Security for Safety-Critical Systems (SESA)

This course aims to provide you with an understanding of the interrelationships between safety and security.

Designed for flexibility, this course can be taken on a stand-alone basis for continuing professional development (CPD) or can count towards the completion of a postgraduate award.

In particular the course focuses on how security threats can develop into hazardous events and how security issues can be effectively incorporated into the safety engineering process. The module is aimed at students with knowledge of safety engineering, but little or no understanding of security. It provides a broad awareness of security principles, measures and techniques.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Identify and describe the safety implications of vulnerabilities in a system throughout the entire lifecycle.
• Describe and justify approaches to the design of secure safety related systems.
• Justify trade-offs between security and safety requirements.
• Assess the contribution of security to the safety properties of a system
• Demonstrate how to provide an assurance case for the contribution of security to the safety of a system or service.

Course delivery

This course is taught in a blended format, comprising face-to-face sessions on campus and online learning. 

Face-to-face teaching will consist of three days of on campus teaching, taking place from Tuesday to Thursday of the teaching week at the University of York. The on-campus teaching will include lectures as well as extensive group exercises where you will have the opportunity to apply what you have learned through case studies.

You will also have 15 hours of self-study to complete in your own time. This includes preparatory work to finish before your on-campus sessions – which we’ll send on Friday 14 May 2027 – as well as materials to review afterward.

Assessment

Once you complete the taught element, you can opt to complete a coursework-based assessment.

Coursework is completed remotely and is expected to take 65 hours to complete, including additional reading. The assessment is compulsory for students who require the module to be credited towards a degree award.

Progression to postgraduate awards

This module can count as credit towards the following postgraduate awards, subject to eligibility criteria. 

• Safety Critical Systems Engineering (MSc)
• Safety Critical Systems Engineering (PGDip)
• Safety Critical Systems Engineering (PGCert)

If you pursue further study, you may be eligible to credit a portion of your current course fees toward your future tuition. 

For full details, please see the terms and conditions.

Book your place

Booking for this course closes on Friday 30 April 2027.

To secure your place, please complete the two-part process below. Please also ensure you have read our terms and conditions.