Course Overview
The online Master of Cyber Security at UNSW.
Cybercrime is on the rise, with Australians reporting cyber security incidents every 10 minutes, and costing businesses $29 billion each year¹. Consequently, there’s an increased demand for cyber security specialists to develop systems that offer safety and security for businesses and everyday Australians who are reliant on digital platforms. The industry is expected to almost triple in size by 2026² and requires an estimated 16,600 additional professionals in both technical and non-technical cyber security positions³.
The Cyber Security program is designed for ambitious professionals who want to become technical experts or leaders and leverage lucrative career opportunities within the field of cyber. The skills you develop in this program will help you provide safe and secure online experiences, often to some of the most vulnerable online users. Select from either the Management and Leadership specialisation or Security Engineering specialisation within this program to further develop your expertise and diversify your career options.
¹Agilient, 2019 ²AustCyber, Meeting Demand for Cyber Security Expertise, 2018 ³AustCyber, Sector Competitiveness Plan, 2019
Job Outcomes
Potential career outcomes could include:
- Security Consultant
- Cyber Security Officer
- Information Security Analyst
- Security System Manager
- Information Security Auditor
- IT Security Engineer
- Chief Information Security Officer
- Head of Cyber Security
- Head of Cyber Defence
- Cyber Security Executive
- Data and Cyber Security lead
What You'll Learn
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 only two years without taking time out of the workforce
FOUNDATION COURSES
- Foundations of Cyber Security
- Data Security and Privacy
- Cyber Security Ethics
- Principles of Security Engineering
SPECIALISATION, GENERAL AND FREE ELECTIVE COURSES
Specialisation electives
Management and Leadership
- Cyber Operations
- Cyber and the Law
- Cyber Management and Governance
- Cyber Threats and Crime
Security Engineering
- Cloud Security
- Penetration Testing
- Advanced Penetration Testing
- Reverse Engineering
- Digital Forensics
General electives
- Cyber Risk & Resilience
- Fundamentals of Coding: C and Assembler
- Operation Systems Fundamentals
Free electives
- The remaining two free electives may be chosen from any course in any stream offered in the program (subject to prerequisites being met), or any other approved electives from outside the program.
Prerequisite courses
The following courses have prerequisites:
- Penetration Testing is a prerequisite for Advanced Penetration Testing
- Fundamentals of coding: C and Assembler is a prerequisite for Reverse Engineering
- Operation Systems Fundamentals is a prerequisite for Digital Forensics
SPECIALISATION CAPSTONE
Choose either:
- Management and Leadership Capstone
- Security Engineering Capstone
Study Method
- OnlineOnline delivery - online course content with the exception of assessments and work placement
- BlendedBlended delivery - both online course content and partial face to face requirements
- In-classIn class delivery - predominately face to face course content conducted at a specific location
- VirtualVirtual Delivery - Live and interactive classroom-style learning conducted completely online
Duration and Study Load
- 2 years
Entry Requirements
There are two specialisations to choose from in this program – Management and Leadership or Security Engineering. Please refer to your chosen specialisation to find out more about the entry requirements.
MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP
- Have completed a Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security with a 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) in a cognate discipline (e.g. Engineering, 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 Management and Leadership 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, Electronics Technician, Project Manager, Executive Officer, Technical Manager, Analyst
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) 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, Electronics Technician, Project Manager, Executive Officer, Technical Manager, Analyst, Systems Administrator, Network or Telecommunications Engineer
About University of New South Wales (Online)
Study 100% Online with UNSW. A World Leader.
UNSW is a globally recognised leader in education, with a focus on industry applicable programs. When you study online with UNSW, you can expect to learn from world-class academics and collaborate with ambitious, like-minded individuals.
Study at Australia’s Global University. Anywhere, anytime.
Studying online at UNSW means that you have the flexibility to shape your studies to fit your life and career goals. The programs have been designed with busy working professionals in mind so you can study one course at a time, 100% online & accelerated, whilst working full-time.
Designed by Industry for Industry.
The UNSW online programs have been developed in close consultation with industry experts equipping you with applicable and career-related skills. UNSW is ranked in the top 3 universities in Australia for graduate employability, and is 27th in the world (QS University World Rankings by Graduate Employability, 2020) with each program offering advanced disciplinary depth, giving you access to the latest thinking and current research.