submit your coursework or sit exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be assessed in Welsh.
• A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
• One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
• An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
• Membership of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

Visit the Welsh Language Rights webpage for further information about Students' Welsh Language Rights.

Continuing to study through the medium of Welsh will be:

• a natural step for you if you have studied through the medium of Welsh at undergraduate level.
• a way of maximizing your chances of getting the best education.
• a way of receiving a high level of support as the study groups are smaller.
• a valuable addition to your CV and career development.

Our postgraduate degrees give you the opportunity to learn from academics who are industry experts, with a wealth of academic and practical experience. The School of Social Sciences is home to a vibrant academic community dedicated to understanding some of society’s most challenging issues. This MA also benefits from teaching across the Faculty including staff from Criminology.

You can find out more about our academic expertise on our staff pages and on the CYTREC website.

Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

International students and part-time study: It may be possible for some students to study part-time under the Student Visa route. However, this is dependent on factors relating to the course and your individual situation. It may also be possible to study with us if you are already in the UK under a different visa category (e.g. Tier 1 or 2, PBS Dependant, ILR etc.). Please visit the University information on Visas and Immigration for further guidance and support.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

If you're a UK or EU student starting a master’s degree at Swansea University, you may be eligible to apply for Government funding to help towards the cost of your studies. To find out more, please visit our postgraduate loans page.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

School of Social Sciences Scholarships and Bursaries

The School of Social Sciences also offers a Advancing Futures Scholarship for postgraduate (taught) students who have an offer to study at the School of Social Sciences. 

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

• Travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

• Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
• Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
• Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
• Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
• Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Employability at the School of Social Sciences

A range of modules are available covering a number of challenges for law, society, public policy, the private sector and the non-governmental sector. The programme supports the career development and employability ambitions of students intending to undertake a career in:

The public sector

Cyber crime and online terrorist activities are key areas of priority for government at all levels. Programme graduates will be equipped with knowledge, understanding and skills applicable to law and policy development, programmatic action, the conduct of government (and industry) through the regulation, arrangement and provision of public services. Potential graduate destinations include:

Civil service, regional, national and sub-national government, local authorities and other public bodies, and political and policy advice work.

The private sector

Cyber crimes and online terrorism are increasingly the concern of the private sector especially those conducting business in digital space. Graduates of the programme will be well equipped to work for social media companies as well an array of global businesses conducting work in cyberspace.

The NGO sector

Non-governmental agencies are well-established stakeholders in cybersecurity and counter-terrorism. Policy advocacy and lobbying, campaigns, and front-line intervention are all facets of the NGO sector globally, regionally, nationally and locally. Programme graduates will be equipped with knowledge, understanding and skills applicable to the breadth of work undertaken by the NGO sector in combatting cyber crime and terrorism. Potential graduate destinations include:

International NGOs; regional or local level NGOs (the sector is vast and represents a significant graduate destination market).

Research and academia

Research on cyber crime and online terrorism is a growing concern for academia. Students graduating from the programme will be at the cutting-edge of these issues globally, regionally and nationally. In addition to the potential to continue to study at PhD level, graduates will be equipped with knowledge, understanding and skills applicable to teaching and research in the field. Potential graduate destinations include:

Law enforcement, policy ‘think-tanks’, and HEIs.

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

• Academic writing
• Maths and statistics
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Digital skills
• Presentation skills
• Note taking
• Revision, memory and exam techniques
• English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Academic Support at the School of Social Sciences

Each student is assigned a Personal Tutor to help with:

• Academic Guidance
• Personal Development Planning
• Employability Advice

The School also has a dedicated Student Information Office who will be able to offer academic assistance throughout your studies.

Please apply through the University’s Application system.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply for postgraduate study pages.

EU students - visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our information for EU students page.

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.

Student Societies

Meet your fellow students and take part in a variety of social opportunities by joining the Swansea Criminology Society or Student Law Society which is run for students, by students.

Meet our Graduates

You can also hear from our graduates by visiting our MA Cyber Crime and Terrorism case studies page.

Contact Details

Make a postgraduate enquiry

International students contact our International Team

The part-time alternative for this programme is completed over two years.
The programme is flexible to a certain extent, but follows the structure below:

Year One
One module will be completed in one semester, and two modules will be completed in the other semester.

Year Two
One module will be completed in one semester, and two modules will be completed in the other semester, plus dissertation.