The certification of six master’s degrees in cyber security was announced by Cabinet Office Francis Maude Minister, when he visited GCHQ, the Government intelligence agency.
The official National Cyber Security Strategy includes education for developing cyber skills and, earlier in the year, UK universities were invited to submit their cyber-security master’s degrees for certification against GCHQ criteria for a foundation in cyber security.
The six degrees were judged to provide well-defined and appropriate content, delivered to high standard.
The authorities say that the development of GCHQ-certified master’s degrees will help the universities to promote their courses. It will also assist employers to judge between candidates when employing cyber security staff.
A further call for master’s certification will take place in late 2014 and will be extended to degrees which are focused on critical areas of cyber such as digital forensics.
The six universities, whose Cyber Security Master’s degrees have been awarded GCHQ-certified status, are:
Full certified status:
Edinburgh Napier University – Degree – MSc in Advanced Security and Digital Forensics
Lancaster University – Degree – MSc in Cyber Security
University of Oxford – Degree – MSc in Software and Systems Security
Royal Holloway, University of London – Degree – MSc in Information Security.
Provisional certified status:
Cranfield University – Degree – MSc in Cyber Defence and Information Assurance
University of Surrey – Degree – MSc in Information Security.
Provisional certification is for those degrees that are running but did not have a cohort complete in academic year 2012 to 2013, or for new degrees due to start in September-October 2014.
Francis Maude said: ‘Every time I visit GCHQ I see first-hand their tremendous work on Cyber Security. Cyber Security is a crucial part of this government’s long term plan for the British economy. We want to make the UK one of the safest places in the world to do business online. Through the excellent work of GCHQ, in partnership with other government departments, the private sector and academia, we are able to counter threats and ensure together we are stronger and more aware.’
Nigel Smart, Professor of Cryptology, University of Bristol said: ‘I am delighted to have been appointed as Independent Chair of the panel that assessed applications and am excited that GCHQ has introduced this rigorous standard for judging general Cyber Security Master’s Degrees. ‘For the first time, UK universities which become certified will have a means to promote the quality of the Cyber Security they teach. Over the next few years, as GCHQ certification is applied to more specialised areas of Cyber Security, I expect the number of UK universities achieving certification of their Master’s degrees to increase, thereby helping to raise the overall standard of teaching in Cyber Security at Master’s level.’
Mark Hughes, President, BT Security said: ‘At BT we are acutely aware of the impact of the UK cyber skills gap and recruiting the right people with the right knowledge and skills is a big deal for us. As a leading Internet service provider we want to employ the very best. That is why we welcome GCHQ’s certification of Master’s degrees in Cyber Security. The fact that GCHQ recognises these courses as high calibre gives us, at BT, the confidence that those graduating with a Master’s from one of these universities will have the sound knowledge base in Cyber Security that we would be looking for. This is a great step forward in developing the cyber specialist of tomorrow.’
And Chris Ensor, Deputy Director for the National Technical Authority for Information Assurance at GCHQ said: ‘As the National Technical Authority for Information Assurance, GCHQ recognises the critical role academia plays in developing the UK’s skill and knowledge base. I’d like to congratulate the universities which have been recognised as offering a Master’s degree which covers the broad range of subjects that underpin a good understanding of Cyber Security. I’d also encourage those that didn’t quite make it this time around to reapply in the near future, especially as we start to focus on more specialised degrees. Recognition of these degrees is an important first step towards recognising Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACEs-CSE).’
GCHQ is also developing a programme to identify and recognise Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACEs-CSE). The first applications from universities wishing to be recognised as excellent in Cyber Security Education will be judged in late 2015.
