Deakin University
Graduate Certificate of Cyber Security
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 6 months
- Course Type: Graduate Certificate
Gain insight into the skills required to identify, analyse and manage cyber security challenges and graduate ready for a successful career anywhere in the world.
Course overview
With cyber-attacks becoming more frequent, cyber security skills are crucial for the success of our digital future and professionals in this field are in high demand globally. Learn how to identify, diagnose and manage cyber security threats and graduate ready for a successful cyber security career anywhere in the world.
Focusing on a range of key industry-relevant areas, you will develop expertise in system security and digital forensics, analytics and organisational security. You will graduate equipped with the knowledge and talent to take on an expert security role within business, government or law enforcement.
Skilled cyber security professionals are needed across government, finance, tech, education, communications and entertainment industries and more. You will graduate with promising career opportunities, equipped with strategies to protect digital assets and the people who rely on them.
In the Graduate Certificate of Cyber Security, you will learn from experienced lecturers, benefit from Deakin’s cutting-edge facilities and have access to leading industry partners. You will delve deep into the principles, practices and technologies involved in protecting digital systems and networks. These cover the entire spectrum of protection, from governance and maintenance to physical and remote access, monitoring and reporting.
You will gain the vital skills to identify vulnerabilities in digital systems, implement effective security measures and respond to cyber incidents. Additionally, you will enhance your critical thinking, problem-solving skills and communication abilities, which are indispensable in the field 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
July, 2026
November, 2026
What you will study
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Cyber Security, students must pass four credit points, which must include the following:
- Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (zero-credit point compulsory unit)
- Four core units (four credit points)
Core units
- Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (zero credit points)
- Identity, Access Management and Physical Security
- Analytics for Security and Privacy
- Cyber Security Management
- Computer Networks and Security
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements or higher to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
Academic requirements
A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.
To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Completion of a bachelor degree or higher in a related discipline.
- Completion of a bachelor degree or higher in any discipline and at least two years' relevant* work experience (or part-time equivalent).
*Related to the broad field of Information Technology.
English language proficiency requirements
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- Bachelor degree from a recognised English-speaking country
- IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
- Other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)
Recognition of Prior Learning
Deakin aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations.
Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course with Deakin, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed with Deakin.
You can also refer to the Recognition of prior learning Page which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin degree and how to apply for credit.
Recognition of prior learning may be granted to applicants based on prior studies and/or equivalent industry experience.
Visit their website or contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
- Develop specialised and essential knowledge of security needs for design and development of secure systems, processes, concepts and technologies; to develop software systems, products and solutions that automate business processes at par with benchmarks and industry standards and based on evolving cyber security needs.
- Communicate in a professional context to inform, explain and drive sustainable innovation through cyber security and to motivate and effect change, utilising a range of verbal, graphical and written methods, recognising the needs of diverse audiences.
- Identify, select and use digital technologies, platforms, frameworks and tools from the field of cyber security to generate, manage, process and share digital resources.
- Evaluate and critically analyse information provided and their sources to inform decision making and evaluation of plans and solutions associated with the field of cyber security.
- Apply advanced cognitive, technical and creative skills from cyber security to understand requirements and design, implement, operate and evaluate solutions to real-world and ill-defined computing problems.
- Work independently to apply knowledge and skills in a professional manner to new situations and/or further learning in the field of cyber security with adaptability, autonomy, responsibility and personal accountability for actions as a practitioner and a learner.
Career outcomes
Career options are varied so you could work anywhere in the world as a:
- Security Analyst
- Project Manager
- Security System manager
- Security Consultant
- Security System developer or Programmer Information Security Auditor
- Business Continuity or IT security Engineer
Fees and CSP
Estimated tuition fee in 2025: $4,657 (Commonwealth Supported Place).
Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2025: $17,200 (domestic full-fee paying place).
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of four credit points (normally four units) per year.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- 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 (CSP)
The Australian Government allocates certain numbers of CSP to 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 unit you're enrolled in.
- Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.