When unknown people hack into computer systems or commit other crimes on the net or in IT systems, the consequences are serious. Where digital traces can be found, how crimes related to computers, electronic devices, personal data or the Internet can be solved and how data can be recovered can all be learned at the Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) starting in the fall.

That's because at the Cyber Management Campus in Mönchengladbach (CMC MG), interested students will be able to study digital forensics for the first time starting this winter semester. The application phase starts on May 1st and runs until September 15th. The admission-free Bachelor's Degree programme can be completed on a full-time (six semesters) or part-time (eight semesters) basis. This means, for example, that police officers who are already on duty have the opportunity to continue their education in this field on a career-integrated basis.

"Digital Forensics" is designed to provide students with a solid foundation course in IT, cybersecurity and criminalistics to forensically examine digital evidence, solve crimes and protect against future cyberattacks. It is designed for anyone who enjoys computer science and IT systems and uses analytical, logical thinking to solve tricky problems.

With the introduction to this innovative and practical Degree programme, HSNR is responding to a noticeable trend: cybercrime has increased significantly, and the attack surface will become even larger as digitalization continues.

Cyber defense specialists are needed to solve such crimes, which are committed using information technology. But the market for IT security specialists is virtually empty. The job prospects are therefore excellent after graduation from the "Digital Forensics" degree program. For example, graduates can work for law enforcement agencies that investigate cyber attacks on government agencies, companies and the like and need IT forensics experts to provide evidence that can be used in court. In addition, they can become self-employed as computer scientists who advise on the creation of secure IT systems, as incident experts at insurance companies or banks, or as IT forensic experts or investigators who support cybercrime companies and investigative authorities.

The Degree programme is a new offering at CMC MG in Mönchengladbach's Monforts Quartier and is designed in cooperation with the Rhine-Bonn-Sieg University of Applied Sciences (HBRS) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics (FKIE).

A Bachelor's and a Master's Degree programme in Cyber Security Management have already been introduced at CMC MG. Here, students learn how to minimize risks, increase IT security and prevent attacks. In the Bachelor's Digital Forensics program, they learn above all what to do when criminals have already struck and how companies and organizations can best protect themselves in the future.

"The brand-new Degree programme 'Digital Forensics' is developed together with cybercrime professionals. This means that even during the academic apprenticeship you can 'follow the trail in cyberspace'. And for the sought-after security experts, the subsequent professional activity is not only exciting, but also very well paid," says Thomas Meuser from the management team of CMC MG.

The modules of the Degree programme deal, among other things, with Internet technologies, the search for traces in PCs or mobile devices, open source intelligence, evaluation of often encrypted data carriers, criminalistics or the ethical and human aspects of information technology.

More information and registration at www.hsnr.de/digitale-forensik

Facts at a glance:

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Type of degree programme: Full-time (6 semesters) or part-time (8 semesters, usually two online/present days per week)

Place of study : Mönchengladbach

Language of instruction: German

Starting semester: winter semester only

Start of lectures: mid-September

Application period: May 1st to September 15th. For applicants who have acquired their higher education entrance qualification in a non-EU country, from May 1st to August 15th.

Admission requirements: no/no NC

Higher education entrance qualification: Higher education entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences, Abitur, higher education entrance qualification acquired abroad, other previous education recognized as equivalent.

Full-time structure:

• Subject-specific basic studies (semester 1 + 2)
• application-oriented expert studies in digital forensics (semester 3 + 4)
• individual in-depth semester (semester 5, also possible abroad at partner universities of HSNR and HBRS)
• Practical phase including Bachelor's thesis (semester 6)