Master of Science in Cyber Security

Program Overview

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Master of Science in Cyber Security

Course Details

• Full Time
• Part Time
• Duration: 1+ year
• Intake Date: 25 August 2025, 15 December 2025
• Awarding Body: APU, Malaysia
• Duration: 2 years 6 months
• Intake Date: 13 June 2025, 15 August 2025, 31 October 2025
• Awarding Body: APU, Malaysia

About APU

Why choose APU?

• Malaysia’s Premier Digital Tech University
• 5-Star Excellence Rating (SETARA)
• 100% Employability Rate
• Ranked No.16 for International Students in the World
• More than 80,000 Graduates & Alumni

Part-Time Module Schedule

| Click here to download 2025 Part-Time Module Schedule |

Dual Degree

APU-DMU Dual Degree Programme

Students who are under Masters Degree Programme will have the option to opt-in for the APU-DMU Dual Degree Scheme. Under this Scheme, students will receive 2 Degree Certificates & Transcripts upon graduation: 1 from Asia Pacific University (APU), Malaysia and 1 from De Montfort University (DMU), UK.

Accreditation

More Than Just A Cyber Security Master Programme

APU's Master of Science in Cyber Security programme is designed to provide you an edge with the latest technologies that are in line with the Industrial Revolution 4.0.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

• General Requirements:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computing or related fields with a minimum CGPA of 2.50, or its equivalent qualification as accepted by the Senate.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computing or related fields with a minimum CGPA of 2.00 and not meeting a CGPA of 2.50 can be accepted, subject to a rigorous internal assessment.
  • Bachelor’s degree in non-related fields with a minimum CGPA of 2.00 as accepted by the Senate and with relevant working experience, subject to a rigorous internal assessment.
  • Bachelor’s degree in non-related fields with a minimum CGPA of 2.00 as accepted by the Senate and without relevant working experience, subject to passing pre-requisite courses.
• English Requirements:
  • IELTS: 5.5
  • Students from English speaking countries and those with qualifications taught in English (previous Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree taught in English) are exempted from English requirements. Applications for exemption must be accompanied by supporting documents.

Programme Outline

What We Teach

This programme is specifically designed to provide:

• Opportunity for professional development at an advanced level within the area of Cyber Security.
• Enhancement of skills and knowledge in Cyber Security for practising IT professionals.
• Ability to further develop specialisation gained in taught modules through an extensive research-based and/or technical-based dissertation, to prepare the student to be a subject matter expert in the field.
• Furthermore, APU is also poised to become a frontrunner in cyber security research through the establishment of the Forensics and Cyber Security (FSEC) Research Centre, through which research activities will be undertaken to challenge boundaries in the application of cyber security.

The Benefits of the Programme

• The curriculum covers a wide range of industry relevant subject areas in Security Operations Centre (SOC) and Incident Response, Security Auditing and Assessment, Advanced Ethical Hacking, E-Investigation, Data Analytics in Cyber Security etc.
• External reviews conducted by Cyber Security Malaysia (CSM), KPMG and F-Secure during the development of the programme curriculum.
• Programme Support by an Industry Advisory Panel involving cyber security experts from Cyber Intelligence, Cyber Test Systems, Akati Consulting Group and Cyber Security Malaysia (CSM).
• A fully-functional Security Operations Centre (SOC) that allows students to have hands-on cybersecurity operations platform to monitor live data which allows them to perform real-time cyber security monitoring to fortify network defense with global threat intelligence and launching faster response on cyber security incidents.
• A full-fledged Cyber Threats Simulation and Response Centre – Cyber Range is also included within the Cyber Security Talent Zone in APU. Cyber Range incorporates latest technologies and a military grade cyber-defence system, enabling students to understand and formulate defence strategies, and practice the entire chain of cyber defence, while preparing them to deal with real cyber threat attack when it happens.
• A technical project related to Cyber Security as dissertation in the final semester.
• Research opportunities for students via APU’s Forensic and Cyber Security Research Centre - FSEC.

Who Should Attend

This programme is geared towards practicing IT/Computing professionals within industry who seek further formal qualifications in Cyber Security. In addition, professionals and managers who wish to enhance themselves with Cyber Security knowledge and skills to postgraduate level will find this programme attractive. Fresh undergraduate students from Cyber Security / Digital Forensics background will also find this programme worthwhile as a path to further enhance their academic qualifications.

