MSc Security and Data Science

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and the increasingly data-driven nature of all aspects of society have significantly altered the security, defence, and law enforcement domains, with this, and other emerging technologies, posing both novel opportunities and threats for governments, armed services, security services, law enforcement, and civil society. Understanding how these emergent technologies have aggravated social tensions, created new security vulnerabilities, impacted war fighting capabilities, and encouraged relative power shifts at both the inter-nation state and state versus sub-state actor levels involves understanding the technology-security relationships across multiple levels. Our aim is to maximise your employability by providing you with a unique skill set that blends in-depth domain knowledge and practical data analysis skills; a hugely employable and transferable skillset both within and beyond the security, defence, and law enforcement sectors. Graduates of this programme will have a dual speciality in data science skills and strong knowledge of the security-threat landscape and how security, defence, and law enforcement organisations are adapting to the novel opportunities and threats posed by emerging technologies, particularly data and AI. This dual speciality will prepare you for roles in organisations such as the security services, National Crimes Agency, Europol, Interpol, and specialist policing units, as well as roles in business intelligence and analytics, data journalism, social research and specialised government department roles focused on the security, defence, and law enforcement domains.; Gain practical experience of working with data and developing associated skills that are increasingly in demand within the security, defence, and law enforcement sectors. Gain a unique blend of in-depth knowledge and understanding of security issues in relation to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data. Explore areas such as how law enforcement are using data for predictive policing, the use of generative AI by extremists, the use of AI in developing cybersecurity systems, and the use of AI in intelligence gathering and military decision making. Learn to code in Python and how to use it for data science methods, a hugely employable and transferable skillset both within and beyond the security, defence, and law enforcement sectors. Delivered by the highly successful Centre for Computational Social Science (C2S2) that specialises in providing quantitative and computational social research training to people from all academic and professional backgrounds, especially those with no prior experience.

We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree or above in a social science or humanities subject area (including Business and Management). While we normally only consider applicants who meet these criteria, if you have a high 2:2 or equivalent, are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant work experience, we would welcome your application.