Cybersecurity
In recent years, cybersecurity has become a pervading requirement for all computer systems in a modern and digitalised society. The specialisation in Cybersecurity will teach you to protect digital systems and data against cybercrime by working with security in the overall system. This includes everything from the development of software to safe management and operation of finished systems.
You will work on specifying security requirements, defining security architectures and validating the security properties of systems through analytical or empirical methods – for example pentests (ethical hacking), which are simulated cyber-attacks on digital systems.
As a graduate MSc in Engineering with specialisation in Cybersecurity, you will have an important role in fighting cyber espionage and cybercrime. This may be as a manager, architect or developer of security-critical IT systems, network security specialist, penetration tester or as a forensics investigator.
Structure
Structure
Schedule for Winter Start
The following is an example of a specialisation in Cybersecurity: 20 ECTS mandatory courses, 35 ECTS specialisation (the mandatory course Security & Privacy is included in the specialisation), thus 35 ECTS elective courses and 30 ECTS master thesis.
| 1(S) | Systems Engineering | Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Identity & Access Management | Security in the Cloud | Data Protection & Privacy | Governance, Risk & Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2(F) | Research Methodology | Security & Privacy | Communication & Network Security | Elective | Software Security | Ethical Hacking |
| 3(S) | Elective | Elective | Elective | Elective | Elective | Elective |
| 4(F) | Master Thesis | |||||
Schedule for Summer Start
The following is an example of a specialisation in Cybersecurity: 20 ECTS mandatory courses, 35 ECTS specialisation (the mandatory course Security & Privacy is included in the specialisation), thus 35 ECTS elective courses and 30 ECTS master thesis.
| 1(F) | Research Methodology | Security & Privacy | Communication & Network Security | Elective | Software Security | Ethical Hacking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2(S) | Systems Engineering | Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Engineering | Identity & Access Management | Security in the Cloud | Data Protection & Privacy | Governance, Risk & Compliance |
| 3(F) | Elective | Elective | Elective | Elective | Elective | Elective |
| 4(S) | Master Thesis | |||||
Specialisation electives
Specialisation electives
The specialisation defines four core specialisation courses (20 ECTS in total) and several specialisation elective courses from which you must select 20 ECTS.
Specialisation Study Contract Recommendations
In addition to the core specialisation courses, students who are interested in secure software development are recommended to include the following electives in their study contract: Logic for Security, System Security and Data Protection & Privacy.
Students who are more interested in management of secure enterprise systems and networks, are recommended to include the following electives in their study contract: Security Risk Management, Governance, Risk & Compliance and Security Incident Response (spring 2027).
Finally, students who aspire to roles in security consultancies or authorities focusing on penetration testing and computer forensics, are recommended to include the following electives in their study contract: Ethical Hacking and Digital Forensics & Investigations.
Spring
| Course Specialisation Type | Course Title | ECTS | Semester | Level |
| Core course | Identity & Access Management | 5 | Spring | I |
| Specialisation Elective | Security in the Cloud | 5 | Spring | I |
| Specialisation Elective | Systems Security | 5 | Spring | II |
| Specialisation Elective | Data Protection & Privacy | 5 | Spring | II |
| Specialisation Elective | Governance, Risk & Compliance | 5 | Spring | II |
Fall
| Course Specialisation Type | Course Title | ECTS | Semester | Level |
| Core course | Security & Privacy | 5 | Autumn | I |
| Core course | Communication & Network Security | 5 | Autumn | I |
| Core course | Software Security | 5 | Autumn | I |
| Specialisation Elective | Logic for Security | 5 | Autumn | II |
| Specialisation Elective | Ethical Hacking | 5 | Autumn | II |
| Specialisation Elective | Digital Forensics & Investigations | 5 | Autumn | II |
| Specialisation Elective | Security Risk Management (autumn 2027) | 5 | Autumn | II |