If the net result of the programme is that it not only fails to provide you with the requisite skills you need in industry but instead actively disenfranchises you from the entire field, something very seriously wrong must be going on.

There are far more attractive alternatives

University College Dublin (UCD) has an excellent course in computer forensics. Their MSc. in Digital Investigations and Computer Forensics is available as online part-time as well as full-time. It is a wonderful course that is drawn from a programme they teach law enforcement which will teach you the lowest levels of computer forensics and introduce you to Irish and EU Law whilst preparing you to be an expert witness in forensic cases. Admittedly it is a narrower specialisation which focuses primarily on forensics. That being said, there is more content delivered in the first semester of this degree than there is in an entire year of the Queen’s MSc. programme. It should be noted that UCD is not vetted by GCHQ/NCSC as the certification programme is not available to any university outside of the United Kingdom.

Cost: €9,000 for EU/UK students.

Most cybersecurity positions which are not very low level or graduate require at least some degree of certification. As such, even a Masters Degree will often not be enough to get an interview let alone a job. The following are some of the highest regarded certifications in the industry (world-wide) which you are probably going to have to get for a good position regardless of any MSc. programme. Given that they all assume very little knowledge it begs the question what value an MSc. really brings to the table.

Offensive Security offers a wonderful certification course, the Offensive Security Certified Professional. It is one of the most sought-after certifications in the industry. It is hard work but it is rewarding. No MSc. programme will prepare you for pen-testing and malware quite like the OSCP certification will. Depending upon your skill level and commitments, you can complete the OSCP in as short as one month part-time.

Cost: $1,150 (Incl. 90 days online labs, training materials)

EC-Council offers a barebones, somewhat low-level, certification course. The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). To be perfectly honest it does not compete with the OSCP either in value for money or in content. However, it is well regarded by Industry and is often the first checkbox recruiters may be looking for on your CV. This can be self-studied with one of the many books available from publishers or alternatively you may opt for the full online training program from the EC-Council.

Cost: $2,014 (Incl. Exam voucher, 6 months online labs & training materials)

CompTIA offers the well-renowned Security+ certification. Much like CEH this certification is a junior option. Yet it is no less recognised (albeit somewhat less sought-after) with broad focus including pen testing. As with the CEH certification, Security+ may be self taught from a variety of publisher’s study guide books.

Cost: $450 (Incl. Exam and Retake Exam Vouchers, and training materials)

Brexit, politics and safety

Arguably one of the biggest reasons to avoid Queen’s University Belfast is Brexit and the developing political situation.

Increasingly it seems that the U.K. is headed towards a Hard Brexit which means that Northern Ireland (U.K.) and The Republic of Ireland (which as an independent nation will remain in the European Union, or E.U.) may soon be separated by a physical hard border which is policed.

Northern Ireland has had more than its fair share of troubles in the past, and some believe that Brexit may re-ignite these old tensions. The Unionist Twelfth celebrations this year were some of the most violent for years [1] [2]. Some fear that when a hard border returns to separate the Island of Ireland that these tensions could return to those of the past.

This could mean that Queen’s University Belfast may not be the safest place to study in coming years.

Next in the series:

Broken promises of student involvement in the annual CSIT Cybersecurity Conference.