Program Overview

Master's Degree Programme in Information and Communication Technology: Cryptography

The Master's Degree Programme in Information and Communication Technology: Cryptography is a 2-year programme that provides a solid background in mathematical cryptography and cyber security. The programme is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to pursue a career in the IT sector as information security specialists and experts.

Extent of the Study Programme

The programme consists of 120 ECTS credits and is completed in 2 academic years.

Tuition Fee

The tuition fee for the programme is free for citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland, and 12,000 per academic year for citizens of non-EU/EEA countries.

Qualifications

The programme leads to a Master of Science (Technology) degree.

Studies Begin

The studies begin in late August 2026.

Location

The programme is located in Turku, Finland.

Language

The language of instruction is English.

Mode of Teaching

The mode of teaching is contact teaching.

Faculty and Annual Quota

The programme is offered by the Faculty of Science, and the annual quota is 55 students.

Application Period and Entry Requirements

The application period is in January 2026, and the entry requirements include a relevant Bachelor's degree, excellent English language skills, and a certificate that proves those skills.

General Admission Requirements

The general admission requirements include a nationally recognized first cycle degree, corresponding to at least 180 ECTS credits or three years of full-time study, and a degree in a relevant field for the Master's degree programme.

Language Requirements

The language requirements include excellent English language skills and a certificate that proves those skills.

Study Right

It is not possible to have more than one Bachelor's or Master's study right at the same Faculty.

Track-Specific Admission Requirements

The track-specific admission requirements include a previous degree in mathematics or other relevant fields of studies with a solid background in mathematics.

Application Evaluation

The decision of admission will be based on the relevance of the applicant's awarded degree, the amount and grades of the courses in the degree, the language test result, the motivation letter, and possible relevant work experience.

Programme Structure

The programme structure includes advanced-level studies in the major subject, thematic module or minor subject, other studies, and a Master's thesis.

Advanced-Level Studies

The advanced-level studies include 50 ECTS credits in the major subject, consisting of:

• Cryptography (20 ECTS)
• Security of networked systems and security management (20 ECTS)
• Supporting studies in mathematics (10 ECTS)

Thematic Module or Minor Subject

The thematic module or minor subject includes 20-25 ECTS credits.

Other Studies

The other studies include 15-20 ECTS credits.

Master's Thesis

The Master's thesis includes 30 ECTS credits.

Career Options

The programme provides a solid background in mathematical cryptography and cyber security, and the graduates are eligible to apply for admission to PhD studies in the field. The career options include:

• Chief Information Officer
• Chief Information Security Officer
• Cryptography Engineer
• Cryptography Security Analyst
• Cryptography Security and Research Consultant
• Cyber Security Analyst
• Cyber Security Consultant
• Cyber Security Manager
• Head of Information Security
• Information Security Specialist
• Network Security Specialist
• Penetration and Vulnerability Tester
• Security Engineer

Research Areas

The research areas include public-key cryptosystems, homomorphic encryption, blockchains in cryptography, and post-quantum cryptography.