Deakin University

Graduate Certificate of Cyber Security

  • Delivery: Online
  • Study Level: Postgraduate
  • Duration: 6 months
  • Course Type: Graduate Certificate

Study cyber security online and gain practical skills to identify system vulnerabilities, manage digital risk and respond effectively to evolving security threats.

Course overview

As organisations become increasingly dependent on digital systems, protecting information, infrastructure and access has become a critical priority. Deakin University’s Graduate Certificate of Cyber Security prepares you to identify vulnerabilities, assess security risks and help organisations respond to cyber threats.

You will explore network security, security analytics, identity and access management, physical security and the organisational management of cyber security. The course develops the technical and problem-solving capabilities required to evaluate security information, select appropriate technologies and design solutions for complex digital environments.

Delivered online, the course provides a flexible way to strengthen your cyber security expertise while balancing existing commitments. You will learn from experienced academics and examine industry-relevant approaches to monitoring, governance, incident response and the protection of digital systems.

Complete the qualification in six months of full-time study or the part-time equivalent. Graduates may pursue security-focused opportunities across business, government and law enforcement. The Graduate Certificate also provides a pathway into Deakin University’s Master of Cyber Security or Master of Cyber Security (Professional), with completed credit points contributing towards the relevant master’s degree.

CSP Subsidised Fees Available

This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.

Key facts

Delivery
Online
Course Type
Graduate Certificate
Duration
More Information
Can be studied part time. Full-time study is not available in the Trimester 2 and 3 intake.
6 months (Full time)
Price Per Unit
From $4,375
More Information
The estimated fee is determined by individual units of study and the year the course was commenced.

From $1,235 (CSP)
More Information
You may be eligible for CSP where the government pays part of your fees. Fees are determined by individual units of study and the year the course was commenced.
Intake
November, 2026
February, 2027
June, 2027
October, 2027
Units
More Information
You may be required to complete 0 credit point units throughout your course. The university will confirm this as part of your enrolment.

The unit total reflects the number of units required for course completion, not the total credit point weight. Some units may be double- or triple-weighted, so the number of units you complete may be lower.
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Fees
More Information
FEE-HELP loans and HECS-HELP loans are available to assist eligible domestic students with the cost of a university program.
FEE-HELP, HECS, CSP

What you will study

To earn the Graduate Certificate of Cyber Security, you must successfully complete units totalling 4 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each unit is worth 1 credit point.

Core units

  • Identity, Access Management and Physical Security
  • Analytics for Security and Privacy
  • Cyber Security Management
  • Computer Networks and Security

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

To be eligible for this course, applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in a related discipline.
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in any discipline and have at least two years of relevant work experience, or the part-time equivalent.

Related disciplines and relevant professional experience may include areas within the broad field of information technology.

Deakin may also consider applicants’ academic history, work and life experience and individual circumstances. Meeting the minimum academic and English language requirements does not guarantee admission.

English language requirements

Applicants must provide evidence of English language proficiency through at least one accepted option, including:

  • A bachelor’s degree completed in a recognised English-speaking country
  • IELTS Academic: overall score of 6.5, with no individual band score below 6.0
  • An approved equivalent English language qualification or pathway

Other approved qualifications and pathways may also be used to meet Deakin’s English language requirements. Contact the university for further information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

  • Develop specialised and essential knowledge of security needs for design and development of secure systems, processes, concepts, and technologies; to develop software systems, products and solutions that automate business processes at par with benchmarks and industry standards and based on evolving cyber security needs.
  • Communicate in a professional context to inform, explain and drive sustainable innovation through cyber security and to motivate and effect change, utilising a range of verbal, graphical and written methods, recognising the needs of diverse audiences.
  • Identify, select and use digital technologies, platforms, frameworks, and tools from the field of cyber security to generate, manage, process and share digital resources.
  • Evaluate and critically analyse information and its sources to inform decision making and evaluation of plans and solutions associated with the field of cyber security.
  • Apply advanced cognitive, technical, and creative skills from cyber security to understand requirements and design, implement, operate, and evaluate solutions to real-world and ill-defined computing problems.
  • Work independently to apply knowledge and skills in a professional manner to new situations and/or further learning in the field of cyber security with adaptability, autonomy, responsibility, and personal accountability for actions as a practitioner and a learner.

Career outcomes

Potential career outcomes include:

  • Cyber Security Analyst
  • Project Manager
  • Security Systems Manager
  • Security Consultant
  • Security Systems Developer or Programmer
  • Information Security Auditor
  • Business Continuity or IT Security Engineer

Fees and CSP

Indicative annual fee in 2027: $4,940 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Indicative annual fee in 2027: $17,500 (Full-fee paying place)

Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

  • The number of units studied.
  • Choice of units.
  • Credit from previous study or work experience.
  • Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

  • Calculated per the course you're enrolled in.
  • Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
  • Reviewed and adjusted each year.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

HECS-HELP loans are available to eligible CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.