Advanced Computer Networks - MSc
Currently viewing course to start in 2023/24 Entry.
The MSc Advanced Computer Networks is the ideal course for those who intend to pursue/progress in the computer networks / network security industry....
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time/Part Time
- Location City Centre
- Award MSc
- Start date September 2023, January 2024
- Fees View course fees
- School School of Computing and Digital Technology
- Faculty Faculty of Computing, Engineering and The Built Environment
Overview
The MSc Advanced Computer Networks is the ideal course for those who intend to pursue/progress in the computer networks / network security industry.
Whether you are looking to start a career in networking or to progress in your current career, we have designed this course with the most relevant and state of the art developments to give you practical technical experience in the domain of enterprise network design, penetration testing, network automation and more.
We have also taken an applied approach to incorporating research as part of the course, so for those interested in research careers and PhD studentships, this would be a strong stepping-stone.
Throughout the course, you will have access to our advanced labs with racks of networking devices as well as our online NetLab system which gives you the ability to access real networking hardware from anywhere via internet. This gives you flexibility to work and practice around your own schedule.
We take pride in having close links with our industry partners and this course was designed to address the gap between academia and industry when it comes to required technical skills. While on the course, you will have access to a wealth of knowledge base and will have the opportunity to benefit from certification courses such as Cisco CCNA, CCNP, DevNet, JUNOS, PaloAlto PCNSA and many more which are all included as part of our academy courses.
This course intends to develop your competence in using tools and techniques for designing, configuring, and managing Enterprise networks leveraging the latest protocols, technologies and features, and securing these networked systems against networking attacks and exploits.
Introducing STEAMhouse
STEAMhouse is a centre for technology, innovation, creative thinking, prototyping and business development. Our brand new £70 million pound building is the new home for the School of Computing and Digital Technology.
What's covered in this course?
To prepare you for future careers, the course is designed to cover advanced key topics in computer networks, namely, Advanced Enterprise Networks, Wireless Communications, Network Security and Advanced Ethical Hacking, Network Automation and Orchestration, Applied Artificial Intelligence solutions to networking and network security problems.
In addition, you will receive a solid grounding in research methods and project management before undertaking an individual project that provides an opportunity to demonstrate technical and general employability skills in preparation for career progression.
More specifically, the individual project simulates typical graduate workplace tasks that require in-depth knowledge and skills in a specific area of computer science and network engineering. This will include consideration of wider issues and the ability to manage activities and resources, as well as generate, implement, and report on solutions to meet task objectives.
Throughout your studies, you’ll be supported by our expert teaching staff, all of whom have a wide range of research and industrial experience in areas such as intelligent systems, mobile computing, Semantic Web, machine learning and software engineering, which they use to enhance the curriculum.
Why Choose Us?
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Home to the Centre for Cloud Computing - This houses the Cisco Networking Academy, which has an international reputation for delivering high-quality teaching, training and support across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
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State-of-the-art equipment and purpose-built facilities - Our industry-standard facilities enable access to forensic software, network security software for penetration testing, and Cloud software.
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Opportunities to engage in advanced studies - Use problem-based learning and flipped curricula strategies. You will work in groups and independently to deliver solutions to industry-related problems and scenarios.
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Highly employable graduates - Our students have secured roles with companies such as Huawei and JBC Computer LTD. The unique combination of employer-led, research-informed technical knowledge and practical experience on industry-standard resources makes our graduates more employable and sought after.
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Opportunities for research - The course encourages critical thinking and problem solving, giving you the opportunities for research.
OPEN DAY
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to meet us in person. You'll get the chance to learn about courses in subject talks, chat to tutors and explore our campus. We'll post you a detailed event programme to help plan your day and find your way.
