Cybersecurity

The Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity comprises of the first 4 modules in the MSc in Cybersecurity, preparing students for a managerial and leadership career in cybersecurity. Over a period of 2 semesters (9 months) it offers a grounding in Information Security, Leadership In Security, Risk Assessment & Security Standards and Cybersecurity Law and Regulation. Students may continue on in the programme to Graduate Diploma or MSc awards or exit the programme with a Graduate Certificate.

The Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity will attract managers from industry, semi-state and public bodies who need an overview of cybersecurity risks and roles to ensure they adopt the right strategies and have appropriate resources.

This programme is designed to prepare IT professionals for a managerial or technical career in cybersecurity. It will be of value to people working in project/product/systems management, or as software developers or software engineers, as well as those in incident response, tech support or networking, who are looking to move into cybersecurity.

It is designed to help companies, government and state institutions, defence forces and others to upskill their staff to fill new roles in cyber security so that they can protect their organisations, their customers and the public.

It facilitates professional learners through flexible blended study options. Lectures are delivered online and complemented by occasional full-day workshops on campus, with a remote option for those who cannot attend in person. The combination of mainly distance but with some on-campus days allows flexible learning but with face-to-face interactions.

In developing the programme we have collaborated with industry and law enforcement practitioners – in particular the Leadership in Security module – to ensure that the programme meets the needs of professional learners.

Those taking the MSc programme have the option of undertaking a significant piece of research.

The curriculum is aligned with the ACM/IEEE/AIS SIGSEC/IFIP Cybersecurity Curricular Guidelines so that it will prepare students to take a variety of cyber security roles, including some modules for professionals seeking a managerial role in security.

Flexible study options for professional learners
The programme is designed to facilitate professional learners through flexible blended study. Lectures will be delivered online and will be complemented by face-to-face, intensive full-day tutorials that will typically be delivered at the start, middle and end of each semester. The combination of mainly distance but with some on-campus days allows flexible learning but with face-to-face interactions.

The online portion of study consists of an engaging mixture of videos, assignments, quizzes and tutorials. In addition to making the study materials available, lecturers will answer student queries through the course discussion boards, or through a virtual classroom environment. Tutors provide regular additional support through the online portal. The full-day tutorial will cover exercises and group activities for all the modules taught in that specific trimester.

The workshops and tutorial sessions are intensive mandatory study days on campus. These sessions currently fall on a Friday and consist of 3 days per semester. (Please refer to your timetable for details)

When undertaken over 2 semesters, the Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity will require on average around 15 hours of study per week in addition to the workshops, tutorials and exams.

The Graduate Diploma in Cybersecurity comprises four taught modules delivered over two semesters (9 months). It is a part of the MSc programme which comprises eleven taught modules and either a 15-credit Case Study or a 30-credit Project option.

Module descriptions including pre-requisites, learning outcomes, assessment scheme and workload are set out in the module descriptors for each module.

Year One

Module Code Name Credits

Semester 1 (Autumn term)
COMP47920 Information Security 10
COMP47900 Risk Assessment & Security Standards 5

Semester 2 (Spring term)
COMP47800 Leadership In Security 5
LAW42160 Cybersecurity Law and Regulation 10

Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity
Students who successfully complete the above 4 modules (30 credits) in the first two semesters may exit the programme with the award of Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity preparing them for a managerial and leadership career in cybersecurity.

Minimum of a 2.1 honours bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (or a cognate discipline) or

2:2 honours bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (or a cognate discipline) and equivalent (> 5 years) industrial experience in software development or software/system security.

Each applicant will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Students are also required to fulfil UCD’s English Language Requirements.

This holistic and well-rounded programme prepares students for a career in cybersecurity. It will be of great interest to executives and professional / technical staff who:

need to acquire knowledge and skills in cybersecurity;
want to gain a promotion;
want to open up new career opportunities for themselves in cyber security related roles;
are interested in doing some research in this field, perhaps in relation to a current work problem;
want to gain a qualification to add to their standing and credibility within their professional life.

The following entry routes are available:

Grad Cert Cybersecurity PT (T379)
Duration 9 Months
Attend Part Time
Deadline Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

9 months part-time.
MODE OF DELIVERY: Blended

NEXT INTAKE:202/2025 September

Careers & Employability
The programme will help to reduce the cybersecurity skills shortage and prepare professionals for a rewarding career in cybersecurity. Career development possibilities in this field are excellent. Organizations of all sizes in all sectors, including both Irish and foreign owned companies, are looking for people with these skills. Many global companies have a base in Ireland, including security software and cyber security companies with a security operations centre (SOC). There is a growing cyber security market globally as cyber security is recognized as critical for national security and the smooth functioning of society. Opportunities abound in government, healthcare, critical national infrastructure, ICT, financial services, telecoms, manufacturing and SMEs, which all face growing cyber security threats. Digitization and the move to remote working are increasing the threat surface.