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Master of Cyber Security (MCYS) - MCyberSec

CRICOS code (International applicants): 0100380

 On-campusOnline
Start:Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 3 (November)
Campus:Springfield, Toowoomba -
Fees:Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Standard duration:2 years full time, up to 4 years part-time 

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Contact us

Future Australian and New Zealand students  Future International students  Current students 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315
Email: study@usq.edu.au 

Phone: +61 7 4631 5543
Email: international@usq.edu.au 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285
Email: usq.support@usq.edu.au 

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Program aims

The Master of Cyber Security is a program that enables students to acquire an advanced level of knowledge and skills, including project experience in Cyber Security. The program will provide students with skills in Cyber Security and broaden this knowledge into contemporary domains including data mining, big data analytics, web and cloud security, Internet of Things, Financial Technology, and digital forensics. The capstone project provides students with skills comparable to industry practice.

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Program objectives

Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:

  • Expertly synthesise and apply advanced Cyber Security specific knowledge, including contemporary and emerging theories and concepts, to a range of business contexts and scenarios;

  • Critically examine, analyse, implement and articulate a range of innovative solutions to a variety of real-life Cyber-Security business scenarios;

  • Apply specialised cognitive and technical skills to investigate, critically reflect and synthesise complex ideas at an abstract level;

  • Effectively work in a project environment by contributing to the successful completion of a Cyber Security project.;

  • Employ a range of oral, written and digital literacies to transmit complex Cyber Security knowledge in professional and scholarly contexts to a diverse audience;

  • Apply principles of integrity and high calibre ethical behaviour in accordance with academic, industry and professional standards.


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Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 09. Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for research, and/or professional practice and/or further learning.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting .

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

  • Completion of an Australian university bachelor degree, or equivalent.

  • English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 2.


All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a 精东传媒app-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

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Program fees

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the

Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.

Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

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Program structure

The Master of Cyber Security consists of 16 units and has the following structure:

  • six foundation core courses, each of one unit

  • four advanced core courses, each of one unit

  • four advanced specialisation courses, each of one unit; and

  • one capstone project course of two units.


Students must maintain good standing in this program. Please refer to the

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Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 6 years to complete this program.

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Core courses

Courses  Semester of offer Online  Semester of offer Toowoomba campus  Semester of offer Springfield campus 
Foundation courses       
CIS5100 Professional Skills for Information Systems  1, 2 ,3  1, 2  1, 2 
CIS5310 IS/ICT Project Management  1, 3 
CSC8100 Cyber Security Architecture  1, 2  1, 2 
CSC8101 Penetration Testing 
CSC8740 Client-side Web Technology  1, 2  1, 2   
CIS8708 Digital Forensics   
Advanced compulsory courses       
CIS8710 Human Factors in Cyber Security  2, 3   
CIS8711 Cloud Security   
CSC8520 Securing Networks  1, 2  1, 2 
CSC8370 Network Security Management   
Capstone project course       
CIS8720 Cyber Security Project*   

Footnotes
*This course is two units.

Specific specialisations

In this section:

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Business Application specialisation

Courses  Semester of offer Online  Semester of offer Toowoomba campus  Semester of offer Springfield campus 
CIS5206 Data Mining for Business Analytics and Cyber Security   
CIS8011 Digital Innovation  2, 3 
CIS8025 Big Data Visualisation  1, 2  1, 2   
CIS8504 Blockchain Fundamentals  1,3   

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Governance Risk & Compliance specialisation

Courses  Semester of offer Online  Semester of offer Toowoomba campus  Semester of offer Springfield campus 
CIS8707 Cyber Incident Management and Response#  2, 3   
CIS8709 Cyber Governance and Leadership#  2, 3   
CIS8712 Information Assurance and Risk Management  1, 2    1, 2 
LAW3476 Privacy and Data Protection Law     

Footnotes
#Not offered in S3 2022.

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Technical specialisation

Courses  Semester of offer Online  Semester of offer Toowoomba campus  Semester of offer Springfield campus 
CSC8510 Internetworking  1, 2  1, 2   
CSC5090 Foundations of IT Systems Administration   
CSC8002 Big Data Management  2, 3 
CSC8003 Machine Learning  2, 3   

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IT requirements

For information technology requirements please refer to USQ's .

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Exit points

A student who chooses not to complete or who does not maintain good standing in this program will be permitted to exit with a lesser qualification as set out below, provided that they have met the requirements of that program. The objectives covered within an exit point program are a subset of the overarching Masters Program objectives.

  • A student who successfully completes any 4 foundation core courses may, upon application, exit with the Graduate Certificate of Cyber Security qualification.

