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Masters of Cyber Security Online in Australia

Choose the cyber security masters program that's ideal for you. Universities in Australia offer a good selection of online degrees. Specialise in analysis, business, management, security engineering or technology.
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An online Master of Cyber Security program consists of 12-16 subjects and can be completed in two years of part-time study. The courses are designed for working professionals. Here's a selection of the best online masters degrees in Australia.

Specialisations

Expand Your High-Salary Job Options

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To say there's an undersupply of cyber security expertise would be an understatement. Globally and including Australia, unmet demand is reflected in thousands of advertisements for vacant specialist jobs. We don't have enough qualified people for an industry projected to grow at 12% annually out to 2030.

A Masters in Cyber Security is worth it not to just get a job but to get the type of job you want. The skills and qualification you gain put you in a position to select from a large set of different, high-paying roles. You're better placed to do the kind of work you're most interested in.

And that ambition is supported by the university degrees available in Australia. You can choose from different specialisations, with varying levels of technical demands and for distinct roles. Choose a cyber security course to best achieve your career goals.

Cyber Security Analysis

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Cybersecurity analysis is a major part of the industry. The job of a cybersecurity analyst is to protect a company's network, hardware and software from internal and external cyber threats. Data analysis, network monitoring and security configuration are some of skills required. You can train for this and other cybersecurity roles with a masters in cyber security analysis.

ECU Master of Cyber Security

The Master of Cyber Security course at Edith Cowan University offers a Technical Analysis specialisation. Students explore topics such as digital forensics, network security, networking technologies, data analysis and visualisation, and incident detection and response. The 100% online program is accelerated, allowing you to earn your masters over 24 months of part-time study. You're eligible if you have a bachelor degree (any discipline) or 5+ years of relevant experience.

Cyber Security Engineering

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Cybersecurity engineers are among the most sought-after technology professionals. They provide advanced technical skills to: troubleshoot cybersecurity problems, perform penetration testing, and design stronger systems to protect networks and data. You can launch or boost your career in this field with a cyber security master's degree in which you major in security engineering.

Master of Cyber Security at UNSW Online

The 100% online Master of Cyber Security from UNSW is a comprehensive program that allows for both managerial and technical training. In the Security Engineering specialisation, you study cloud security, penetration testing, advanced penetration testing, digital forensics, and reverse engineering. The skills you develop in this program will help leverage lucrative career opportunities in cybersecurity engineering. The 12 subjects, including core subjects and electives, are taken one at a time in 8-week blocks, allowing you to finish inside 2 years while working full-time.

Cyber Security Management

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Achieving strong cybersecurity relies on good management or governance from IT and business managers. You can build skills in this area with a masters in cyber security management. Online programs balance general security subjects with management-specific content on topics such as privacy laws, ethics and principles, enterprise risk and operations management.

University of Adelaide Master of Cyber Security

To be a trusted, capable and high-impact cyber security leader, you need to master both the technical and managerial aspects that underpin safe digital environments. The University of Adelaide's online Master of Cyber Security covers both the technical and managerial skills you’ll need to forge your own career path. Topics include handling business data, secure programming, human-centred security, applied privacy, and business information systems. The 12 subjects that make up the part-time program are delivered individually within six week teaching periods – with at least a two-week break in between.

ECU Master of Cyber Security

You can become a highly qualified cyber security manager with Edith Cowan University's Master of Cyber Security. The 100% online, 12-unit program offers a Governance study stream and is well connected to industry. Students typically study part-time while working full-time, completing a subject every 2 months. Topics include cyberspace governance, digital forensics, network security, project management, security ethics, and cyberspace law and policy. The exam-free masters is open to university graduates (any discipline) and experienced professionals. The degree has Cybersecurity Professional accreditation with the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Master of Cyber Security at UNSW Online

The 100% online Master of Cyber Security program from UNSW is deep and thorough, providing managerial as well as technical instruction. The cyber security skills you develop will help create exciting career opportunities in cybersecurity governance. Your program will consist of 4 core subjects, 4 subjects in your specialisation, and 4 electives. Topics in the Management specialisation include cyber operations, cyber laws, security threats and crime, and cybersecurity management and governance. You can finish in 2 years while working full time with an accelerated learning model.

