Master's Degree Programme in Information and Communication Technology: Cyber Security
Turku, Finland
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
22 Jan 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 12,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Free for citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland, for citizens of non-EU/EEA countries €12,000/academic year.
Introduction
Discover all degree programs at the University of Turku
Be the expert for the secure future of information technologies
The Master’s Degree Programme in Information and Communication Technology provides versatile and high-quality ICT education in selected fields of ICT, with an established reputation in innovative interdisciplinary and international education.
The Cyber Security specialization track will give you profound and substantial education and expertise in the field of security and technology for networked systems. The technological topics covered in the program include the security of smart environments, system and network security, security of communication systems and applications, and designing secure systems.
You will explore both technological and theoretical scientific advances in the field and apply them to practice. After graduating, you will have a strong technological, theoretical, and practical understanding of cybersecurity. With this new knowledge and skills, you will be able to proceed to build a successful career in securing the information and communication technology industry.
The Cyber Security specialization track is a member of the EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology) Digital Master School in Cyber Security. The program also has a EUR-ACE® accreditation.
Academic Excellence & Experience
The education in the program is based on current cybersecurity research and includes hands-on modules on state-of-the-art vendor systems from our industrial partners. You will gain profound and substantial education and expertise in the field of secure networked systems. The topic is approached in a multi-disciplinary fashion with compulsory studies also on cryptographic and management aspects of cybersecurity.
Specialization Tracks
The specialization in Cyber Security is one of five tracks in the Master’s Degree Programme in Information and Communication Technology. In addition to Cyber Security, the program offers four other specialization tracks:
- Cryptography,
- Data Analytics,
- Robotics and Autonomous Systems,
- and Software Engineering.
Meet programme staff, current students, and study advisors:
Join the Virtual Open Week with 30+ live sessions from 18–22 November!
Admissions
Curriculum
Program Structure
- The scope of the Master of Science in Technology (DI) degree is 120 ECTS credit points, and the degree is divided into the following modules for the Cyber Security track:
- Joint advanced studies of the ICT degree program, 20 ECTS;
- Studies in Communication and Cyber Security Engineering, 20 ECTS;
- Advanced studies in Communication and Cyber Security Engineering, 10 ECTS;
- Master’s thesis, 30 ECTS;
- Thematic module or minor subject, 20-25 ECTS;
- Elective studies, 15-20 ECTS.
Master's Thesis & Topics
In the master’s thesis in Technology, you will prove your ability to perform scientific work, skillfulness in research methods, knowledge of the research field, and skill in scientific writing. To complete the master’s thesis, you will need to apply your technological skills and abilities. You will identify an engineering problem, study its relevance to the field, propose and design a solution, test and analyze it, and evaluate its merit.
The thesis is often commissioned by a company, meaning that you may have the chance to get directly employed by the company commissioning the thesis, potentially leading to a successful career in the industry. On the other hand, an academia-oriented student might seek a thesis topic in a research group at the university and target a Ph.D. candidate position upon completion of an academically merited master’s thesis.
Topics of recently completed master’s theses include:
- Mitigating Modern Organization-Wide Network Threats and Data Leakages
- Evaluation of Machine Learning Classifiers for Mobile Network Intrusion Detection Systems
- Software-Based Malware Analysis and Mitigation in Virtual Machines
- Frequent Attack Dictionary Decision Tree Method for Advanced Signature-Based Intrusion Detection
- Security requirements in tradable IoT ecosystems
- An Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Framework for Online Investigations
- Applying Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model to Improve Information Security Policy Compliance among Employees
- Experimental Penetration Testing Teaching and Learning for High School Students Using Cloud Computing
- Access Control Process for a SaaS Provider
- A SystemC Simulator for Secure Data Transfer in Healthcare Internet of Things
Program Outcome
Competence Description
After completing the Master’s degree in Cyber Security, you will have achieved:
- good knowledge of the cyber security of communication systems and their applications;
- the ability to define the requirements for secure data transmission for future services in different telecommunication solutions;
- understanding of the integration challenges of the Internet of Things (IoT) and autonomous systems/robotics;
- understanding of IoT system architectures and their cyber security requirements and solutions;
- the ability to analyze essential communication protocols, network technologies, and cyber security technologies, the ability to make the right system design solutions for essential applications;
- ability to define, design, manage, and analyze network security solutions based on commercial and open-source firewall technologies and intrusion detection systems;
- ability to select appropriate cyber security solutions for the desired applications;
- ability to identify cyber security risks and, through careful cyber security planning, the ability to prevent them from materializing; and to manage the problems the risks may cause.
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarship Opportunities
The University of Turku supports merited and motivated students with generous scholarships. The university offers these scholarships to students pursuing Master's level studies who are subject to tuition fees.
Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, and you can apply for a scholarship by simply answering “yes” to the corresponding question in the online application form when you apply for the programme.
One type of scholarship covers whole tuition fees for two years for Master’s degree programmes. In addition to that, there is a scholarship for the best applicants that covers tuition fees and includes an additional grant of €5,000.
Approximately 30 % of the admitted students are awarded a scholarship by the University of Turku.
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Job Options
The expertise profile may lead to a career title of, for example:
- Network security specialist
- Information security specialist
- Security manager
- Chief information officer
- Cryptography engineer
The information-intensive industry has become the most important business sector in Finland, and information has become one of the most relevant products. Securing this business sector and its products is vital in the modern era.
Securing this business sector and its products is vital in the modern era. In addition to pursuing careers in the IT industry as cybersecurity specialists and experts, graduates of this major subject are also eligible to apply for admission to Ph.D. studies in the field.
Career in Research
Master's degree (Technology) also gives you eligibility for scientific postgraduate degree studies – doctoral and licentiate degrees. Degrees can be completed within the University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS) and Doctoral Programmes.
Student Testimonials
Program Admission Requirements
Show your commitment and readiness for Grad school by taking the GRE - the most broadly accepted exam for graduate programs internationally.