Deakin University
Master of Cyber Security (Professional) Online
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
- Course Type: Master's
Study cyber security online and turn advanced technical knowledge into professional impact through specialised electives and your choice of an industry, placement or research-focused project.
Course overview
Cyber security now influences every organisation that depends on connected systems, sensitive data and digital services. Deakin University’s Master of Cyber Security (Professional) prepares you to develop, evaluate and manage advanced security solutions for increasingly complex threats.
You will explore network and application security, digital forensics, ethical hacking, secure coding, security analytics and cyber security management. The course combines technical depth with an understanding of governance, regulation, compliance and the organisational responsibilities associated with protecting digital environments.
Flexible online delivery allows you to tailor part of the course through advanced information technology or information systems electives. You will then apply your learning through a team project, eligible professional placement or research project, depending on your chosen Professional Studies option.
Complete the course in two years of full-time study or the part-time equivalent. Graduates may pursue cyber security roles across government, defence, banking, telecommunications, health, science, agriculture and retail. The course is professionally accredited by the Australian Computer Society and recognised internationally through the Seoul Accord. The Research Project option may also support preparation for further research study.
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
February, 2027
June, 2027
October, 2027
What you will study
To earn the Master of Cyber Security (Professional), you must successfully complete units totalling 16 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 1 credit point.
Course structure overview
- Core units (8 credit points)
- Electives (4 credit points)
- Professional studies (4 credit points)
Fundamental cyber security studies
- Identity, Access Management and Physical Security
- Analytics for Security and Privacy
- Cyber Security Management
- Computer Networks and Security
Mastery cyber security studies
- Computer Forensics and Investigations
- Ethical Hacking
- Application and Communication Protocol Security
- Secure Coding
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To be considered for admission to this course, applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher in a related discipline.
- Completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher in any discipline and at least two years of relevant work experience, or part-time equivalent.
Related disciplines and relevant professional experience may include the broad field of information technology.
Academic history, work and life experience and individual circumstances may also be considered. Meeting the minimum academic and English language requirements does not guarantee admission.
Mandatory student checks
If you select a unit involving work-integrated learning, professional practice, community placement or interaction with the community, you may be required to complete a police check, Working with Children Check or other mandatory checks. Requirements will be confirmed in the relevant unit information.
English language requirements
Applicants must provide evidence of at least one of the following:
- A bachelor’s degree completed in a recognised English-speaking country.
- An IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no individual band score below 6.0, or an accepted equivalent.
- Other accepted evidence of English language proficiency.
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, evaluate, implement, and manage cyber security solutions for complex systems, organisations, platforms communication channels, and data, based on industry-accepted standards and best practice.
- Design, develop and implement advanced cyber systems and software, and associated policies and procedures for optimal use to withstand emerging attacks/threats in cyber space.
- Assess the role of cyber security in the context of modern organisations and society to add value.
- Communicate in professional and other contexts to inform, explain and drive sustainable innovation through cyber security and to motivate and effect change by drawing upon advances in technology, future trends and industry standards, and by utilising a range of verbal, graphical and written methods, recognising the needs of diverse audiences including specialist and non-specialist clients, industry personnel and other stakeholders.
- Identify, evaluate, select and use advanced digital technologies, platforms, frameworks, and tools from the field of cyber security to generate, manage, process and share digital resources and justify digital tools selection to influence others.
- Questions assumptions and seeks to uncover inconsistencies and ambiguities in information and judgements, critically evaluates their sources and rationales, to inform and justify decision making in the field of cyber security.
- Demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of cyber security and apply expert, specialised cognitive, technical, and creative skills from cyber security to understand requirements and design, implement, operate, and evaluate solutions to complex real-world and ill-defined computing problems.
- Apply reflective practice and work independently to apply knowledge and skills in a professional manner to complex situations and ongoing learning in the field of cyber security with adaptability, autonomy, responsibility, and personal and professional accountability for actions as a practitioner and a learner.
- Work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary environments to achieve team goals, contributing specialist knowledge and skills from cyber security to advance the teams objectives, employing effective teamwork practices and principles to cultivate creative thinking, interpersonal adeptness, leadership skills, and handle challenging discussions, while excelling in diverse professional, social, and cultural scenarios.
- Engage in professional and ethical behaviour in the field of cyber security, with appreciation for the global context, and openly and respectfully collaborate with diverse communities and cultures.
Career outcomes
Graduates may pursue roles such as:
- Business continuity or information technology security engineer
- Cyber security specialist
- Cyber security manager
- Development, security and operations developer
- Information security auditor
- Infrastructure specialist
- Incident response analyst
- Operations support analyst
- Penetration tester
- Security analyst
- Security architect
- Security consultant
- Security operations centre analyst
- Security operations manager
- Security systems developer or programmer
- Security systems manager
- Threat intelligence analyst
- Governance, risk and compliance specialist
- Security operations centre manager
- Digital forensics specialist
Fees and CSP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $9,537 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $34,400 (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 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.