  • A student who successfully completes 8 courses (any 4 foundation core plus any other four courses offered within the Master of Cyber Security) may, upon application, exit with the Graduate Diploma of Cyber Security qualification.


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Credit

As the Master Cyber Security is a graduate conversion program, credits approved in the program do not automatically apply to other postgraduate programs offered by USQ.

Up to a total of 8 credits may be granted for the 16-unit Master of Cyber Security.

Credits may be granted on the basis of completed equivalent postgraduate study from a recognised university.

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

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Recommended enrolment pattern - semester 1 intake

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
CIS5100 Professional Skills for Information Systems1111
CIS5310 IS/ICT Project Management1111Enrolment is not permitted in CIS5310 if CIS8010 has been previously completed.
CSC8100 Cyber Security Architecture1111
CSC8520 Securing Networks1111Co-requisite: CSC5050 or CSC8100
CIS8710 Human Factors in Cyber Security1212Co-requisite: CIS5100
CIS8711 Cloud Security1212Pre-requisite: CSC8100 and CIS5100
CSC8370 Network Security Management1212Pre-requisite: CSC8520
CSC8740 Client-side Web Technology1212Pre-requisite: CSC5020 and CSC5090 or Students must be enrolled in the following Program: MCYS
CSC8101 Penetration Testing2121Pre-requisite: CSC8100
CIS8708 Digital Forensics2121Pre-requisite: CSC8100 or Students must be enrolled in the following Program: MISP

Complete for Governance Risk & Compliance specialisation

CIS8712 Information Assurance and Risk Management2121, 2
LAW3476 Privacy and Data Protection Law1, 23Pre-req: ((Students enrolled in: BEDU (Legal Studies) or BLAW or LLBP or BALW or BBLA or BCLA or BCLW) & (LAW1201 or (LAW1111 & LAW1112)) or ((Students enrolled in: DJUR & (LAW5501 or (LAW5111 & LAW5112)). Alternatively, students may be enrolled in MCYS.

Complete for Business Application specialisation

CIS8025 Big Data Visualisation2121Enrolment is not permitted in CIS8025 if CIS8701 has been previously completed.
CIS8504 Blockchain Fundamentals2121Enrolment is not permitted in CIS8504 if CIS8702 has been previously completed.

Complete for Technical specialisation

CSC8510 Internetworking2121Co-requisite: CSC5050 or Students must be enrolled in the following Program: MCYS
CSC5090 Foundations of IT Systems Administration2121

Complete for all specialisations

CIS8720 Cyber Security Project*2222Pre-requisite: CSC8100 and CIS5100

Complete for Governance Risk & Compliance specialisation

CIS8707 Cyber Incident Management and Response2222Pre-requisite: CSC8100
CIS8709 Cyber Governance and Leadership2222Pre-requisite: CSC8100

Complete for Business Application specialisation

CIS8011 Digital Innovation2222
CIS5206 Data Mining for Business Analytics and Cyber Security2222

Complete for Technical specialisation

CSC8002 Big Data Management2222Pre-requisite or Co-requisite: (CSC1401 or CSC5020) and (STA2300 or STA1003 or STA8170) or equivalent program and statistical knowledge and skills or students are enrolled in MCYS.
CSC8003 Machine Learning2222Pre-requisite: (STA2300 or STA1003 or STA8170) and (CSC1401 or CSC5020) or equivalent program and statistical knowledge and skills

Footnotes
*This course is worth 2 units.

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Recommended enrolment pattern - semester 2 intake

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
CIS5100 Professional Skills for Information Systems1212
CIS8710 Human Factors in Cyber Security1212Co-requisite: CIS5100
CSC8100 Cyber Security Architecture12
CSC8740 Client-side Web Technology1212Pre-requisite: CSC5020 and CSC5090 or Students must be enrolled in the following Program: MCYS
CIS5310 IS/ICT Project Management#2121Enrolment is not permitted in CIS5310 if CIS8010 has been previously completed.
CIS8708 Digital Forensics2121Pre-requisite: CSC8100 or Students must be enrolled in the following Program: MISP
CSC8101 Penetration Testing2121Pre-requisite: CSC8100
CSC8520 Securing Networks2121Co-requisite: CSC5050 or CSC8100
CSC8370 Network Security Management2222Pre-requisite: CSC8520
CIS8711 Cloud Security2222Pre-requisite: CSC8100 and CIS5100

