Should I study an MSc in Information Security/related course in department X in University Y in the UK?

This is a small FAQ I  compiled for the benefit of a prospective student with the above query. While I concentrated on an Indian student, most information here is quite general. I frequently receive mails which start with such queries and I find myself facing the same set of questions and repeating the same set of answers.

Note that I make no guarantee of correctness of any facts. Opinions expressed are just that, opinions. You interpret them with your own judgment and at your own risk.

Also, laws change fast and you have so please make sure the actual details I have mentioned are correct when you read this. You must keep following things up to keep abreast.

1)Should I study an MSC in Information Security/related course in the UK at department X in college Y?

It is not fair for me to talk about any individual department or university.

However these are a set of things you should look for in any department,

a) Find out the rating of the department that runs the course at the Research Assessment Exercise

The rating is on a scale of 1 to 5* where 5* is the highest and signifies that the department is accomplished in teaching and research.

Personal Opinion : You should be aiming at 5 and 5* departments.

b) Try and locate alumni, hopefully Indian, who have passed the course and get in touch with them. They can typically comment on their individual departments and give you the find of feedback relevant to you.

A warning : Avoid asking silly questions without doing your homework. Asking questions like what are the courses available when such information is available on the web site is very putting off and shows that you are not serious about the task at hand. Typically such mails are quickly diverted to the recycle bin -- and never recycled.

c) Compare courses to see where your specific course stacks up.

Information Security is a multi disciplinary field and can be broadly divided into two tracks

Technical : Cryptography, Network Security, Computer Security, Computer Forensics.

You could also study courses around Technical standards, typically ISO standards on Network Security defining Services/ Layers, Cryptographic primitives etc. -- though these courses are rarer to come by.

Business/Managerial : Standards ( BS 7799/ ISO 17799 or the revised ISO 200..) , Risk Assessment, Application and relevance of Information Security in organisations, courses specific to security in an e-commerce setting, Legal and moral issues in the profession of security.

Depending on your background you'll need to pick and choose a course that suits you.

2) Will I get a job in the UK after my course?

I have no way of saying that. This will of course depend on your aptitude, drive and even luck.

That said, here are some relevant points.

+ve

Typically most courses in Information Security enable you to stay and work for an year in the UK under the SEGS.

-ve

I have heard of many non EU students facing the following dilemma ...

Employer : Do you have the right to stay indefinitely and work in the UK?

UK Home Office: Do you have an employer who is willing to sponsor your work permit?

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out the Catch 22 situation here.

3) What about scholarships?

Getting a scholarship from a UK university to fund your Masters is very difficult. At best, most departments have partial scholarship for exceptional overseas students that cover a small percentage of the course fee. In any case, you have to follow this up with the department.

Do not make the mistake of landing up in the UK under the assumption that you can get a scholarship once you are here. The UK and the US are different countries and different systems. 
Also remember Masters degrees in the UK are a year long.

That said, there are some scholarships you can follow up from India. They are very very competitive and typically very few of each on offer. You will  be spending a whole year chasing them up i.e you will typically be applying this year in May/June for next year's September entry. Many are full fee paying and offer living stipend as well

Please Google for links as they change frequently.

1) The British Chevening Scholarship

2) The Commonwealth Scholarship.

3) The Paul Foundation

4) The Bharat Petroleum Scholarships

5) The Inlaks Foundations

6) The Dorothy Hodgkins Post graduate Students Award.

3 b) My academic grades in my engineering are low. Can I expect a scholarship from the department?

The first part of answer 3 should give you general answer.

4) Can I pay off my course fee and living expense by working part time?

NO

You are legally entitled to work 20 hrs a week during term time. Assuming a basic pay rate of 5 pounds/hr you can expect to earn no more than 100-120 pounds a week ( tax deductible). Though it is hard to comment on individual rates of living ( as they vary greatly depending on location and lifestyle) you can expect to spend about 500 pounds ( as of 2005-2006 ) on rent/bills and food, per month.

Again this is only an indicative figure, please do your research.

5) Can I get an internship to do my project? Will they pay me?

While not unheard off, you have to take the initiative to chase them. You will not usually face the usual rigmarole of "campus placements" and the like in UK. You initiative will play a great part in this.

Some guidelines.

Do not hesitate to approach people, especially from industry who come to your college to lecture. Please, please do your homework. Be honest about your aptitudes and share ideas and be enthusiastic.

Whether they will pay you or not again depends on individual circumstances.

6) Is IELTS compulsory? What about TOEFL?

While IELTS is UK's preferred exam, most UK universities accept TOEFL gladly as a test of English. If you already have TOEFL scores, write to your university and ask them if they will accept TOEFL. Look at their web site as such information is usually on the web site.

7) The course costs me XXX pounds. Is it worth it ?? I am worried .......

Again, this is a very very vague question and depends on your individual circumstances.

As an exercise, the things you should typically ask yourself are outlined below.
Answering them honestly will let you know where you stand or what your next step should be.

a) Is this something I really want to do, or do I just want to do it because everyone else is?

b) Do I have the money already?

c) If I do have it , is it  small change for me?

d) If the money is hard earned/ family money or if I need to take a loan ...

-- Assuming that I do not get a job in the UK after my course, can I absorb this monetarily

--  Do I have family/friends to support me if I have to return in the event that I don't get a job in the UK.

-- Can I take the pressures of paying off the loan, typically over many years. How will this affect my family, especially if the family house is the mortgage.

That said, having been conservative so far, let me make a complete U turn and say this ---

Only you can decide what you really want from your life. Make a decision based on how much you are willing to sacrifice for what you want and what you stand for. If you really want something , by all means give it your best shot and things will fall into place. Life is a mix of dreams and reality. One without the other makes life dull. Dream the perfect, don't forget the possible, but push the limits.

8) Is UK better than the US/Canada, What about Australia and New Zealand.

Apologies. I only have some information about the UK and they have been presented to you. Also it would be unfair for me to make such comparisons and in any case there are too many colleges courses out there to make such a comparison at all.

9) What about courses in India.

I have been hearing about colleges increasingly including courses in Information Security in their curriculum. I have even heard about a Information Security course at IIIT A. I have no details though.

I cannot make a comparison between the UK and India as well.

10) Should I study or work at Infosys/TCS ...?

This really depends on what your aspirations are. I believe that asking a questions like this shows you are not sure about what you want. Perhaps it is time to slow down and think clearly.

11) I found this FAQ helpful? How can I thank you?

Drop me a mail/leave a comment saying so.
Pass on the link to friends who might need it.
Sign up or an account on this site and keep visiting to read articles here.
Read why I run this site here, write articles, post comments, participate in the forums and make a donation if you can.
Send me your suggestions to improve this site.
Feed a hungry person when you see one.
Donate some money to a charity.

If you find information during your search that you feel might benefit others greatly please send them to me and I will add that to this FAQ.

Mail me at shrichris at indosec dot org

12) I did not find this FAQ helpful.

Sorry. I have done my best.

If you have any constructive points you'd like to raise please drop me a mail. Tell me what you didn't like but also how you would rectify it.

13) Can you please answer this specific query  about department X, university Y .....

No.

14) Where can I find more information

Google
British Council Website/Library
Education UK Website
UK Home Office Website
UK Visas/VFS Website

FINALLY TO CONCLUDE:

RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH ....

You will be surprised at the quantum of  information on the Internet. Search intelligently and diligently and you will get all the information you need, and more.

You should do as much research as possible as you can. Do not make this F.A.Q an ending point but a starting point.

Best of luck.

Sriramkrishnan Srinivasan