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 2025-2026
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:
- 201700074 Internet Security (InS)
- 202300045 Security and Cryptography (Crp)
- 201600051 Software Security (SoS)
- 202300044 Cyber Risk Management (CRM)
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)
- 201500039 Security Verification (SeV)
- 201700086 System Security (SyS)
- 192140122 System Validation (SyV)
- 202300047 Cyber Data Analytics (CDA)
- 202300046 Privacy Enhancing Technologies bootcamp (PET)
- 201700079 Blockchain and Distributed ledger technology (BCT)
- 201500040 Introduction to Biometrics (Bio)
- 202000026 Secure Cloud Computing (SCC)
- 202100073 Empirical Security Analysis & Engineering (ESA, note collaboration with Muenster, requires travel)
- 201500038 E-Law (eLa)
- 202400121 Automated Vulnerability Research and Mitigation (AVRM)
- 202500500 Economics of Cyber Security
- 202500372 Quantum Computing and Post-Quantum Cryptography
Profiling space
Suggested Electives:
- 192620010 Mobile and Wireless Networking (MWN)
- 202001472 Software Testing and Risk assessment (STAR)
- 201400177 Cloud Networking (CIN)
- 202500276 Machine Learning 1 (ML1)
- 192130112 Distributed Systems (DiS)
- 202001579 Internet Measurements (IMs)
- 201700077 Advanced Networking (ANET)
- 202000028 Smart Industry Systems (SIS)
- 202300336 Explainable AI (XAI)
- 202400613 Security Experiments - Part I - Modelling Cyber Threats
- 202400614 Security Experiments - Part II - Execution and Analysis
- 202300300 Cybersecurity: Information Hiding in Business & Social Contexts
EIT Digital & SPECTRO Cyber security
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:
- 201700074 Internet Security (InS)
- 202300045 Security and Cryptography (Crp)
- 201600051 Software Security (SoS)
- 202300044 Cyber Risk Management (CRM)
- 202100178 I&E Basics: Innovation Management for EIT
- 201700119 Business Development Lab I
- 201700120 Business Development Lab II
- 201700086 System Security (SyS)
- 202400627 I&E for Venture Creation (external summerschool) (4EC)
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
- 201500039 Security Verification (SeV)
- 201500040 Introduction to Biometrics (Bio)
- 202300047 Cyber Data Analytics (CDA)
- 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
- 202500372 Quantum Computing and Post-Quantum Cryptography
Elective Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) courses
- 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:
- 191612680 Computer Ethics (5EC)
- 201800524 Research Topics EIT (4EC)
- 201800525 I&E Study EIT (6EC)
- 192199978 Final Project (30 EC) at a company or external organization
For the remainder of the 60EC, the student needs to pick at least 15 EC from the following courses:
- 202000026 Secure Cloud Computing (SCC)
- 192140122 System Validation (SyV)
- 202300044 Cyber Risk Management (CRM)
- 192110940 Secure Data Management (SDM)
- 201500039 Security Verification (SeV)
- 201500040 Introduction to Biometrics (Bio)
- 202500276 Machine Learning 1 (ML1)
- 201700075 Internet of Things (IoT)
- 201400177 Cloud Networking (ClN)
- 192130112 Distributed Systems (DiS)
- 201600071 Machine Learning 2 (ML2)
- 201700079 Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology (BCT)
- 192620010 Mobile and Wireless Networking (MWN)
- 202300047 Cyber Data Analytics (CDA)
- 201500038 E-Law (eLa)
- 201700083 Security Services for the Internet of Things (SSI)
- 202100073 Empirical Security Analysis & Engineering (ESA)
- 202400121 Automated Vulnerability Research and Mitigation (AVR)
- 202500500 Economics of Cyber Security
- 202500372 Quantum Computing and Post-Quantum Cryptography
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.