Cyber security courses: Our guide to the best courses around the world

The need for individuals with cyber security skills is rising. In the US alone, there are approximately 700,000 unfilled cyber security jobs. Likewise, 59 percent of cyber security leaders have reported that their teams are understaffed.

In order to fill this skills gap, the new generation of cyber security professionals need to be armed with the knowledge and skills essential to protecting networks in this digital age. One way those looking to enter the cyber security sector can do this is by completing a course designed to help them navigate the ever-changing cyber security landscape.

Here, Cyber Security Hub provides a guide to cyber security courses at some of the top universities across the world. 

Contents

1. Cyber security courses in the United States
2. Cyber security courses in Europe
3. Cyber security courses in the Asia-Pacific region

Cyber security courses in the United States

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, offers a Master of Science in Information Security (MSIS) that has a technical focus on security and computer systems, which is further enriched by opportunities for research.

The MSIS program meets the criteria for the NSF-funded CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service Program, making US citizens and permanent residents eligible for a full scholarship and academic stipend.

• Course details: Master of Science in Information Security
• Topics covered: Operations system design, secure coding, cryptography, cyber security risk management
• Duration: 2 years

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

The renowned MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, offers a Professional Certificate in Cybersecurity through its MIT xPRO platform. The program is conducted completely online and is designed to accelerate students’ careers in cyber security within 24 weeks.

The curriculum includes both defensive and offensive aspects of cyber security technology. Students will get the opportunity to learn through personalized feedback, insights from guest speakers, career coaching, mentorship and the opportunity to create a capstone project on network development for a job portfolio.

The program is suitable for those who are early in their career as IT professionals, network engineers, system administrators, as well as those looking at making their start in their cyber security career.

• Course details: Professional Certificate in Cybersecurity at MIT
• Topics covered: Cyber security for critical urban infrastructure, cyber security and federal government law, incident response, penetration testing, social engineering, artificial intelligence (AI)
• Duration: 24 weeks

Stanford University

Students at Stanford University can specialize in cyber security and policy as part of the Ford Dorsey Master's in International Policy. More focused on policy than technical aspects, this specialization is guided by the university’s Cyber Policy Center and the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC).

CISAC was established 40 years ago and is the university’s hub for researchers to find solutions to international security problems.

• Course details: Cyber Policy and Security Specialization
• Topics covered: AI and the law, hacking for defence, data privacy policy and security, cryptocurrencies for blockchain technologies
• Duration: 1-2 years

Georgia Institute of Technology

The Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta offers a Master of Science in Cybersecurity both online and on campus. The online program is tailored for working professionals and is designed to be completed in two to three years. The course provides instruction in energy systems, information security, and public policy.

The interdisciplinary on-campus program examines issues surrounding the impact of information security on various aspects of life, including privacy concerns, security risks to business and government, and the impact of laws and public policy.

• Course details: Master of Science in Cybersecurity 
• Topics covered: Network security, privacy, technology, policy and law, international security, scenario writing and path gaming
• Course duration: 2-3 years, part time

University of Maryland

The University of Maryland has a Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity program that has been designed to provide engineers with skills and knowledge for both industry and government roles where they lead efforts to protect critical infrastructure.

As well as the Master of Engineering, the university has a graduate Certificate in Engineering. Both courses merge engineering applications with computer science principles, and can be studied either on campus or online.

• Course details: Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity 
• Core topics covered: Penetration testing, embedded system hacking and security, digital forensics
• Duration: 2 years

University of Texas

This interdisciplinary Master of Science in Information Security and Privacy (MSISP) covers areas such as law, public policy, communications, technology and social sciences with the aim of providing a comprehensive 360-degree perspective on information security.

Available both online and on the University of Texas Austin campus, the course is geared towards those aiming to move or advance into a management or executive role in identity security or privacy.

• Course details: Master of Science in Information Security and Privacy 
• Topics covered: Information security and privacy in society, business governance, public policy
• Duration: 21 months

Cyber security courses in Europe

ETH Zurich

Switzerland’s ETH Zurich offers a Master program in cyber security in collaboration with EPF Lausanne that aims to provide both foundational and applied knowledge in cyber security.

