Background
Oxford has been my dream University ever since I decided to pursue a Masters degree. Hence, when the opportunity arose, I began researching about the courses the university offers around cybersecurity. I came across three options:
- MSc. Advanced Computer Science
- MSc. Software Engineering (Part-time)
- MSc. Software and System Security (Part-time)
My preference was for a full-time Masters. However, the closest match which dealt majorly with cybersecurity that I could select was a part-time MSc. in Software and System Security. Further, the degree offered ample of flexibility with the modules one could select to complete their masters like building a recipe for your own dish! 🍲 The second plus was that you can decide when you will be visiting the university for the classes based on your work schedule and availability.
Finally, I decided the go ahead with the application. 🚀
Application Process
The application process is fairly simple and can be found here. However, I shall elaborate my experience and timeline.
- Prerequisites (refer the official website for more details):
- Minimum GPA of 3.5 out of 4 in your undergrad
- TOEFL score of 110 and above or IELTs score of 7.5 and above with specific sections as mentioned on the site
- 2 years or more experience in software, security, or data engineering.
- I managed to complete my TOEFL tests by September with a acceptable score of 111 ✅
- The application form required 3 references either from your work or school. I was ready with the copies of those during December break ✅
- Of course, you need the most important elements of any university application handy with you - the SOP ⭐ and the Resume
- Once the necessary documents are gathered you can proceed with the application and the deadline for this programme is first week of January with the specific date provided on the site.
- The application form is a 9-step process ending with the payment of the application fee.
Interview Process
Once the application is submitted, then comes the hardest part - the WAIT. As Oxford was the only university I applied for that year, I was a bit nervous about the results. In the second week of February, I received an email inviting me for a interview process 🤓
The interview process was a half an hour call to discuss the requirements of the course, my expectations of the course and a screening of my cybersecurity capabilities and experience which fortunately went well.
Tips for the interview:
- Be authentic, approach it with a learner mindset. Remember, nobody knows the answer to everything
- An interview is a two way process, similar to how the university is screening you, you also need to ask questions to determine if it is the right fit for yourself. Make sure to clarify any doubts you have in this around
- Have a mock interview with a friend or colleague before the actual one to avoid stutter.
There are many good resources to refer for Oxford interviews on youtube you may refer those to clarify doubts and better prepare.
Registration with University
Post the interview, nearly 4 weeks later, I received the university’s acceptance and my certificate of offer with the requirements for registration. The key requirements at this stage were:
- Financial Declaration to prove that you have sufficient funding to bear the expense of the course which includes - yearly registration, fees for 10 modules, living expenses and miscellaneous expenses
- You will also receive a offer from the college you are supposed to join (Kellogg for me 😄) and a contract to be signed with the College
- The final step after all the process is the matriculation ceremony which requires you to be physically present at the university when the term starts.
Key Considerations
- The university does not provide visa for this course. So the students are either working in UK or are on a visitor visa for the entire duration you will require to be in UK to attend classes
- If you are applying from India (like me), you will need to manage and plan the funding well in advance. As the RBI does not have any educational loan under this part-time course, you will need self-funding or a personal loan. The secondary alternative is to discuss this with your employer to secure partial funding if possible
- Discuss the amount of time you would require to dedicate to the degree with your employer in advance so that you can plan your modules accordingly.
- Communicate (with someone on-course if possible) and discuss the fitment of the degree for your personal preference as it is a part-time Masters and the structure and learning goals will vary significantly from case to case basis.