Re: A question on security postgraduate programs

["Zeeshan Arif" <zeeshan.arif () gmail com>]

I had graduated in Computer Science and have been employed for about 3
years; including some security related work and lately IT Audit. I am
also looking for a career in info sec. UCL, indeed, has a very good
course offering in MSc. Also, Birmingham University (
http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate-taught/degree_info/msc-csec/
) has a reputed MSc. in computer security.

Although I have a CISA cert but I've always been getting into the
technical aspects of security. Therefore, I wanted to get a formal
degree. I don't think doing only the CISSP or GSEC cert would be
considered valuable by prospective employers.

Your thoughts?

On 5/23/07, Katelyn Rowlands <knr () uid0x00 org> wrote:
> >  I'm a 3rd year computer science student and and I've a strong interest
> >  in security. Primarily, vulnerability research/reverse engineering. At
> >  the moment I'm trying to decide what to do after I finish University.
>
> I'm also in a very similar position right now. I am about to graduate in
> June with a BSc Computer Science and I want a career in security
> research.
>
> >  I would like to work in vulnerability research or pen testing when I'm
> >  finished so I'm wondering if I'm better off attempting to find work
> >  straight away after I finish or getting some other qualifications
> >  first? Also if someone could recommend some decent masters/postgrad
> >  courses that would be cool.
>
> One very good course in the UK is the MSc Information Security at UCL
> (http://mscinfosec.adastral.ucl.ac.uk). The fees are very high, but
> apparently the course is very well taught and is aimed at people who
> intend to work in industry afterwards. It's certainly a technical
> course, and UCL is a respected place.
>
> I have a place on the above course, but have been advised to do a
> research MSc instead, as this is more suitable for future research work.
> I think it depends if you're going into the research side of things, or
> the industry side. If you don't know, it's always possible to do a
> Masters course while also finding a student placement and gaining
> experience, doing certs etc.
>
> - Katelyn