Cyber Security

Our society critically depends on cyber space for almost everything, including banking, transport & logistics, air travel, energy, telecommunications, flood defences, health care, email, social networks, and even warfare. The consequences of cyber security failures could be disastrous and the demand for cyber security specialists is therefore high and rising. The cyber security master specialization offers computer science master students the opportunity to become such a highly sought after cyber security specialist.

Cyber security Programme 2026-2027

The programme consists of:

  • Mandatory core and advanced specialization courses (e.g. cryptography, cyber data analytics, internet security, privacy enhancing technologies, secure data management, software security and security services for the Internet of Things).
  • A profiling space with a choice of technical and socio-technical electives
  • An individual final year project and the Computer Science course Computer Ethics, mandatory for all Master students CS.  

More information on the previous version, including the collaboration with the TUD, can be found in our archive or the Education and Examination Regulations of previous years. 

Core courses Computer Science 

The following courses are mandatory for all Computer Science Cyber Security students:

Core courses Cyber Security

The following 4 courses are mandatory:

Advanced cyber security courses

At least 4 courses should be chosen out of the following:

  • 192110940 Secure Data Management (SDM)
  • 201700083 Security Services for the Internet of Things (SSI)
  • 202600267 Security Verification (SeV)
  • 201700086 System Security (SyS)
  • 202600279 System Validation (SyV)
  • 202300046 Privacy Enhancing Technologies bootcamp (PET)
  • 201700079 Blockchain and Distributed ledger technology (BCT)
  • 201500040 Introduction to Biometrics (Bio)
  • 202600271 Secure Cloud Computing (SCC)
  • 202100073 Empirical Security Analysis & Engineering (ESA, note collaboration with Muenster, requires travel)
  • 202400121 Automated Vulnerability Research and Mitigation (AVRM)
  • 202500372 Quantum Computing and Post-Quantum Cryptography (QCPQC)

Socio-Technical courses

At least 1 out of:

  • 202300044 Cyber Risk Management (CRM)
  • 201500038 E-Law (eLa)
  • 202500500 Economics of Cyber Security
  • 202400613 Security Experiments - Part I - Modelling Cyber Threats
  • 202400614 Security Experiments - Part II - Execution and Analysis

Profiling space

Suggested Electives:

EIT Digital & SPECTRO Cyber security 2025-2026

The requirements for the specialization in Cyber Security can also be fulfilled by completing the Cyber security programme EIT Digital & SPECTRO, one year of which takes place at the University of Twente.

The entry year of EIT Digital & SPECTRO Cyber Security follows the rules for the Master’s programme in Computer Science. The total amount of credits during the entry year must be at least 60 EC. The exit year is completed at a partner university and will consist of at least a graduation project and a minor in Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E). 

Entry year

Core courses

The following course is mandatory to all CS students:

the following 9 courses are mandatory for EIT entry year students:

Advanced and profiling courses

At least 2 courses must be chosen out of the following advanced courses, elective I&E courses, or other suggested cyber security electives (see regular Cybsec programme):

Advanced courses

  • 201700083 Security Services for the Internet of Things
  • 202600267 Security Verification (SeV)
  • 201500040 Introduction to Biometrics (Bio)
  • 202300044 Cyber Risk Management (CRM)
  • 202300046 Privacy Enhancing Technologies bootcamp (PET)
  • 201700079 Blockchain and Distributed ledger technology (BCT)
  • 201500038 E-Law (eLa)
  • 192620010 Mobile and Wireless Networking (MWN)
  • 202400121 Automated Vulnerability Research and Mitigation (AVR)
  • 202500500 Economics of Cyber Security (EoS)
  • 202500372 Quantum Computing and Post-Quantum Cryptography 

Additional Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) electives

  • 201700019 Brand Management
  • 201800077 Bioresource Business Development & Management
  • 201800079 Bioresource Supply Chain Management
  • 201600155 Global Strategy and Business Development
  • 194105070 Information Systems for the Financial Services Industry
  • 201500008 Empirical Methods for Designers
  • 201600015 Strategic Technology Management and Innovation
  • 201500080 Advanced Topics in Digital Marketing
  • 201800205 Smart Industry
  • 201800230 Advanced Project in Impact, Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Exit year

The following parts are mandatory:

For the remainder of the 60EC, the student needs to pick at least 15 EC from the following courses:

Cum laude and graduation EIT

Exit year students follow the final project and graduation process at the UT, and afterwards receive their degree. In order to determine Cum Laude, their FP and grades during the year at the UT need to meet the cum laude requirements. Furthermore, if converted to the Dutch system, the grades at the entry university should also meet our requirements. 
Entry year students complete their graduation phase in their second year at one of the Exit partners and will likely write a thesis there, without direct supervision from a UT examiner. To obtain cum laude for their UT degree, students must have met our grade requirements in their first year. Furthermore, the thesis written at the exit university will be reviewed by at least one examiner from our programme to determine whether it meets our Cum Laude standards for the thesis. 
To start the diploma process, your transcript needs to be uploaded to the EIT portal by your exit university and both, entry and exit year togehter need to contain at least 120EC and cover all mandatory subjects (preferably 60 on either side). Furthermore, we request that you upload your thesis to our repository (use your programme mentor as supervisor). If you think you qualify for cum laude, also send the document to your UT programme mentor for review (cc BOZ, and eit-eemcs). Upon receiving the transcript and thesis, BOZ will initiate the degree process, and you will be informed of the steps and procedures for obtaining your documents.

Programme mentor

dr.ing. F.W. Hahn (Florian)
Programme mentor Cyber Security

Study advisor

S.S. Spuls MSc (Sanne)
Study adviser Master Computer Science

Make an appointment via https://eemcs.planner.utwente.nl/

Sanne is the main contact person for cohorts 2024-2025 and prior, plus the premasters. Cohort 2025-2026 can contact Rianne de Jong.

dr.ir. R. de Jong (Rianne)
Study adviser Master (and Bachelor) Computer Science

Make an appointment via https://eemcs.planner.utwente.nl/

Rianne is the main contact person for cohort 2025-2026.
Cohorts 2024-2025 and prior and premasters can contact Sanne Spuls.