Governance Risk & Compliance specialisation

CIS8707 Cyber Incident Management and Response2222Pre-requisite: CSC8100
CIS8709 Cyber Governance and Leadership2222Pre-requisite: CSC8100
LAW3476 Privacy and Data Protection Law1, 23Pre-req: ((Students enrolled in: BEDU (Legal Studies) or BLAW or LLBP or BALW or BBLA or BCLA or BCLW) & (LAW1201 or (LAW1111 & LAW1112)) or ((Students enrolled in: DJUR & (LAW5501 or (LAW5111 & LAW5112)). Alternatively, students may be enrolled in MCYS.
CIS8712 Information Assurance and Risk Management3131

Business Application specialisation

CIS5206 Data Mining for Business Analytics and Cyber Security2222
CIS8011 Digital Innovation2222
CIS8025 Big Data Visualisation3131Enrolment is not permitted in CIS8025 if CIS8701 has been previously completed.
CIS8504 Blockchain Fundamentals3131Enrolment is not permitted in CIS8504 if CIS8702 has been previously completed.

Technical specialisation

CSC8002 Big Data Management2222Pre-requisite or Co-requisite: (CSC1401 or CSC5020) and (STA2300 or STA1003 or STA8170) or equivalent program and statistical knowledge and skills or students are enrolled in MCYS.
CSC8003 Machine Learning2222Pre-requisite: (STA2300 or STA1003 or STA8170) and (CSC1401 or CSC5020) or equivalent program and statistical knowledge and skills
CSC8510 Internetworking3131Co-requisite: CSC5050 or Students must be enrolled in the following Program: MCYS
CSC5090 Foundations of IT Systems Administration3131

All specialisations

CIS8720 Cyber Security Project*3131Pre-requisite: CSC8100 and CIS5100

Footnotes
#CIS8010 is an equivalent course. Students who have completed CIS8010 do not need to complete CIS5310.
*This course is worth 2 units.

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Recommended enrolment pattern - semester 3 intake

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
CIS5100 Professional Skills for Information Systems13
CIS8710 Human Factors in Cyber Security13Co-requisite: CIS5100
CIS5310 IS/ICT Project Management#13Enrolment is not permitted in CIS5310 if CIS8010 has been previously completed.
CIS8708 Digital Forensics1111Pre-requisite: CSC8100 or Students must be enrolled in the following Program: MISP
CSC8101 Penetration Testing1111Pre-requisite: CSC8100
CSC8520 Securing Networks1111Co-requisite: CSC5050 or CSC8100
CSC8100 Cyber Security Architecture1212
CSC8740 Client-side Web Technology1212Pre-requisite: CSC5020 and CSC5090 or Students must be enrolled in the following Program: MCYS

Complete for all specialisations

CSC8370 Network Security Management1212Pre-requisite: CSC8520
CIS8711 Cloud Security1212Pre-requisite: CSC8100 and CIS5100

Complete for Governance Risk & Compliance specialisation

CIS8712 Information Assurance and Risk Management1111
LAW3476 Privacy and Data Protection Law1, 23Pre-req: ((Students enrolled in: BEDU (Legal Studies) or BLAW or LLBP or BALW or BBLA or BCLA or BCLW) & (LAW1201 or (LAW1111 & LAW1112)) or ((Students enrolled in: DJUR & (LAW5501 or (LAW5111 & LAW5112)). Alternatively, students may be enrolled in MCYS.
CIS8707 Cyber Incident Management and Response^23Pre-requisite: CSC8100
CIS8709 Cyber Governance and Leadership^23Pre-requisite: CSC8100

Complete for Business Application specialisation

CIS8025 Big Data Visualisation1111Enrolment is not permitted in CIS8025 if CIS8701 has been previously completed.
CIS5206 Data Mining for Business Analytics and Cyber Security2121
CIS8011 Digital Innovation23
CIS8504 Blockchain Fundamentals23Enrolment is not permitted in CIS8504 if CIS8702 has been previously completed.

Complete for Technical specialisation

CSC8002 Big Data Management23Pre-requisite or Co-requisite: (CSC1401 or CSC5020) and (STA2300 or STA1003 or STA8170) or equivalent program and statistical knowledge and skills or students are enrolled in MCYS.
CSC8003 Machine Learning23Pre-requisite: (STA2300 or STA1003 or STA8170) and (CSC1401 or CSC5020) or equivalent program and statistical knowledge and skills
CSC8510 Internetworking1111Co-requisite: CSC5050 or Students must be enrolled in the following Program: MCYS
CSC5090 Foundations of IT Systems Administration2121

Complete for all specialisations

CIS8720 Cyber Security Project*2121Pre-requisite: CSC8100 and CIS5100

Footnotes
#CIS8010 Information Systems Project Management is an equivalent course. Students who have completed CIS8010 do not need to complete CIS5310
^Not offered S3 2022
*This course is worth 2 units