Next Event: Saturday 24 June
Entry Requirements
Essential Requirements
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In order to be considered for a place on this course, you must have passed a relevant honours degree at minimum of 2:2 or equivalent. |
Additional information for EU/International students
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For international students, you should have attained IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. |
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MSc
Starting: Sep 2023
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £9,250 in 2023/24
- Full Time
- 18 months with Professional Placement*
- £10,175 in 2023/24
- Part Time
- 20 months
- Show fees
- £1028 per 20 credits
- Year 1 - 80 credits
- Year 2 - 100 credits
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
Award: MSc
Starting: Jan 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 Months
- £9,250 in 2023/24
- Full Time
- 18 months with Professional Placement*
- £10,175 in 2023/24
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MSc
Starting: Sep 2023
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £16,870 in 2023/24
- Full Time
- 18 months with Professional Placement*
- £18,557 in 2023/24
Award: MSc
Starting: Jan 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 Months
- £16,870 in 2023/24
- Full Time
- 18 months with Professional Placement*
- £18,557 in 2023/24
Professional Placement option*
The Professional Placement option will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
You will be responsible for finding and securing your own placement. The University, however, will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will also benefit from support sessions delivered by Careers+ as well as advice and guidance from your School.
Placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process, therefore the University will not be able to guarantee placements for students who have registered for the ‘with Professional Placement’ course. All students who do not find a suitable placement or do not pass the competitive selection process will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.
Personal statement
You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.
Course in Depth
Module
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):
This module prepares you for the research project that you will undertake towards the end of your master’s course. It equips you with knowledge and transferable skills that will also help you in your subsequent career, for example, when you are asked to write a report or to carry out an IT project. You will become familiar with the research literature in your discipline, research methodology and research ethics, as well as project management tools, methods and techniques.
The module provides you with an opportunity to gain experience and critically reflect on the skills of network automation and orchestration within a global context. This module builds on the knowledge and underpinning theory from the networking modules and reviews the requirements for good network management.
The module provides you with an opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills of Advanced Ethical Hacking and information security within a global context. This module builds on the knowledge and underpinning theory from the networking modules and reviews the requirements for a secure network communication system.
The objective of this module is to provide solid understanding of the operation, implementation, and management of different types of wireless communication technologies, such as personal area networks (PANs), ad hoc networks, mesh networks, with a focus on wireless local area networks (WLANs). The module will cover various essential wireless communications concepts, such as wireless channels, RF propagation, RF system components, signal interference, mobility, etc. The module will also cover the architecture of various wireless networks, datalink layer protocol for wireless networks, wireless site survey considerations, network deployment and troubleshooting considerations, and wireless security will also be discussed. There will also be a brief discussion of advanced wireless communications, exploring the latest research advances in wireless communication. This module will have a strong practical focus, bridging the gap between theory and real-world practice.
This module covers the concepts and techniques of applied artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on the machine learning applications in practice. It provides the underpinning principles on the design and development of AI to address emerging challenges in the cyber world. A range of machine-learning schemes are examined, including identification of anomalous situations that alter data reliability and integrity. In addition, the students will develop related analytical and practical skills that can be applied in designing AI for data processing applications.
The module gives you an opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills of advanced enterprise network planning, design, configuration and security. This module builds on the knowledge and underpinning theory from the networking modules and reviews the requirements for a secure and robust international network communication system.
The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and research-informed Level 7 project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. In agreement with your supervisor, you will decide upon your topic which will take the form of a practical outcome (artefact) with accompanying contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your topic is that it must be aligned to the programme you are studying and informed by the research strategy of your school, and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.
Professional Placement (optional)
In order to qualify for the award of MSc Advanced Computer Networks with Professional Placement, a student must successfully complete all of the Level 7 modules listed above as well as the following Level 6 module
This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 20-week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree.
The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
Download course specification
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All the modules are practice-based and learning is carried out in the labs. Each 20-credit module will have two hours contact, and you are expected to undertake approximately six additional hours of learning, research and assessment preparation for each module.
Assessment is carried out through presentations (both group and individual), timed tests and exams, written reports, research activity and publication of findings, and practical-based time assessments.
At the start of the course, there will be a three-week, full-time induction tool kit, comprising of a review of CCNA and associated technologies.
The course also provides the base knowledge for students to undertake the CCNA certification, and with an additional boot camp to undertake the individual CCNP certification exams.
International opportunities
It is possible for you to undertake the project or placement overseas related to the IT industry.