Technology Management

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If you're a manager and want to learn about information technology beyond cyber security, a Master of Technology Management (MTM) may be ideal. The degree is flexible, allowing you to choose electives to match your learning preferences. You can gain a strong education in cyber security while also covering related topics such as data management or information systems.

UTS Online Master of Technology Management

The UTS Online Master of Technology Management is for future-focused professionals. Build analytical, communication and leadership skills to manage technology-driven activities. In the Cybersecurity Management specialisation, you study data ethics and regulation, cybersecurity analytics, visual data analytics, and cybersecurity management. What you study in the rest of the technology program is up to you, with a wide range of electives available in fields such as AI, machine learning, databases, and digital strategy. The 100% online course is compatible with full-time work.

UTS Online Executive Master of Technology Management

The UTS Online Executive Master of Technology Management is for professionals wanting to push their career up a level. The course offers an accelerated pathway if you have a technical degree and extensive, relevant work experience. Earn an executive masters by completing 8 subjects, compared to the usual 12 for a masters degree in Australia. A large set of technology management subjects is available to choose electives from, including in cybersecurity management. This course enables you to work full-time while building technology management skills.

What You'll Study (Course Structure)

Masters programs are quite comprehensive, consisting of 12 subjects that include overview and foundation topics. But you can also go deep into an area of specialisation, such as security engineering, technical analysis, governance, or management and leadership.

To illustrate course structure, here are example subject lists from three university programs. Further core subjects and electives are generally available.

Edith Cowan University

  • Cyber Security
  • Digital Forensics
  • Ethical Hacking and Defence
  • Network Security
  • Networking Technologies
  • Scripting Languages

Specialisations: Technical Analysis, Governance

UNSW Online

  • Cloud Security
  • Cyber and the Law
  • Cyber Security Ethics
  • Data Security and Privacy
  • Foundations of Cyber Security
  • Principles of Security Engineering

Specialisations: Management & Leadership, Security Engineering

University of Adelaide

  • Applied Privacy
  • Business Data and Cyber Security
  • Cyber Security Fundamentals
  • Human-Centred Security
  • Information Risks and Controls
  • Introduction to System Security

Each student does an industry-based cyber security research project.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes from a cybersecurity masters depend on the orientation of the program, whether its towards technical analysis, software engineering, governance, or leadership and management. You should at least come away within strong contemporary knowledge and skills in your area of expertise. Common learning outcomes include the ability to do the following.

  1. Identify vulnerabilities and threats to assets, along with countermeasures.
  2. Analyse and make recommendations on issues of privacy, surveillance, and information misuse.
  3. Investigate different types of network and system attacks, including defensive measures.
  4. Design a secure network to guard against cyber crime and contemporary cyber attacks.
  5. Create and apply innovative cyber security solutions for businesses, government and individuals.
  6. Document response strategies for various types of cybersecurity incidents.
  7. Communicate policies and procedures on cyber governance to stakeholders in an organisation.

Career Opportunities

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A Masters in Cyber Security is a strong qualification that puts you in the frame for many potential career paths. Jobs for cyber professionals have titles such as cyber security manager, cyber security analyst, security advisor, secure systems engineer, cyber security specialist, security consultant, and so forth.

Employment projections for the industry are extremely promising. In Australia, jobs for Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists are projected to expand by 39% to 104,000 over the 5 years to 2027.

The website cybersecurityeducation.org lists different career streams: Security Specialist · Incident Responder · Security Administrator · Vulnerability Assessor · Cryptographer · Security Manager · Security Architect · Chief Information Security Officer · Security Analyst · Security Auditor · Security Director · Forensic Expert · Penetration Tester · Security Consultant · Security Engineer · Source Code Auditor.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements vary by university. But you can access most programs if you have an IT-related degree OR significant professional experience in cyber security or a related field. Embedded graduate certificate courses often offer easier pathways into the programs.

Here are examples of course admission requirements. Enquire for further details.

Cyber security threat protection

Is Cyber Security Hard? How Hard?

While cyber security can require technical learning and be a demanding job, it’s not substantially harder than other courses or career paths.

FAQs

† Online courses are available in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Gold Coast, Newcastle. Australia Wide.