• Assessment of the module is by a dissertation that is produced towards the end of the second semester, complemented by a presentation session where the work done is to be demonstrated and questions answered. If considered appropriate by the examiners an oral examination may be held.

• Blackboard

This unit aims to:

• A1 develop the student's research skills in the context of a challenging problem of their own choice. The topic will combine aspects of cybersecurity and AI
• A2 develop the student's advanced technical knowledge and skills in the areas relevant to the project
• A3 develop the student's professional skills and contextual knowledge (e.g. social, ethical, and legal considerations
• A4 develop the student's written and oral presentation skills
• A5 develop the student's ability to receive criticism and engage in constructive discussions about their work.

By the end of the unit, a candidate will be able to:

LO1 research the background to a challenging research problem in cybersecurity. Specifically: a) survey relevant literature and comment critically on it b) identify/confirm an original and challenging research question (or questions) to be addressed and appreciate the feasibility of doing so within the time available on the project;
LO2 plan, monitor and possibly re-plan work according to progress made;
LO3 identify what needs to be done to answer the research question(s), and to identify and evaluate appropriate approaches and techniques to be used to develop the solution (i.e. identify an appropriate methodology), and then synthesise a solution. It includes developing understanding of the capabilities of available resources (such as tools and techniques) and whether they suffice to underpin a solution as well as the identification of a specific solution path. Note: methodology must take into account ethics and other contextual considerations. The student will be able to justify any decisions and choices made.
LO4 demonstrate competence in using appropriate solution tools;
LO5 evaluate work done in an appropriately rigorous manner and use the results to draw appropriate conclusions or inform further work. This will include, for example, identification of evaluation criteria, testing or analysis of artefacts developed (e.g. software), demonstration of reasonable experimental practices, critical review of assumptions made, appreciation of threats to validity, drawing evidenced conclusions, and identification of future work;
LO6 demonstrate an appreciation of the professional, social, ethical, legal and other contextual considerations that apply to the work they have done. Note the area of Cybersecurity raises interesting contextual issues. The MSc in predominantly 'technical' in nature but we do require an appreciation of wider issues;
LO7 to document work carried out in a form suitable for a technically able but not necessarily specialist audience. For working purposes the reader will generally be a computer scientist but not necessarily expert in cybersecurity or AI. Thus, the student must be able to document suitably all aspects in the lifecycle of the project: background, through requirements, design, implementation, evaluation and conclusions;
LO8 To present effectively work in progress and engage in constructive discussion about that work and its context.

All projects must have a significant cybersecurity focus. Students will be able to pursue a project involving both cybersecurity and AI, but are not obliged to do so.

• Students use departmental and/or external facilities and are exposed to the state-of-the-art methods and concepts relevant to the project topic. Students are expected to take responsibility for their own learning [LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6], and to plan and progress their project in a professional and systematic way [LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5]. the progress made is reviewed at regular meetings with their supervisor(s). Project supervisions will encourage the student to consider how their work should be evaluated. Students will be encouraged to develop evaluation criteria at an early stage but also as the work progresses. This may involve setting formal requirements and evaluating against them. However, some post-hoc reflection is also to be encouraged, with students addressing for example, what they learned from the project process [LO5. LO7, LO8]. Project supervisions will be used to engage students in the wider contextual issues [LO6]. Project work will be documented in a dissertation [LO7]. Students will receive feedback from supervisors on their immediate presentations, posters and dissertations, supporting the development of varied communication skills. In addition, regular project dissertations with supervisors will develop oral communication skills [LO7, LO8].