Upon successful interview, there are possibilities for you to support classes in India at our partner universities.
Assessment methods
Emphasis is placed upon the development of a broad range of relevant skills. Assessment methods will vary according to the particular knowledge skills being assessed.
Assessment is through a combination of:
- coursework
- examinations
- presentations
- practical assignments
- vivas
- online activities
- project work.
Student stories – Michael Goodwin
Security engineer Michael Goodwin was so impressed with his undergraduate experience, he decided to come back for his MSc.
He especially enjoyed working with knowledgeable and experienced staff and using industry-standard equipment, that he uses everyday.
“It helped having this hands-on experience, and not just being taught theory in a classroom,” he says.
Additional costs
- USB drives for loading configurations
- Purchase of certification books
Employability
Enhancing your employability skills
The University is eager to recognise students have made the effort to gain industry experience and stand out from the typical graduate. Thus, we offer a range of options for you to get extra awards and recognition for your work in industry.
We also have our Graduate+ programme, an extracurricular awards framework that is designed to augment the subject-based skills that you’ve developed throughout the programme with broader employability attributes, which will enhance your employability options upon graduating.
Placements
There are a range of opportunities for you to gain industrial relevant experience, either as part of the course, the project or placements. Typical roles during and after this course include:
- Network administrator, design or architect
- Network security design
- Network implementation
- Network optimisation
- Network and security support
- Network operations and support
- Industry-based placement
- Industry-based projects
- KTPs
- PhD research
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Students are attracted by our strong industry links and the unique combination of high-quality practice-based learning with a strong and challenging academic curriculum that equips them with the relevant skills that employers are looking for.
Facilities & Staff
Our Facilities
The course is taught in one of the six purpose-built rooms that house £500,000 of computer networking and communications equipment, together with more than £200,000 of web-based equipment and resources with bookable access 24x7. Other vendor resources include Juniper and HP.
As a student at the School of Computing and Digital Technology, you have access to networked laboratories equipped to industry standards and running the latest software, giving you the best possible introduction to the technologies you will encounter in the world of work.
Dedicated facilities are provided for systems analysis, computer networks, programming in a wide range of languages, artificial intelligence, modelling and visual programming, e-commerce and .net environments, and business intelligence, as well as supporting the application areas of mechatronics, games technology, electronics and computer forensics.
Computer networking
The laboratories are well-equipped for all our computer networking courses, as well as specialist areas for practical work such as voice-over internet protocol (VoIP), forensic and ethical hacking technologies, wireless and mobile technologies and radio frequency identification technologies to name but a few.
Software development and computer programming
There are a number of open access, software development and computer programming
laboratories that can be used to develop systems and programmes, including database management systems such as MySQL, to name but a few.
Systems laboratories
Our embedded systems laboratories are used to develop real-time systems, such as specialist hardware training and development resources, and industrial-standard software development and simulation tools. These include microcontroller software and robotics design and development, to name but a few.
Electronic systems
To underpin the basic principles of electronic systems, we have a well-equipped laboratory of general and specialist test and measurement kits, including powered prototyping development boards, dual power supplies, frequency generators and counters and digital multi-meters to name but a few.Forensic computing
Our successful development of forensic computing has led to a specialist forensics laboratory that is fully equipped with essential hardware and software for this sensitive area of study. The laboratory includes high-spec PC’s with built-in multi interface Tableau write blockers, EnCase and FTK computer forensic software and steganography detection and analysis software, to name but a few.
More on our facilities
Our staff
Ron Austin
Associate Professor
Senior lecturer Ron Austin is the Associate Professor of the MSc Advanced Computer Networks course and teaches all network-related courses. His expertise and areas of interest include: Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), security technologies, and forensic and ethical hacking.
More about RonDr Peter Bull
Lecturer
From 2007-2012, Peter worked as a Research Engineer, on a collaborative doctoral project with BAE Systems and Loughborough University. This research focused on the development of a “Quality of Service Framework for Dynamic and Dependable Systems”. Following on from this, Peter was employed as a Research Associate within the Department of...
More about Peter