Modules & Project

This programme comprises 10 coursework modules and a Project. There are 7 compulsory Core Modules (including Research Methodology module) and you will have to choose 3 elective modules from those listed.

• Pre-Requisite Modules (for non-computing students)
  • Duration: 1 month (Full-time) / 4 months (Part-time)
  • Programming in Python
  • Database for Data Science
  • Digital Forensics and Cyber Security Tools
• Core Modules
  • Information Security Design
  • Data Analytics in Cyber Security
  • Cyber Security & Threats
  • Security Operations Center & Incident Response
  • Advanced Ethical Hacking
  • Advanced Digital Forensics
  • Research Methodology in Computing & Engineering
  • Project Paper
• Elective Modules (Choose 3)
  • Network Design & Performance
  • Information Security Architectures
  • Security Audit and Assessment
  • E-Investigation
  • Applied Scripting in Cyber Security

Project

As part of this course, you are expected to complete an extensive project paper in relation to Cyber Security for both academic and industry purposes. This project paper will be supervised by a member of academic staff as the main supervisor. It may involve working with an external organisation (probably directly relevant to your work or organisation or any of our industry partners). You are given considerable flexibility in choosing any Cyber Security related topics to base your project paper. As for the deliverables, you are required to come up with a prototype/ simulation/ framework etc. (the list is just an example and not limited to only these) and to produce one project paper and a publishable conference/ journal paper consists of summary of the work.

Distinguished

Rocheston

The Rocheston Certified Penetration Tester (RCPT) program stresses research, live labs and interactive sessions on emerging security findings, offering the scope for defining the information security requirements while finding options to enhance existing methodology assets. The RCPT certification is designed and embedded as part of Advanced Ethical Hacking module in the Master of Science in Cyber Security programme, to allow the students to have an industry-standard exposure towards penetration testing as well as an opportunity to upskill themselves in real-life scenarios and simulations through the offered CyberLabs. As such, every student in the programme is given equal opportunity in getting their hands on the certification as part of the syllabus learn in the module without the need of taking up additional training resources. Students can opt for the Rocheston certification which is valid for 2 years and subject to a renewal process to ensure all Penetration Testers are updated with the current scope of Penetration Testing.

Certified Hacker Forensics Investigator (CHFI)

Upon completion of the Advanced Digital Forensics module, students will be ready and may opt for the Certified Hacker Forensics Investigator (CHFI) professional certification. The CHFI certification is provided by the International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants [EC-Council], which is an American organisation that offers cybersecurity certification, education, training, and services in various cybersecurity skills. EC-Council is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and has certified over 237,000 professionals from 145 countries (CHFI is an advanced cybersecurity certification for forensic network security investigators.

Certified Security Operation Centre Analyst (CSOC)

Upon completion of the Security Operations Center (SOC) & Incident Response SOC module, students will be ready and may opt for the Certified Security Operation Center (CSOC) professional certification. The CSOC examination is certified by the Global ACE Certification where the certification body for the Global ACE Certification is the Information Security Certification Body or ISCB, a department within CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM). Candidates can take the examination at authorised examination centres in participating member countries. Candidates who have successfully passed the CSOC examination will be eligible to apply as an associate or professional member by fulfilling the membership criteria defined under the Global ACE Certification.

Award

Cyber Security Innovation (Education) of the Year award

APU Wins Cyber Security Innovation (Education) of the Year 2024 by CyberSecurity Malaysia

We are thrilled to share the exciting news that APU has been honoured with the prestigious Cyber Security Innovation (Education) of the Year award by CyberSecurity Malaysia at the Malaysia Cyber Security Awards 2024 held at KLCC.

Facilities

Facilities at APU

The APU Centre Point & Atrium serves as a melting pot of cultures from all over the world. Here, cultural activities are organised regularly at the campus, fostering long-lasting intercultural relationships among APU students, who come from over 130 countries.

Career Path

Your Career Path

• Cyber Security Analyst / Consultant
• Information Security Analyst
• Cyber Security Incident Response Consultant
• Digital Forensic Investigator
• Cyber Security Engineer
• Information Security Engineer
• Cyber Security Manager
• Information Security Manager
• Security Architect

Fees & Certification

Ready, Set, Go.

• Malaysian: RM37,200
• International: RM40,800 (USD9,490)
• MQA Cert: Programme code : (R/0613/7/0019)(05/29)(MQA/FA11934)

All information is correct at the time of publication, but is subject to change in the interest of continuing improvement.