Cybercrime and Digital Investigation MSc

The module aims to give you a sound understanding of the relationship between digital forensics and digital technologies, as well as an in-depth knowledge of evidence management and the consequences of mismanagement. This practical module will give you all the skills you need to remove electronic digital media from your sources using industry tools and conduct forensic investigations (using commercial software) on case studies. You’ll learn about the planning of investigations, technology management strategies and how your actions could affect evidential continuity. You will finish this module equipped with the awareness that digital forensics is as much about documentation, processes and validity as it is about technical investigations.

This module description is being updated.

This module description is being updated.

This module description is being updated.

With increasing amounts of social activity taking place on the Internet, cybercrime is becoming an essential area of study. By exploring the history, nature and patterns of cybercrime, this module will introduce students to the criminological study of crime on the internet, cybersecurity, and cyber policy. Through a combination of a series of sessions exploring different types as well as responses in preventing and tackling internet-related crimes, this module will consider the diversity of cybercrime as well as its prevention and detection.

This module is designed to provide a critical analysis of selected issues in the study of cybercrime and its control with the main aim to introduce students to the concept of cybercrime by exploring how the study of cybercrime challenges existing criminological theories and criminal law and examining the impact of cybercrime on contemporary society.

Data from digital technologies allow us to gain unprecedented insights into human behaviour, social sentiments, and social inequalities. This course introduces students to the social dimensions of digital technologies, reviews empirical social science research on challenges associated with contemporary digital technologies and offers students new possibilities of how to study society using digital research tools.

This module has the threefold aim to:

1. Introduce students to the foundations of contemporary text mining and text analysis methods for the social sciences
2. Familiarize students with empirical social science research studies associated with contemporary digital technologies
3. Develop students’ practical skills on applied text mining and text analysis techniques.

It will cover principles of research design and research ethics as they apply to text-based social science research and will review the major methodologies within social science text mining, including topic models and opinion mining. Skills developed on this module prepare students to undertake text mining research for their dissertation or digital research for organisations.

The aim of this module is fourfold to:

• Equip students with the principles of research design and approaches to research methods that are underpinned by ethics and theory.
• To develop understanding and the skills to design and conduct quantitative survey and qualitative interview research.
• To analyse research findings using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.
• To critically understand and deconstruct conventional research methods, analytical strategies and secondary data from a decolonial standpoint.

This module equips students with the knowledge and skills to undertake research for a dissertation or an organisation as well as to study advance research methods and analysis techniques offered on the programme while appreciating criminological research methods are shaped by historical power relations.

The aim of this module is fourfold:

• To equip students with a clear understanding on the philosophy and sources of bias in social research
• To provide students with the ability to carry out quantitative data analysis through both descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-squared test, t-test and correlation coefficients)
• To equip students with strong qualitative analytical methods skillset to critically analyse qualitative data from a decolonial standpoint
• To critically evaluate and convey the strengths and weaknesses of research projects and policy reports through short oral presentations.

By the completion of this module, students will be able to understand the benefits of the different qualitative and quantitative research techniques and will be equipped in applying different quantitative and qualitative analytical approaches. They will further be able to identify and critically evaluate research projects and policy projects which will benefit them towards their dissertation and future employment.

This module aims to develop advanced skills in the application of theoretical concepts and frameworks in relation to drugs, drug use and drugs control and in critically analysing the relationship between drugs and crime.  Students will critically evaluate initiatives within the criminal justice system to address the drugs ‘problem’.  The module also aims to foster a critical interest in the reform of drugs policy and institutions at both national and international levels.

This module aims to develop advanced skills in the application of theoretical concepts and frameworks in relation to drugs, drug use and drugs control and in critically analysing the relationship between drugs and crime.  Students will critically evaluate initiatives within the criminal justice system to address the drugs ‘problem’.  The module also aims to foster a critical interest in the reform of drugs policy and institutions at both national and international levels.

This module aims to develop students’ understanding of diverse online cultures and how these enable different types of crime (online and offline); how cybercultures and cybercrime are regulated, policed, and prevented; types of cybercrime and how behaviours are learned; how the online world can enable group identification and deviant behaviour.

