MSc in Network and Information Security in Sri Lanka at ESOFT

TL;DR: The MSc in Network and Information Security is a hybrid postgraduate program awarded by Kingston University (UK) and taught at ESOFT Uni in Colombo. It covers data communications, cryptography, wireless networks and a final security dissertation, and it is aimed at graduates in computing, IT or engineering. Uplift lists the tuition at LKR 790,000 in total.

Apply now for the MSc in Network and Information Security

Every organisation that keeps customer data, takes payments or runs a network depends on people who understand how to protect them. A general computing degree introduces security, but a specialist master's goes into the mechanics: how networks carry data, how encryption protects it and how attacks are detected and contained.

This guide explains what the MSc covers, who is eligible, the fees on the Uplift catalogue and what to confirm with ESOFT Uni before applying.

The program at a glance

Level: postgraduate, MSc
Study mode: hybrid
Awarded by: Kingston University (UK)
Taught at: ESOFT Uni, Colombo campus
Tuition: LKR 790,000 in total
Application fee: LKR 25,000

The catalogue does not currently give a program length, and the intake dates it holds have already passed. Ask ESOFT Uni for the next intake and the expected duration before you make plans around either.

Computing postgraduate programs at ESOFT Uni

What you study

The program is built around a short list of compulsory modules, each of which covers a distinct layer of security.

Data Communications: how data moves across networks
Network and Information Security: the protection of networks and networked systems
Cryptography and Applications: how information is encoded and protected
Wireless Communications and Network: the security questions raised by wireless links
Project Dissertation: a final piece of work on a real-world security challenge

Practical focus

The program page describes hands-on work to implement security measures, and a holistic view that includes home networks as well as business ones. The dissertation is where that practical emphasis becomes a portfolio piece: a documented investigation of a real problem that you can discuss with an employer.

Career directions

The program page positions the MSc for graduates who want to work in protecting business and home networks. Typical areas where these skills apply include network administration, security operations and security consulting, although the page does not list specific job titles, so treat these as fields the subject connects to. A postgraduate qualification with a security dissertation can strengthen a profile when you apply for specialist roles.

Entry requirements

The Uplift program page lists:

A relevant undergraduate degree in computing, IT, engineering or a related discipline, at minimum second class honours or equivalent
Some professional experience in networking or security, described as an advantage
English language proficiency, which may be required

If your degree is in a related discipline rather than computing itself, ask ESOFT Uni to confirm in writing whether it will be accepted.

Who this program suits

It suits graduates who already work with networks, systems or software and want to specialise in security, and graduates from engineering backgrounds who want to move into the information security field. The hybrid delivery gives some flexibility for people in employment, though you should confirm how much of the teaching is on campus and how much is online.

It is a specialist technical program, so it is a better fit if you enjoy mathematics-adjacent topics such as cryptography and are comfortable with networking fundamentals. If you are earlier in your journey and still choosing a degree, start with the undergraduate options instead.

Where it sits among your options

The same institute also offers an undergraduate route into the field, which we cover in the guide to Kingston University degrees at ESOFT Uni. For a comparison across providers, read MSc in cyber security in Sri Lanka: routes compared, and for the entry rules that apply to most master's programs, see Master's degree entry requirements in Sri Lanka explained.

If your interest is more in how networks are built than in how they are defended, Networking course in Sri Lanka: HND, degree and MSc routes covers that side.

How to prepare an application

Start by checking your first degree against the entry rule. A degree in computing, IT or engineering at second class honours or equivalent meets the academic requirement on the program page. Keep your transcript and certificate ready, along with a short summary of any networking or security work you have done.

Next, refresh the basics. The modules assume you understand how networks carry data, and the cryptography module in particular rewards comfort with mathematical reasoning. If it has been a few years since your degree, a short revision of networking fundamentals will make the early weeks easier.

Finally, plan the money and the schedule. The LKR 790,000 tuition and LKR 25,000 application fee are the figures on the Uplift catalogue. Because the program is hybrid, ask how many sessions are held on campus in Colombo and how many online, so that you can plan travel and work around them.

Questions to ask before you apply

What is the next intake date, and what is the application deadline?
How long does the program take, and how much of it is taught online?
Is the LKR 790,000 tuition payable in instalments?
Will my first degree be accepted, and does my work experience count?
What topics have recent dissertations covered?

Written answers to these will tell you more about the real commitment than the module list does.

PS. If network and information security is where you want to build your career, open the MSc in Network and Information Security at ESOFT Uni page and apply through Uplift once the next intake is confirmed.

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