No broken windows. No fingerprints. Just a digital trail, and you're the one to follow it. Become a specialist in detecting crime in a world where the clues are on screen, not at the physical crime scene.
Modern crime often leaves no visible trace, no signs of forced entry or bloodstains. Instead, the evidence is found in server logs, emails, cloud storage, and mobile phones. Sometimes, the signs point to a crime already committed, but often, you're reacting in real time to threats still unfolding. How do you uncover what really happened and who was behind it, when all that remains are digital traces? How do you put the suspect behind the keyboard?
The answer lies in the cross-over between technology, psychology and the rule of law. This is where you come in.
Be the First to Detect and the One to Reveal the Truth
Always follow the evidence as it does not lie, unlike criminals do.
- A ransomware attack prevents a hospital from treating patients in the middle of the night. Who detects it? Who will get all systems up?, says Veronica Schmitt, Programme Leader for Digital Forensics and Incident Response at Noroff University College.
The programme for those who want to use technology to understand and fight crime
The bachelor's degree in Digital Forensics and Incident Response at Noroff University College is for those who are curious about people and motives, but who also like systems, security and details. You learn to work as both a digital investigator and a front-line incident responder – someone who not only pieces together past events, but who can also act swiftly to detect and contain live attacks.
Interested in criminology? Consider this hands-on alternative
Many students interested in criminology, the study of crime, behaviour and justice, are also drawn to digital forensics. While criminology offers a deep understanding of theory and motive, digital forensics and incident response applies that knowledge through technology and action. This programme is ideal if you want to work directly with evidence, stop threats as they happen, and play a role in securing the digital world.
Following the Digital Trail to the Truth
The teaching is practical and close to reality. Among other things, you will learn to:
- Secure and analyze data from computers, mobile phones and networks
- Rebuild digital sequences of events: What happened, when, how – and by whom?
- Document findings in a way that stands up to judicial scrutiny
- Understand human behaviour in digital spaces – and how this can reveal motives
- Detect and respond to ongoing threats, including malware, phishing, and ransomware attacks
Not only technology, but also ethics and the rule of law
Digital investigators and incident responders make decisions that can have serious consequences. That’s why the programme builds your understanding of ethical judgment, data protection, and legal frameworks, ensuring you’re prepared to make the right choices, even under pressure.
- We educate professionals who can not only expose crime, but also protect the rule of law, says Emlyn Butterfield, rector of Noroff University College.
When the Attack is Happening Now
Sometimes, your job isn’t just to find out what happened, it’s to stop it as it’s happening. That’s where Incident Response comes in. You’ll learn how to detect and contain digital attacks, minimise damage, and restore systems safely and quickly.
From ransomware to backdoor attacks, incident responders are the front-line defence against digital chaos. You'll gain skills in threat detection, response planning, and communication during high-stakes events, vital for organisations that rely on digital infrastructure.
Job Opportunities in a Growing Field
After graduation, you are qualified to begin looking at exciting jobs such as:
- Police and intelligence services
- Private cybersecurity companies
- Public agencies with their own security departments
- Large enterprises that need to protect data and infrastructure
- Security Operations Centres (SOCs)
- Incident response teams in the public or private sector
- Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service providers
This is a rapidly growing field, and the demand for qualified digital investigators is only increasing.
Is this programme for you?
If you recognize yourself in one or more of these statements, this may be your path:
- You will work with crime, but not necessarily in a police uniform
- You like to find out what really happened
- You want to respond to digital threats as they happen – and help organisations stay safe
- You have technological curiosity, but want to use it for something important
- You want a job where you actually make a difference
An education for the future
Crime will always exist. But the way it is carried out, and discovered, is changing. We need people who can keep up with developments. With this education, you will be one of them.