This module will help students understand the changing world of cybercrime and what can be done to curb incidents of harm online. This includes equipping students with the knowledge to intervene effectively in online radicalisation movements, building anti-cybercrime and deviant cyberculture-based policy and solutions, and understanding how broader social movements use the online world to further their aims.

This module aims to synthesise learning from the criminology programmes of study, providing an opportunity for students to study independently and investigate a topic in depth. It fosters academic curiosity; an inquiry-based approach and the employment and application of research skills thus facilitating the development of a higher level of theorising.

Students will define their own topic area, conduct a comprehensive review of existing knowledge on the subject, formulate a methodology for conducting their own enquiries and write an in-depth report of the findings of their research. Alternatively, students may choose to conduct a theoretically oriented piece of work involving the systematic analysis of an issue or area of policy/practice.

This module aims at engaging students to explore contemporary critical issues in criminology with a particular focus on global perspectives with policy relevance. By studying criminology from a critical perspective with a global focus, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of intersecting issues in Criminology related to harm and crime and develop the ability to apply complex perspectives to real-world issues.

The aim of the module is to be in conversation with the compulsory module Contemporary Theory in Criminology to allow students to develop the ability to apply the theories studied to real-world global issues in this module. It also provides a broad overview of the contemporary field of criminology which serves as a foundation for term two optional modules.

We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.

We aim to model a wide range of teaching strategies and approaches on the course which you can adapt to your own setting.

Teaching and assessment on the different modules incorporates a range of styles and methods and on occasion, guest lectures are delivered by experts working in the fields of cyber terrorism, online abuse, bullying and cyber investigation. There is a strong focus on the development of the digital investigation skills necessary to understand and respond to emerging forms of cybercrime.

Criminology conferences

Our Department of Criminology and Sociology is part of the Common Studies Session in Critical Criminology (CSSCC) which involves postgraduate Criminology Departments across different EU universities including Jay College of New York. The conferences are held twice a year across Europe.

You will be encouraged to participate and deliver your own paper at the conference and have an opportunity to present your ideas in an international academic student environment. A certificate of attendance is awarded to those who participate in the CSSCC.

You will be studying at our leafy north London campus in Hendon.

We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.

We are currently reviewing our approach to teaching and learning for 2023 entry and beyond. We've learned a lot about how to give you a quality education - we aim to combine the best of our pre-pandemic teaching and learning with access to online learning and digital resources which put you more in charge of when and how you study. We will keep you updated on this throughout the application process.

Your timetable will be built around on campus sessions using our professional facilities, with online sessions for some activities where we know being virtual will add value. We’ll use technology to enhance all of your learning and give you access to online resources to use in your own time.

The table below gives you an idea of what learning looks like across a typical week. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on campus sessions.

This information is likely to change slightly for 2023 entry as our plans evolve. You'll receive full information on your teaching before you start your course.

Learning structure: typical hourly breakdown:

This information is likely to change slightly for 2024/25 entry as our plans evolve. You'll receive full information on your teaching before you start your course.

Definitions of terms

Live in-person on campus learning – This will focus on active and experiential sessions that are both:

• Led by your tutors including seminars, lab sessions and demonstrations We'll schedule all of this for you
• Student-led by you and other students, like small group work and presentations.

Tutor set learning activities – This covers activities which will be set for you by your tutor, but which you will undertake in your own time. Examples of this include watching online materials, participating in an online discussion forum, completing a virtual laboratory or reading specific texts. You may be doing this by yourself of with your course mates depending on your course and assignments. Outside of these hours, you’ll also be expected to do further independent study where you’ll be expected to learn, prepare, revise and reflect in your own time.

Your knowledge and understanding will be assessed by a variety of assessment methods including essays, reports, oral presentations (online or face to face), producing .csv datasets, reviews, a research proposal and a research project or placement in a cybercrime-related area. A range of coursework submissions allows you to demonstrate your understanding of theory and practice, as well as your ability to sustain a coherent argument.