Master of Science in Cyber Security

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Credit Course

180

Duration

12 months

Fees

12 500 Euros (non-subject to VAT)

Study mode

Full-time or part-time

Introduction

The Master of Science in Cyber Security prepares students to analyse, manage, and respond to complex cybersecurity risks across technical, organisational, legal, and strategic environments. The programme combines advanced academic study with applied laboratories, threat intelligence, digital forensics, ethical hacking, risk management, policy, compliance automation, war gaming, professional practice, and independent research.

Designed for emerging and experienced cybersecurity professionals, the curriculum develops the ability to connect technical evidence with governance and decision-making. Students examine contemporary challenges including artificial intelligence ethics, post-quantum cryptography, automated compliance, cyber conflict, and threat decision science while strengthening the research and professional skills required for leadership in a rapidly changing security environment.

Objective of the programme

Apply advanced cybersecurity concepts to complex systems, organisations, and threat environments.
Design and evaluate network security strategies using defence-in-depth, secure architecture, monitoring, and resilience principles.
Conduct digital forensic examinations and manage incident response activities using defensible methods and documented evidence.
Evaluate cyber law, privacy, governance, and artificial intelligence ethics in domestic and international contexts.
Apply the DTM 101, 201, and 301 progression to information assurance, risk assessment, and risk-informed decision-making.
Assess cryptographic controls and plan for post-quantum cryptography migration and crypto-agility.
Produce advanced cyber threat intelligence that supports operational, organisational, and strategic decisions.
Plan and conduct authorised ethical hacking and penetration testing, then communicate findings and remediation priorities.
Develop cybersecurity policy and use compliance automation to monitor, evidence, and improve control performance.
Use AEGIS-DTM cyber war gaming and threat decision science to evaluate scenarios, competing courses of action, and uncertainty.
Demonstrate professional competence through a supervised practicum or internship.
Design and complete an independent cybersecurity research capstone using appropriate scholarly and applied methods.

Syllabus Overview

Students complete twelve courses over the programme. The structure integrates taught study, applied exercises, practical work, professional experience, and a substantial research capstone.

Code	Course title	ECTS*	Course focus
CLA500	Advanced Concepts in Cybersecurity	12	Advanced security principles, evolving attack surfaces, security architecture, resilience, and the integration of technical and organisational controls.
CLA501	Introduction to Network Security Strategies	12	Network defence strategy, secure design, segmentation, monitoring, access control, vulnerability reduction, and response planning.
CLA502	Digital Forensics and Incident Response	12	Forensic readiness, evidence handling, acquisition and analysis, incident coordination, containment, recovery, reporting, and lessons learned.
CLA503	Cyber Law & AI Ethics	12	Cyber law, privacy, jurisdiction, accountability, responsible AI, bias, transparency, and ethical decision-making in security practice.
CLA504	Advanced Information Assurance and Risk Management (DTM 101, 201, 301)	12	Progressive application of DTM concepts to information assurance, risk identification, assessment, prioritisation, treatment, and executive decision support.
CLA505	Cryptography and Network Security: Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)	12	Modern cryptography, network protection, quantum-era risks, PQC concepts, crypto-agility, inventory, migration planning, and implementation considerations.
CLA506	Advanced Cyber Threat Intelligence	12	Intelligence requirements, collection, analysis, attribution limits, indicators and behaviours, structured analytic methods, and decision-focused reporting.
CLA507	Advanced Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing	12	Authorised testing methodology, reconnaissance, exploitation, validation, reporting, remediation, and professional and legal boundaries.
CLA508	Advanced Cyber Security Policy and Compliance Automation	12	Policy design, control frameworks, continuous monitoring, evidence collection, automated compliance workflows, governance, and audit readiness.
CLA509	AEGIS-DTM Cyber War Gaming & Threat Decision Science	12	Scenario design, adversary modelling, strategic cyber exercises, threat scoring, uncertainty, decision analysis, and after-action learning.
CLA510	Practicum / Internship	15	Supervised professional experience applying programme competencies to an approved cybersecurity setting, project, or operational problem.
CLA511	Cybersecurity Research Capstone	45	Independent research or applied inquiry culminating in a substantial, evidence-based capstone project and formal presentation or defence.

* Proposed ECTS allocation for institutional approval. Total: 180 ECTS.

Details

Teaching and Learning Approaches

Passing grades and equal