University of New South Wales
Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security Leadership
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 16 months
- Course Type: Graduate Certificate
Bridge the gap between cyber security and organisational leadership by gaining the technical understanding and strategic capability to assess risk, communicate with diverse stakeholders and lead effective cyber security responses.
Course overview
Created for experienced managers and professionals seeking to move into cyber security or strengthen their capability in the field, the Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security Leadership bridges technical understanding with organisational leadership. It equips professionals to engage confidently with cyber security issues and consider their implications for business risk, strategy and organisational decision-making.
As cyber security challenges become more complex, you'll develop the ability to assess risks through a broader organisational lens, balancing security priorities with governance, privacy and compliance considerations. You'll also strengthen your ability to communicate complex cyber issues across technical and non-technical audiences, helping you contribute to strategic decisions, organisational change and a stronger security culture.
With a curriculum focused specifically on organisational cyber security, the program connects foundational technical understanding with the strategic judgement required to lead in complex environments. Its emphasis on communication across diverse audiences further prepares managers to bridge the gap between cyber specialists, senior leadership and broader organisational priorities.
Key facts
8th February, 2027
6th September, 2027
What you will study
To earn the Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security Leadership, you must successfully complete units totalling 24 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 6 credit points.
Core units
- Foundations of Organisational Cyber Security
- Cyber Security Governance, Risk and Compliance
- Cyber Security Data Governance and Privacy
- Cyber Security Leadership and Strategy
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To gain entry into the Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security Leadership, an applicant must meet one of the following entry requirements:
- Completion of a bachelor's degree with honours in the same or a related discipline from a recognised institution.
- Completion of a graduate diploma or graduate certificate in the same or a related discipline from a recognised institution.
- Completion of a bachelor's degree in the same or a related discipline from a recognised institution and completion of at least three years of relevant full-time professional experience.
- Completion of a bachelor's degree in a non-related discipline and completion of at least four years of relevant full-time professional experience.
Related Discipline/s: Management, IT and Business.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations. This is why UNSW requires a minimum level of English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses.
- Prior study in the medium of English.
- Other qualifications.
- English waivers.
Contact the university or visit its website for more 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
- Demonstrate foundational skills and understanding of the current and future state of cyber security.
- Possess a comprehensive and globally informed understanding of the field of cyber security, including ethical considerations, current challenges and the history of its development.
- Analyse and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to issues in cyber security.
- Assess the business and leadership aspects of the current and future state of cyber security.
- Communicate effectively with diverse audiences to drive change, foster culture and lead in large organisations, demonstrating independent and collaborative inquiry skills.
Career outcomes
Potential roles include:
- Cyber Security Advisor
- Cyber Security Consultant
- Cyber Security Policy Writer
- Data Protection Officer
- Digital Risk Manager
- Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) Specialist
- Head of Cyber Security
- Information Security Manager
- IT Security Project Manager
- Security Awareness Training Manager
- Security Operations Centre (SOC) Manager
- Threat Intelligence Analyst
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $20,500 (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.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.