MSc Cybersecurity

The MSc Cybersecurity programme at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) is a full-time postgraduate programme designed to provide advanced knowledge and practical skills for protecting information systems, digital assets, and organisations against evolving cybersecurity threats. The programme is taught entirely in English and has a nominal duration of 2 years (120 ECTS), leading to the Master of Science in Engineering (MSc) degree.

Programme Focus

The programme covers a broad range of cybersecurity topics, combining theoretical knowledge with practical learning. Students develop expertise in areas including cybersecurity, digital forensics, cryptography, cybersecurity management and technology, human factors, cybersecurity law, threat intelligence, space cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Students have the opportunity to learn from cybersecurity specialists as well as professionals from industry, law enforcement, CERT, and the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. The programme is designed to help students understand complex security challenges and develop the skills required to respond effectively to emerging cybersecurity risks.

Programme Structure

The curriculum consists of 120 ECTS and includes several study components:

• General Studies: Provides opportunities to learn about information technology, entrepreneurship, and/or Estonian language and culture.
• Core Studies: Develops fundamental cybersecurity knowledge related to management, technology, human aspects, and legal issues.
• Special Studies: Focuses on Cybersecurity, Digital Forensics, and Cryptography, with opportunities to select specialist courses within these areas.
• Free Choice Courses: Allows students to select subjects according to their individual interests or chosen specialisation.
• Graduation Thesis: A scientific project through which students apply theoretical knowledge to practical problems in IT and cybersecurity.

Practical Learning

The programme combines academic and theoretical education with hands-on experience. Students can develop practical capabilities in cybersecurity, digital forensics, cryptography, and other specialist areas. An online lab and online interview are also included among the programme requirements.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in IT or ICT. A degree in another field may also be accepted if the applicant has at least one year of work experience in IT.

Applicants are required to have at least 60% of the highest possible CGPA. If the Bachelor’s degree average is below 60%, the requirement may be considered fulfilled upon the programme manager’s proposal if the applicant has achieved at least 60% of the maximum possible grade in previous Master’s studies. However, this alternative can only be applied when the Bachelor’s CGPA is not below 50%.

A GRE General Test result is also required as a preliminary application requirement. The programme specifies that applicants should consult the university’s information for the required threshold score and applicable exemption criteria.

English Language Requirements

Applicants must provide adequate proof of English language proficiency. The accepted English-language certificates and required scores are specified by Tallinn University of Technology.

English-language proof may only be waived when the applicant has completed on-site secondary education, a Bachelor’s degree, or a Master’s degree that was fully taught in English in one of the specified countries: EU/EEA member states, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom.

If studies were completed in English but were not undertaken on-site in one of these countries, an internationally recognised English language test is required.

Motivation Letter

Applicants must submit an individual motivation letter (statement of purpose) for each programme they apply to. The letter should explain the applicant’s professional goals, reasons for choosing the programme, and how the degree will support their professional profile.

Applicants should also describe their previous IT experience and competencies, including professional work, projects, training courses, online IT courses, open-source contributions, and coding repositories such as GitHub or Bitbucket. Applicants without previous IT experience should explain their motivation for pursuing cybersecurity.

The motivation letter should also highlight important achievements, such as open-source development or academic publications, and identify 1–2 potential research questions that the applicant may consider for their final MSc thesis.

Sources used in the motivation letter must be properly cited and referenced. The university states that AI-generated text is not acceptable because the motivation letter is intended to demonstrate the applicant’s genuine motivation. Failure to follow these requirements may result in disqualification.

Tuition and Application Fee

The tuition fee is €7,000 per year. The programme is tuition-free for EU/EEA citizens.

An application fee of €100 is required per applicant. This is a one-time, non-refundable fee and allows an applicant to apply for up to two programmes.

Scholarship options are available through Tallinn University of Technology.

Career Opportunities

Graduates can pursue technical and managerial careers in cybersecurity and related areas. Potential technical career paths include:

• Security Analyst
• Security Architect
• Research Engineer
• Security Incident Handler
• Digital Forensic Expert
• Digital forensics roles within law enforcement agencies

The programme can also support progression into managerial positions such as project or team leader and technology officer.

The degree may be particularly valuable for students with previous backgrounds in legal studies or law enforcement, providing opportunities to combine those backgrounds with specialist cybersecurity knowledge.

Graduates can also continue their studies at doctoral level. The direct follow-up curriculum at Tallinn University of Technology is the Information and Communication Technology (IAQD) PhD programme.

Programme Information

The programme is offered by the School of Information Technologies at Tallinn University of Technology in Tallinn, Estonia. The course code is 258614, IVCM. The programme leads to the MSc (Master of Science in Engineering) qualification and requires 120 ECTS over two years.

The stated studies commencement date is 31 August. According to the provided information, the application period has ended.