The MSc in Cybersecurity is designed to provide students with in-depth knowledge of
cyber threats, information security, risk management, and advanced technical skills
for defending against cyber-attacks. It prepares students to become professionals who
can design, manage, and implement robust cybersecurity solutions in various
industries.
Course Duration: 2 Years
Year 1: Foundation and Core Knowledge
Semester 1: (30 ECTS)
- Cybersecurity Fundamentals (6 ECTS)
- Overview of cybersecurity principles
- Threat landscape
- Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA triad)
- Network Security and Cryptography (6 ECTS)
- Fundamentals of network protocols and topologies
- Encryption methods and secure communication
- Key management and digital certificates
- Operating Systems Security (6 ECTS)
- Security features in Windows, Linux, and Unix systems
- Hardening techniques for operating systems
- Access control and user management
- Cyber Law and Ethics (6 ECTS)
- Legal frameworks for cybersecurity in Europe and globally
- Ethical hacking practices
- Compliance with GDPR and NIS Directive
- Programming for Security (6 ECTS)
- Introduction to Python, Java, and C for security purposes
- Scripting for automation in cybersecurity tasks
- Secure coding practices
Semester 2: (30 ECTS)
- Advanced Cryptography (6 ECTS)
- Asymmetric encryption and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
- Blockchain and its security implications
- Cryptanalysis and breaking ciphers
- Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing (6 ECTS)
- Tools and techniques for ethical hacking
- Vulnerability assessment and penetration testing methodologies
- Hands-on lab work with industry-standard tools (e.g., Metasploit, Wireshark)
- Digital Forensics and Incident Response (6 ECTS)
- Principles of digital evidence collection and preservation
- Forensic analysis of systems, networks, and mobile devices
- Incident response planning and procedures
- Cybersecurity Risk Management (6 ECTS)
- Risk analysis and assessment techniques
- Security policies, standards, and frameworks (ISO/IEC 27001, NIST)
- Business continuity and disaster recovery planning
- Research Methodology (6 ECTS) –
- Introduction to academic research methods –
- Data collection, analysis, and interpretation –
- Preparing for dissertation and project work
Year 2: Specialization and Advanced Topics
Semester 3: (30 ECTS)
- Cloud Security (6 ECTS)
- Security concerns in cloud computing environments
- Virtualization, container security, and cloud architecture
- Identity and access management (IAM) in the cloud
- Cyber Threat Intelligence and Analysis (6 ECTS)
- Threat intelligence lifecycle
- OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) techniques
- Threat modeling and intelligence sharing
- IoT Security (6 ECTS)
- Internet of Things (IoT) architecture and communication protocols
- Security challenges in IoT devices and networks
- Securing smart cities and industrial IoT environments
- Advanced Malware Analysis (6 ECTS)
- Reverse engineering of malware
- Techniques for analyzing and defending against advanced persistent threats (APTs)
- Sandboxing and dynamic malware analysis
- Compliance and Governance in Cybersecurity (6 ECTS)
- Cybersecurity governance frameworks (COBIT, ITIL)
- Regulatory compliance (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS)
- Cybersecurity audits and certifications
Semester 4: (30 ECTS)
- Cybersecurity Project Management (6 ECTS)
- Managing large-scale cybersecurity projects
- Agile methodologies in cybersecurity
- Leadership and team collaboration in cybersecurity settings
- Capstone Research Project / Dissertation (12 ECTS)
- Independent research project under academic supervision
- In-depth analysis of a specific cybersecurity problem or technology
- Dissertation writing and defense
- Industry Internship (12 ECTS)
- 3–6 month internship in a cybersecurity-related role
- Practical experience with security operations, threat hunting, or vulnerability
management - Internship report submission and presentation
Elective Courses: (Choose 1-2 courses, 6-12 ECTS in total)
- Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity (6 ECTS)
- AI-driven cybersecurity solutions
- Machine learning applications in detecting and preventing cyberattacks
- Security in Software Development (6 ECTS)
- Secure software development lifecycle (SDLC)
- Application security tools (SAST, DAST)
- Code review and security testing
- Blockchain and Cybersecurity (6 ECTS)
- Fundamentals of blockchain technology
- Blockchain security challenges
- Use of blockchain for enhancing cybersecurity
Additional Program Components:
- Workshops and Seminars: Guest lectures and workshops by industry experts on
emerging trends in cybersecurity (ongoing throughout the program). - Certifications: Students are encouraged to pursue industry certifications like
CISSP, CEH, or CompTIA Security+.