This Q&A features Andrew Curtis, a secondary school Physics and Computer Science teacher who also works as a cybersecurity consultant. He’s currently studying for an online MSc in Advanced Cyber Security with King’s College London, a decision he made when he felt ready to take on a new challenge.
As cyber threats became increasingly sophisticated and organisations faced growing security demands, Andrew recognised that he needed to deepen his expertise and strengthen his formal knowledge. The King's Advanced Cyber Security MSc has given him the opportunity to build on his experience and stay ahead in a fast-moving field.
Read on to learn more about his journey.
Tell us about the moment you knew it was the right time to pursue this programme?
I reached a point in my career where I wanted a new challenge, and I recognised that cybersecurity was becoming a critical component of organisational resilience and leadership.
With the growing complexity of cyber threats and regulatory expectations, I realised I needed a deeper, formal understanding to stay effective and future ready. That was the moment I decided it was the right time to pursue this programme.
Describe your feelings right before starting your first module. What were your biggest hopes for the MSc in Advanced Cyber Security?
Before starting the first module, I felt a mix of excitement and anticipation, along with a degree of nervousness about returning to academic study after time in the workplace. My biggest hope was to gain not just theoretical knowledge, but practical insights that I could apply immediately in my role. I was also keen to broaden my strategic perspective on cybersecurity and connect with a diverse cohort of professionals.
How did you plan to manage your studies alongside your existing commitments? What was your strategy for the first few weeks?
From the outset, I approached the programme with a clear structure. I blocked out dedicated study time in my weekly schedule and treated it as a non-negotiable commitment. In the first few weeks, my focus was on building a routine, understanding the pace of the modules, engaging early with course materials, and participating in discussions to stay connected. I also prioritised planning ahead and breaking work into manageable segments to maintain consistency without becoming overwhelmed.
Can you recall a specific class, project, or interaction where you realised you were truly mastering a new skill or concept? Describe that moment.
A defining moment for me came during the Security Engineering module, specifically in the class on defences against memory errors. The content was highly technical, covering concepts such as buffer overflows, memory corruption, and mitigation techniques. Initially, it felt quite complex, but as I progressed, I found myself not only understanding the mechanisms but being able to explain how different defences like stack canaries and address space layout randomisation, worked in practice.
The real turning point was when I could confidently apply these concepts to analyse vulnerabilities and reason through how they could be exploited or prevented. It was the moment where I shifted from simply learning the material to genuinely mastering it, and it gave me a strong sense of confidence in handling deeply technical cybersecurity topics.
What was the single biggest challenge you faced during your studies, and what resources or person at the university helped you overcome it?
The biggest challenge was balancing the technical intensity of the modules with my professional responsibilities, particularly when tackling more complex topics such as low-level security concepts. Maintaining consistency and keeping up with deadlines during demanding periods at work required a high level of discipline and time management.
What helped me overcome this was the structured nature of the programme and the support available from module tutors. Their clear guidance, well-organised materials, and timely feedback made it easier to stay focused and build confidence, even when the content was challenging. In addition, engaging with peers through discussion forums provided valuable perspectives and a sense of shared experience, which helped maintain motivation throughout the programme.
Describe the first time you directly applied a concept or skill from the Advanced Cyber Security MSc to a problem in your career or daily life. What was the skill and what was the result?
My main job is teaching and some consultancy. One of the first times I applied a concept from the programme was during my cybersecurity compliance audit consultancy work. I used structured risk assessment and threat modelling techniques from the course to evaluate an organisation’s systems and identify gaps in their controls.
The key skill was being able to systematically assess vulnerabilities and clearly map them to compliance and business risk. As a result, I was able to provide more robust, evidence-based recommendations, which gave the clients greater confidence and led to more informed decision-making around their security posture
What is the lasting impact this programme will have on your community, industry, or family? What change do you now feel empowered to make?
The programme has enabled me to bridge the gap between education and real-world cybersecurity practice. As a secondary school teacher of Physics and Computer Science, I now bring more current, practical cybersecurity knowledge into the classroom, helping students better understand the importance of digital security from an early stage.
At the same time, through my consultancy work in cybersecurity compliance audits, I feel empowered to support organisations in strengthening their security practices and resilience. The lasting impact is the ability to influence both the next generation of learners and current industry practices, contributing to a more security-aware and responsible digital environment.
If you could give a prospective student some encouragement or advice about starting this journey, what would it be?
Approach the MSc in Advanced Cyber Security with commitment, curiosity, and an open mind, especially if you are coming from a non-traditional or mixed background like combining teaching with professional practice. Some of the material can be technically challenging, but that’s exactly where the real growth happens.
Build a consistent study routine early on, and don’t be discouraged if certain concepts, particularly low-level technical topics, take time to fully grasp. Stay engaged, revisit difficult areas, and actively try to apply what you’re learning in real-world contexts whether in your job or daily life. Most importantly, trust the process. The programme will steadily build your confidence and capability, and by the end, you’ll be able to engage with cybersecurity at a much deeper and more strategic level.
Thank you to Andrew for sharing his insights! His experience shows how the King’s online MSc in Advanced Cyber Security can help professionals build on their existing knowledge, develop a deeper understanding of complex security challenges, and apply what they learn directly to their work, all while studying online alongside other commitments.
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