Cyber security courses

A cyber security degree is a hands-on qualification that will teach you how to protect data and prevent malicious digital activity on behalf of individuals, businesses and government agencies. 

While some cyber security degrees cover IT fundamentals, many will require you to have some existing IT experience in order to understand the course content.    

There is no one answer to this question. The best course for you will depend on where you are in your career and what you hope to achieve.  

If you’re a beginner with little to no IT knowledge, then it’s worth considering a more general IT course that delves into computing and internet security. From there, you could explore cyber security further. 

If you already have an IT qualification and you’d like to upskill in cyber security, a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security will cover the essentials quickly. Alternatively, a more comprehensive Master of Cyber Security will help you to go after more technical, senior cyber security roles, including in the intelligence space.   

Learning anything technical can be a challenge, but if you’re a problem solver with a passion for the digital world, then you should be able to fill any gaps in your practical knowledge.   

You may find cyber security easier to study if you have a basic understanding of computer networking and programming. Consider taking a short IT course to increase your knowledge before enrolling in a cyber security degree online. There are many available through Open Universities Australia.   

A cyber security career will require you to think and communicate in the online world, so there's no better profession to study online. You will be able to refine these skills prior to entering the industry as a paid professional. 

When you study with your university online through Open Universities Australia, you receive the same qualification you would have received on campus. The key difference is that you have the flexibility to study when and how you choose. You can take as many subjects as you like per study term and complete your qualification at a pace that suits you. 

The Australian Government estimates that the country will need another 11,000 cyber security specialists over the next decade to protect our data.

But there is currently a significant skills shortage in this space. This means that properly qualified cyber security experts are in hot demand across most industries—and will remain so for some time.

With your cyber security degree, you could explore work with public, private or government employers in roles such as:

• Business analyst
• Cyber security analyst
• Cyber security trainer
• Cyber security system developer
• IT manager
• IT security engineer
• Network architect
• Network consultant
• Solutions architect

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Chat with us to find out more.   

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.

• You can enrol without entry requirements 
  We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don’t meet the entry requirements for a degree, we’ll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
• You have total control over how you study
  Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We’ll introduce you to flexible study options you didn’t even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.
• You’ll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
  Once you enrol through us, you’ll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you’ll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.
• We’ll help you navigate the university world
  Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.