1 Introduction
Based on the experience of assessing applications submitted to previous calls for the certification of Master’s degrees, it is hoped that the information in this Appendix will be of benefit to those considering submitting applications to this Call and future calls.
2 General guidance
Applicants should note that their electronic submissions will be printed and bound by GCHQ prior to being sent to members of the Assessment Panel. Thus, if electronic submissions comprise a number of files spread across several emails please label each email and file as follows:
Email – please put ‘Master’s Digital Forensics Certification application - <Name of your HEI><Email n of m>’ on the subject line
File – please ensure that each file that is sent as part of the submission is named in the order that it is to be printed: <Name of HEI><Digital Forensics><File n of m>
Experience from previous calls has shown that it is possible for a submission to comprise 3 or so emails and 6 or so files. GCHQ strongly discourages more than 10 emails and 10 files per submission since this makes the process of printing and binding increasingly complex and time consuming. For Full applications, please include electronic versions of the dissertations as part of the email
submission. It is not possible to download dissertations from external web sites. Where it is possible to do so, dissertations should be anonymised.
It is recommended that applicants begin the writing of their application early. Amongst other things, it is likely that existing material (CVs, module descriptions, etc.) will require significant tailoring in order to meet the requirements of the Call.
Applicants should also note that once printed full applications are likely to be about 300 pages (including dissertations) and provisional applications up to 80 pages. Thus, applicants should structure their application to make it easy for assessors to find the information they require. In a nutshell, applicants should signpost the information requested in the Call. In this respect, please find below some suggestions:
provide a contents list
number pages sequentially – this does not need to apply to dissertations which will already have their own numbers
use headers and footers to signpost the section of an application to which a page belongs CVs should be placed in an appendix to section 2
module descriptions should be placed in an appendix to section 3 examination papers should be placed in an appendix to section 4
This information is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and may be subject to exemptions under other UK information legislation. Refer disclosure requests to GCHQ on 01242 221491 x30306, email
because of their length, original research dissertations are best placed in an appendix at the end of the application
3 Changes from previous call documents
Applicants are advised to check the table in section 4 (page 8) which highlights changes and updates to application requirements.
4 Specific guidance
4.1 Layout
It is advised to structure applications with sub-headings such that text clearly follows the structure of the Call document, for example:
Section 2: Description of the applicant
o 2a: Structure of team delivering the Master’s o 2b: Recent investments
o 2c: External linkages
o 2d: Review and update process o 2e: Facilities
o 2f: CVs
4.2 Page limits and additional information
Applicants should bear the following points in mind:
do not exceed the page limits set for the individual sections of applications and information such as CVs
do not include information that has not been asked for – e.g., examples of coursework submitted by Master’s students or undergraduate project reports
4.3 HEI’s letter of support
The letter of support is not scored and as long as it is present that is sufficient. However, applicants may want to consider using it as an opportunity for the HEI’s senior management to:
demonstrate commitment to the Master’s programme specifically and cyber security more generally
highlight recent HEI investment in the area and any future planned investment describe the importance of the area in the HEI’s future strategy
4.4 Section 3 of application
A key aspect of section 3 is for applicants to demonstrate to the Assessment Panel that their Master’s degree meets the requirements for coverage. This requires tables 3.1 and 3.2 to identify which Subject Areas modules cover and which modules cover which Core Topics. Amongst other things, Assessment Panel members have to determine whether the module descriptions are consistent with the information provided in the Tables.
It is advised that applicants make it as easy as possible for Assessment Panel members to get at the information they require by, for example, providing very clear descriptions of what is covered in modules. In this respect, it may be advisable to tailor the text in the module descriptions so it meets the needs of the Call rather than re-using existing material. In each of the module descriptions, applicants should list the Core Topics and Other Indicative Topics that a module covers. However, it is inadvisable to make claims for coverage that are not backed up by evidence in the module descriptions.
4.5 CVs
CVs must not exceed 2 pages. Use the space available wisely to signpost the experience and expertise of an individual in Digital Forensics and cyber security. For example, using a significant proportion of the 2 pages to list publications that are not relevant to Digital Forensics and cyber security is not advised. Applicants may want to consider having a standard template for all the CVs in their application to ensure that experience and expertise are highlighted clearly and consistently across the team.