Duration

2 years

Courses

12 courses

Study intakes

January, March, May, July, Sept and October

Study mode

100% Online

Program code

8649

Completion time dependent on individual study path, RPL, leave and course availability. Please speak to a Student Advisor for more information.

What you will study

The Cyber Security program will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of both the current state of, and future directions of cyber security. You’ll gain the immediately applicable advanced knowledge and technical skills to securely identify, manage, and respond to privacy risks across large datasets, and current best practice in a changing global environment.

The program is offered 100% online and accelerated, meaning you can study anywhere at any time, and graduate in as little as 2 years without taking time out of the workforce.

“It's about seeing problems and solving them using a mix of lateral thinking, innate curiosity and an enthusiasm for technology. Above all, engineering is about wanting to make a better and safer world. Our students and graduates are among the best and taught by experts.”
— Professor Richard Buckland

To find out more about each course download the program guide

Career pathways

Looking to expand your career opportunities in a booming industry? The online Master of Cyber Security from UNSW will equip you with the specialist skills to become a technical expert or leader in cyber security.

Download your program guide to find out more about how the Master of Cyber Security can align with your career aspirations to prepare you for a successful and diverse career.

Download guide

A Master of Cyber Security from UNSW will expand your career opportunities on a global and domestic level. You may pursue roles such as:

The UNSW Online experience

We are here to support you, every step of the way, to graduate from one of the world’s leading universities. Our online learning environment has been designed to seamlessly fit into your already busy schedule and you’ll be able to access course resources on any device, at any time.

Our academics are some of the best in the world and, even though you’re studying online, you can expect your learning experience to be the same high standard as that of our on-campus students.

Throughout your study journey, you will be able to turn to your Student Success Advisor, who is committed to assisting you from enrolment through to graduation. They are on-hand for all non-academic queries by phone or email.

You will also have access to Career Success – a curated, self-paced module that provides a framework for thinking about, and taking action to implement, an effective career plan. Through Career Success, you will have access to tools like Career AI (powered by VMock) and CaseCoach, and guides on crafting the perfect LinkedIn profile, resume, and cover letter.

CORE COURSES

You must complete the following 4 courses (24 Units of Credit).

Foundations of Cyber Security
Data Security and Privacy
Cyber Security Ethics
Principles of Security Engineering

SECURITY MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP SPECIALISATION

Specialisation core courses

You must complete at least 4 courses (24 Units of Credit) from the below list:

Cyber Operations
Cyber Risk and Resilience
Cyber Management and Governance
Cyber Threats and Crime
Cyber and the Law

Electives

You may take up to 3 courses (18 Units of Credit) from the below list:

Advanced Penetration Testing
Cloud Security
Digital Forensics
Penetration Testing
Reverse Engineering
Fundamentals of Coding: C and Assembler
Operating System Fundamentals for Security

Non-domain electives

With permission from the Program Convenor, you may substitute one elective with any other postgraduate course offered in one of the UNSW Online Programs.

Specialisation capstone

You must take 6 Units of Credit of the following course.

Management and Leadership Capstone

SECURITY ENGINEERING SPECIALISATION

Specialisation core courses

You must complete at least 4 courses (24 Units of Credit) from the below list:

Cyber Operations
Digital Forensics
Advanced Penetration Testing
Penetration Testing
Cloud Security
Reverse Engineering

Electives

You may take up to 3 courses (18 Units of Credit) from the below list:

Cyber Risk and Resilience
Cyber Management and Governance
Cyber Threats and Crime
Cyber and the Law
Fundamentals of Coding: C and Assembler
Operating System Fundamentals for Security

Non-domain electives

With permission from the Program Convenor, you may substitute one elective with any other postgraduate course offered in one of the UNSW Online Programs.

Specialisation capstone

You must take 6 Units of Credit of the following course.

Security Engineering Capstone

Entry requirements

There are two specialisations to choose from in this program - Security Management and Leadership or Security Engineering. Please refer to your chosen specialisation to find out more about the entry requirements.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place. Study plans and completion times might vary depending on elective choice, RPL, leave and subject availability. For more information, speak with a Student Advisor.

Security Management and Leadership

Have completed a Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security with a WAM of 65 or greater as determined by the UNSW Postgraduate Coursework Entry Score Calculator or no fails. OR
Have completed the Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security. OR
Have completed a recognised bachelors degree (or equivalent higher level education) in a cognate discipline (e.g. Business, Science, Leadership, Policy) with a WAM of 65 or greater as determined by the UNSW Postgraduate Coursework Entry Score Calculator. OR
Four years of relevant experience* with demonstrated skills and ability in leadership.
*Relevant experience for the Security Management and Leadership specialisation includes, but is not limited to, the following roles: Business Strategy, HR Management, Change Management, Project Management, or Policy and Leadership.

Security Engineering

Have completed a Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security with a WAM of 65 or greater as determined by the UNSW Postgraduate Coursework Entry Score Calculator or no fails. OR
Have completed the Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security. OR
Have completed a recognised bachelors degree (or equivalent higher level education) in a cognate discipline (e.g. Computer Science, Science or Engineering or a degree containing considerable mathematics and/or statistics courses) with a WAM of 65 or greater as determined by the UNSW Postgraduate Coursework Entry Score Calculator. OR
Four years of relevant experience* with demonstrated skills and ability in leadership.
*Relevant experience for the Security Engineering specialisation includes, but is not limited to, the following roles: Business Systems Analyst, Front End Developer, Application Coder, Game Designer, Cyber Security Analyst, Software Developer, Consultant in Risk or Business, Penetration Tester, Security Team Manager, Digital Forensics Specialist, Cyber Security Change and Awareness Manager, Cyber Security Outreach Trainer, Private Investigator, Specialist Police and Military roles, Financial Analyst, Forensic Accountant, Computer Systems or Information Auditor, Data Privacy and Electronics Technician.