Cybersecurity MSc
What will you learn?
The MSc in Cybersecurity at Reykjavík University prepares students to address one of today’s most pressing challenges: protecting digital systems, infrastructures, and societies against rapidly evolving cyber threats. As cybersecurity skills are in critical demand across Europe and beyond, this programme provides a solid and explicit foundation in cybersecurity for all graduates.
You will gain advanced technical knowledge and strategic insight into the prevention, detection, and response to cyber incidents. Core topics include penetration testing, incident response, secure systems design, system resilience, privacy and law, and risk management. Throughout the programme, you will apply specific techniques such as cryptography, secure coding, and machine learning through hands-on laboratories, case studies, and research-oriented projects. In addition, you will develop strong analytical, project-planning, and critical-thinking skills and competencies.
How will you learn?
The MSc in Cybersecurity focuses on the latest cybersecurity methods and challenges. Teaching is closely connected to ongoing research and real-world security problems, ensuring that you will engage with current technologies, latest threat models, and defensive strategies. The Frostbyte laboratory facilities and participation in cybersecurity events enable you to gain practical skills and competencies. The programme also offers opportunities for project or thesis collaboration with industry and foreign universities.
Our MSc in Cybersecurity combines a mandatory programme core with a flexible selection of specialised courses, allowing you to shape your profile according to your interests. The courses address both applied and theoretical aspects of cybersecurity and prepare you for professional practice as well as further research. Most courses run over a 12-week period, with assessment in the following week, while some courses are offered in an intensive three-week format at the end of the semester. The programme concludes with a 30- or 60-ECTS MSc thesis, conducted in close collaboration with your faculty supervisor, enabling you to specialise in your area of interest and contribute to applied or theoretical cybersecurity research.
Programme highlights
- Small class sizes: Benefit from a personalised education experience with mostly small classes limited to 20 students or fewer, allowing for close interaction with faculty.
- Research centre integration: Upon commencing your thesis, you will be integrated into the research centre associated with your supervisor. This integration offers numerous benefits, including invitations to seminars and other activities, exposure to international visiting faculty, and access to an extensive network of researchers.
- Independent study: Delve into your research interests under faculty guidance through independent research projects.
- Earn while you learn: teaching assistant opportunities: For graduate students, we offer the opportunity to enrich educational experience and earn a salary by working as teaching assistants in our BSc programme. As a teaching assistant, you can gain valuable teaching experience and academic skills.
What next?
Future prospects
After graduation, you are well prepared and sought after for professional roles in cybersecurity engineering, incident response, digital forensics, IT security management, and privacy-related positions, as well as for continued research. Driven by a growing global demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals across sectors such as industry and technology, finance, government, and research, typical roles include cybersecurity analysts/engineers, security managers, penetration testers/ethical hackers, information security officers, or incident response specialists.
Structure
MSc in Cybersecurity
The MSc in Cybersecurity at Reykjavik University is a two-year programme of 120 ECTS. Apart from three mandatory core courses, the design of the programme allows for individual course choices and adaptation to your personal interests in various areas of cybersecurity.
The programme is designed for full-time on-site study. If you wish to study part-time or extend the study period, you can take fewer courses each semester and complete the MSc over a longer duration. Please note that all classes require attendance during daytime hours.
Students can choose between a course-based track or a research-based track. All students take the mandatory courses (24 ECTS) and then choose either specialised cybersecurity courses or elective courses within computer science.
Course-based track:
The course-based program requires students to complete three semesters of coursework (90 ECTS) and a thesis in the final semester (30 ECTS).
Mandatory courses (24 ECTS)
Restricted electives (30 ECTS)
Electives (36 ECTS)
Research-based track:
The research-based programme involves two semesters of coursework (60 ECTS) and two semesters of thesis research (60 ECTS).
Mandatory courses (24 ECTS)
Restricted electives (20 ECTS)
Electives (16 ECTS)
Mandatory courses
- T-701-REM4 Research Methodology
- T-740 SPMM Software Project Management
- T-742-CSDA Defense against the Dark Arts
- *T-519-STOR Theory of Computation -*if not already completed at BSc level
A sample programme plan for the MSc in Cybersecurity is given below.
Entry requirements
Facility
Tuition and scholarships
- For information on tuition fees, please see tuition fees.
Scholarships
Teachers
Contact us
Why computer science in HR?
- In-demand expertise for the future.
- Gain deeper knowledge in the field that interests you the most.
- Get experience in research and training in thinking outside the box and seeking new knowledge - throughout your career.
- Get involved in real science projects that have a positive impact on society.
- Enjoy better career opportunities anywhere in the world.
- Take advantage of elective courses to tailor your studies to your area of interest.
- Get the opportunity to work with many of Iceland's most productive computer science researchers.
- Good preparation for doctoral studies.