The course offers a broad set of courses ranging from cryptography and formal methods to systems, network, and wireless security. Students can choose a focus area in computer science as a minor to complement the program, including topics such as computer systems, information systems, machine learning, software engineering, theoretical computer science or visual computing.

• Course details: Master of Science in Cyber Security 
• Core topics covered: Cryptography, advanced machine learning, data management systems
• Duration: 2 years

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Providing both foundational and applied knowledge in cyber security, the Master of Science in Cyber Security at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, covers a broad set of courses ranging from cryptography and formal methods to systems, network and wireless security.

The program also includes mandatory courses that put cyber security in the context of ethics, law, threat actor behavior, end-user behavior and the societal consequences of cyber attacks. The course is aimed at people wishing to enter careers as chief information security officers, and cyber security architects and analysts

• Course details: KTH Royal Institute of Technology Cyber Security Program
• Topics covered: Software security, communication network security, ethical hacking, cryptography, hardware security
• Duration: 2 years

IU International University of Applied Sciences

The Master of Science in Cyber Security program at Berlin’s IU International University of Applied Sciences focuses on securing data and implementing top security procedures for systems used by businesses globally.

The course ideal for those who wish to work in roles responding to cyber incidents, as well as positions in defence and digital forensics. It is taught using a blend of online and on-campus learning and is entirely in English.

• Course details: IU International University of Applied Sciences Cyber Security Program
• Topics covered: Network forensics, cryptography, blockchain and quantum computing, IT law
• Duration: 2-4 years

University of Turku

The University of Turku in Finland has a Master that focuses on cryptography, underpinned by advanced mathematics. The course also covers cyber security technologies developed for networked systems, exploring both technological and theoretical scientific advances in the field.

The Master has been designed to equip students with skills for a career in information and communication technology, or to progress onto a Ph.D. in a related field.

• Course details: Master's Degree Programme in Information and Communication Technology: Cryptography
• Topics covered: System and network security, security of Internet-of-Things (IoT) systems, ethical hacking
• Duration: 2 years

Wrexham Glyndwr University

Wrexham Glyndwr University in England offers an MSc in cyber security that aims to deepen students' understanding of network security, penetration testing and computer forensics. Students will explore information assurance methodologies, testing operational security management, incident management, and business continuity management among other subjects.

• The course is suitable for people wanting to work as security analysts, security engineers, cryptographers and security software developers. It is taught on-campus and is available both full-time and part-time.
  
  Course details: MSc in Cyber Security 
• Topics covered: Ethical hacking, developing secure software, applied cryptography
• Duration: 1 year full time, 2 years part time

Cyber security courses in the Asia-Pacific region

University of New South Wales (UNSW)

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia has a Master of Cyber Security program, designed for students who wish to become technical experts or leaders in cyber security. There are management and leadership or security engineering specializations to choose from within the program, which is delivered entirely online.

The course also covers defence and engineering thanks to the collaboration between UNSW Canberra and the Australian Defence Force Academy.

• Course details: Master of Cyber Security
• Topics covered: Data security and privacy, cyber security ethics, penetration testing, digital forensics
• Course duration: 2 years

National University of Singapore (NUS)

The National University of Singapore (NUS) offers a Master of Computing with a specialization in Infocom Security. The course is comprehensive and covers both applied and fundamental research findings, providing in-depth knowledge of information technology to prepare students for an IT career.

Students are able to choose the structure of their curriculum: either centered around a dissertation, a project or coursework. The program can be completed either full or part time.

• Course details: Master of Computing - Infocomm Security Specialization
• Topics covered: Cryptography theory and practice, blockchain and distributed ledger technologies, biometric authentication, network security
• Course duration: 1.5 years full time, 2.5 years part time

University of Hong Kong

The multidisciplinary area of study offered by this Master of Science in Computer Science looks at state-of-the-art cyber security technology. It introduces the principles, mechanisms and implementation of cyber security and information protection, covering cyber attacks and defense.

The curriculum contains different aspects of cyber security from various perspectives, including technical, organizational, human-oriented and legal. The course is taught in English.

• Course details: Master of Science in Computer Science - Cyber Security Stream
• Topics covered: Introduction to cryptography, authentication techniques, network and internet security, malware analysis
• Duration: 2 years

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