Diploma of Cybersecurity

Program Overview

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Diploma of Cybersecurity

Key Information

Duration

8 to 12 months

Intake Dates

February, June, October

Campus Location

Melbourne, Sydney

2025 Domestic Fees

A$26,336

FEE-Help available

2025 International Fees

A$36,808

CRICOS K

Course Overview

Our new pathway program in cybersecurity offers you the opportunity to step into the rapidly evolving digital world of cybersecurity.

Upon completion of the diploma, you will enter the second year of the Bachelor of Cybersecurity at La Trobe University.

Students will build a highly specialised technical skillset as you learn about the history of hacking, build your coding expertise, and access industry-based projects and mentoring opportunities with major corporations.

As a cybersecurity expert you will learn to:

Cybersecurity Fundamentals

• Learn the basic principles and best practices of cybersecurity. Understand how it mitigates cyber vulnerabilities and protects confidential information.
• Ethical hacking and defence
• Gain evaluation techniques to assess the security of network configuration and apply these skills to defend against network-based threats.

Programming and Cyber Algorithms

• Explore the widely used Python programming language and learn how algorithms are used to solve cybersecurity challenges.

Network Engineering

• Study the architecture of computer networks and the internet, and examine protocols and services used in the defence of online information.
• Cyber governance and risk management
• Learn the frameworks for cybersecurity governance and risk mitigation based on your emerging understanding of business strategy and risk appetite.

Degree Pathway

Gain direct entry into 2nd year of:

• Bachelor of Cybersecurity

Course Structure

What you’ll be studying

Throughout your Diploma of Cybersecurity, you will study a total of eight units before graduation and articulating into the degree program. The Diploma consists of six core units and two elective units.

First Trimester

Students who enter with IELTS <6.0 or equivalent will be required to undertake the free Language Development Module as part of their program.

Core Units

Academic Integrity Module (LTM1AIM)

• This subject introduces students to the principals of academic integrity in the context of La Trobe University’s values and policy. Students learn what their responsibilities are in relation to maintaining ethical standards in all aspects of academic work and the potential ramifications for academic misconduct according to the Academic Integrity Policy. Activities and quizzes are provided, which are designed to develop and understanding of the concepts of cheating, plagiarism and collusion. Topics include an explaining of how the text-matching tool ‘Turnitin” is used at La Trobe, and where to get help and where to go to develop referencing skills.
• Assessment: Final Quiz (must achieve 8/10 to pass), Statement of Student responsibility (must achieve 10/10 to pass)

Data Based Critical Thinking (SSTA1DCT)

• This subject helps the student evaluate data-based evidence encountered in everyday life. It provides the fundamental numeracy skills required by business people, lawyers, nurses, journalists, social scientists, teachers and other professionals who need to evaluate data-based arguments, whether found in newspapers, television or on-line websites. This is achieved by a combination of studying newsworthy topics introduced in lectures, computer laboratory classes which encourage engagement with others and on-line quizzes that assess numeracy skills. The four themes covered in this subject are gathering useful data, turning data into information, probability and from data to decision making. These themes are designed for students who do not have any background in mathematics, statistics or probability.

Assessment: Class tests (30%), Final lab test (20%), Final written exam (50%)

Introduction to Cybersecurity (TCSE1ICB)

• In the modern Internet era, industries and organizations need to be prepared to defend against cyber threats and attacks. Stakeholders should be familiar with basic principles and best practices of cybersecurity to protect their businesses and personal information. In this subject, these principles and strategies for future cyber security are explored. Key topics include information security, ethical and legal practices, mitigating cyber vulnerabilities, and the process of incident response and analysis. The subject introduces the broad discipline of cybersecurity and outlines how to ensure the privacy, reliability, confidentiality and integrity of information systems and mitigate against cyber threats and risks.

Assessment: Test (20%), Quiz (10%), Assignment (20%), Final written exam (50%)

Inside Information Technology (TCSE1IIT)

• In this subject, students will be provided with a general and practical introduction to information technology for students in a range of disciplines. This subject will guide students to implement the IT skills to their field of study. It covers: fundamental principles of computer operation, the main hardware components of the computer, data storage and retrieval, introduction to system software, introduction to data communications, computer networks, the Internet; operating systems, file management systems, security, introduction to information systems; application software modules: spreadsheets, database packages, the World Wide Web.

Assessment: Class tests (40%), Final written exam (60%)

Programming for Engineers and Scientists (TCSE1PEXS)

• This subject introduces students to analysing, designing, constructing and documenting solutions to programming problems. The students are also introduced to commonly used operating systems and tools used in program development in the Java programming language.

Assessment: Quizzes (5%), Progress and programming tests (20%), Programming assignment (5%), Final written exam (70%)

Network Engineering Fundamentals (TCSE2NEF)

• In this subject we introduce the architecture, structure, functions, components, and models of the Internet and other computer networks. We also look at OSI and TCP/IP layer models to examine the nature and roles of protocols and services at the application, network, data link, and physical layers. The fundamentals of IP addressing and basic concepts of Ethernet will also be studied.

Assessment: Class tests (30%), Final lab test (20%), Final written exam (50%)

Cybersecurity in Practice (TCSE1CPR)

• Every organization and business that intends to protect itself from threats of cyber-attacks needs to know current practices in cyber defence. This subject will introduce common technologies used to identify and mitigate threats including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, intrusion protection systems and honeypots. This subject also introduces incident response processes and simple ways to incorporate secure programming practices to make computer programs less vulnerable to attacks.

Assessment: Class reports and submissions (40%), Final written exam (60%)

Electives

• Any two available electives offered in any other Diploma program that are currently available.

Popular Career Paths

Employment and career options after completing your Bachelor’s degree:

Once you finish the Diploma of Cybersecurity and the Bachelor of Cybersecurity, you may find roles in the following fields:

• Ethical hacker
• Cryptographer/cryptanalyst
• Security architect
• Cybersecurity policy adviser
• Software developer

Entry Requirements

View entry requirements for domestic and international students.