Overview This Master's programme approaches cyber security as a scientific discipline: you study how fundamental security building blocks work, the mathematical foundations behind cryptography, and the limits of existing methods. Building on that knowledge, you learn to design and evaluate new algorithms and countermeasures for specific cyber threats. The curriculum is academically oriented—focused on deep understanding of underlying techniques and principles—rather than on routine system administration tasks like configuring firewalls or simply running penetration-testing tools.
Teaching and learning Rooted in computer science and engineering, the course blends theoretical foundations with practical application. Instruction is delivered in small groups with a favourable teacher–student ratio to ensure close supervision and mentoring. You will learn both the principal defensive methods and the techniques typically used by attackers, together with how to apply this knowledge to realistic scenarios.
Career readiness Graduates are prepared to design, implement and manage comprehensive cyber security concepts for IT systems and critical infrastructures. You will be able to develop state-of-the-art approaches that account for organisational requirements and legal regulations, implement security strategies, and contribute to ongoing research and industry challenges in cyber security.
Program details and application
Curriculum overview
This two-year master's programme is structured across four semesters, with 30 credit points per semester (120 credit points in total). The curriculum is organised into basic and specialised study phases, and is rounded out by general studies, an industrial internship, and a Master's thesis. The design balances mandatory foundational coursework with elective depth and hands-on experience.
Core and specialised coursework
Mandatory basic modules (Cyber Security Basics) provide the essential foundations and account for 22 credit points. Specialised studies total 54 credit points and include two compulsory-elective areas: Cyber Security Methods and Computer Science, plus a substantial study project that applies theory to a concrete research or development task. Students must choose at least 28 credit points from Cyber Security Methods and a minimum of 12 credit points from Computer Science, allowing focused advancement in both security-specific techniques and broader computer science topics.
Practical experience and learning outcomes
An industrial internship gives you the chance to put subject-related and methodological knowledge into practice within a commercial or organisational setting, creating a bridge between classroom learning, research, and real-world application. By the end of the programme you will have strengthened core cyber security principles, gained specialised methodological and technical skills, completed a hands-on project, and demonstrated readiness for research roles or industry positions via the internship and Master's thesis.
Key programme requirements (concise)
Applicants must hold at least a Bachelor's degree (or an equivalent qualification) in computer science or in a closely related program that has a pronounced computer-science orientation. The admissions committee looks for a strong technical foundation, so degrees in areas such as cyber security, applied mathematics, artificial intelligence, data science, or electrical engineering are considered only if they emphasize computer-science content.
Specifically, your prior studies should include coursework across theoretical, applied and technical computer science as well as mathematics, and the scope and depth of these courses should be comparable to the content covered in the Bachelor's programme in computer science at BTU. This means the program you completed must provide similar core CS and math training rather than being primarily focused on non-computing aspects.
If you are an international applicant, make sure your transcript and course descriptions clearly show the relevant computer science and mathematics components so equivalence can be assessed. If in doubt, include syllabi or module descriptions to demonstrate that your previous degree matches the expected theoretical, applied and technical content.
Winter Semester (International)
15 May 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 August 2026
Graduates are prepared for technical and research-oriented roles in IT security, able to design, implement and manage cyber security concepts and strategies. The programme's emphasis on underlying techniques (including cryptography) enables careers as security engineers, security architects, cryptography specialists, secure systems developers, and penetration testing researchers in industry, consultancies, and tech companies.
Additionally, graduates are qualified for positions in critical infrastructure operators, governmental and defence organisations, and for continuing in academic research (e.g., PhD) where they can contribute to advancing cyber security methods and policy-relevant solutions.
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