University of Queensland
Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 6 months
- Course Type: Graduate Certificate
Examine cyber security through technical, organisational, legal and geopolitical perspectives, preparing you to assess emerging threats and contribute to more resilient digital environments.
Course overview
Approach cyber security as more than a technical challenge. The University of Queensland’s Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security is designed for graduates and experienced professionals seeking an advanced understanding of how digital threats affect organisations, governments and modern society.
You will examine major cyber security challenges and explore technical, organisational, governance, policy, ethical, legal and geopolitical responses. Specialised study areas may include information security, cryptography, cyber defence, cyber criminology and leadership. Learning alongside students from technology, business, mathematics and humanities brings different perspectives to complex security problems and reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the cyber security workforce.
Delivered face-to-face at UQ’s St Lucia campus, the course can be completed in half a year of full-time study or the part-time equivalent. Lectures, tutorials, laboratory activities and seminars connect cyber security concepts with real and emerging threats, providing a broad foundation for working across technical and non-technical areas of cyber security.
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
26th July, 2027
What you will study
At UQ, a unit represents the value of individual courses that contribute to the total unit requirements of a program. Most UQ courses have a value of two units, though some may vary depending on the program or course structure.
To earn the Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security, you must complete eight units or four courses, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth two units.
Core units
- Fundamentals of Cyber Security
- Information Security Essentials
- Cyber Security Governance, Policy, Ethics and Law
- Cyber Criminology and Global Security
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To be eligible for this course, applicants must meet both of the following requirements:
- Meet at least one of the following:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline.
- Hold a graduate certificate, graduate diploma or master’s degree in any discipline.
- Hold an AQF Level 5 diploma or higher and have at least three years of relevant full-time equivalent work experience.
- Have achieved a minimum Grade Point Average of 4.0 on UQ’s seven-point scale in the previous qualification.
Applications based on post-secondary study and professional experience are individually assessed.
Relevant experience includes at least three years of work in a professional, knowledge-based or information-oriented environment. This may include administration, business, customer support, finance, government, human resources, law, marketing, operations, project management, strategy or sustainability.
Entry based on professional experience does not necessarily provide a pathway into further master’s study.
Supporting documents
Applicants relying on professional experience must provide an employer letter that confirms:
- Their employment with the organisation.
- Their relevant duties and responsibilities.
- The duration of each relevant role.
- Whether the employment was full-time, part-time or casual.
- Any other conditions relevant to the admission criteria.
The letter should be provided on company letterhead and signed by a manager or human resources representative. A CV or résumé is not sufficient without a supporting employer letter.
English language requirements
Applicants must provide evidence of at least one of the following:
- An IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no individual band score below 6.0.
- A TOEFL internet-based score of 87, including at least 19 in listening, 19 in reading, 21 in writing and 19 in speaking.
- A PTE Academic overall score of 64, with no communicative skill score below 60.
- Another form of English language evidence accepted by the university.
OET is not accepted for this course.
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 to reduce the number of units that you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
Potential career outcomes include:
- Cyber Risk and Governance Consultant
- Penetration Tester
- Cyber Security Analyst
- IT Security Specialist
- Cyber Security Designer
- Risk and Compliance Analyst
- Cloud Infrastructure Engineer
- Incident Response Manager
- Cyber Security Policy Officer
- Domain Security Architect
Fees and CSP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $5,625 (Commonwealth Supported 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.