Online Master of Cyber Security and Forensics
Advance your career in cyber security
Advance your career with an online Master of Cybersecurity and Forensics from the University of the Sunshine Coast. Built for career‑changers and IT professionals ready to progress, you’ll develop job‑ready skills for one of Australia’s highest demand tech sectors.
100% online programs
Embedded industry certifications
No experience? No problem.
Globally-transferrable skills
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- Duration 24 months
- Cost per program* $19,072
- Courses 14
Program Benefits
- Workforce ready. Graduate ready to step into investigative roles with law enforcement and defence and provide security expertise to support commercial data breaches and insider threat investigations.
- Developed by experts. Our team brings together academic excellence and practical expertise, drawing on experience across intelligence, defence, and national security sectors.
- Globally recognised industry certs. Knowledge and exams are embedded into the program. You’ll save thousands and graduate well ahead of peers from other universities.
Program overview
Fight crimes using cyber forensics. UniSC’s 100% online Master of Cyber Security and Forensics has been developed by experienced cybersecurity practitioners with deep expertise in intelligence, defence, and digital investigation.
By graduation, you’ll have firm working knowledge and experience in cyber security, network security, cryptocurrency, cryptography, blockchain, cyber laws, programming and digital and network forensics. You’ll also understand how to run projects, manage data and make evidence-based decisions.
As part of the program, you’ll graduate with your masters and globally recognised industry certifications.
- Microsoft (Security, Compliance, Identity Fundamentals)
- ITS Python
- Fortinet Cybersecurity certification
These credentials position you well ahead of peers from other universities, who will spend additional time and thousands of dollars earning them.
Cyber security and forensics careers are in demand, and prosperous
Australia has significantly escalated its response to cyber security threats. In the 2023–24 Federal Budget, the Australian Government committed more than $586 million over four years to implement the 2023–2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy, alongside ongoing multi‑billion‑dollar funding to the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) to expand national cyber and intelligence capabilities.1 2
At the same time, the persistent shortage of skilled cyber security professionals continues to drive salaries into six‑figure territory, with experienced cyber security analysts, engineers and managers commonly earning $120,000–$180,000+ per year in Australia.3 4
Explore cyber and forensic careersCurriculum
Curriculum: gain insider knowledge and experience
14 courses
2 years part-time
Embedded certifications
Cyber security and forensics move at a blistering pace, one that can easily burn resources and shut down companies if they aren’t prepared. The online Master of Cyber Security and Forensics at UniSC in Australia ensures you have the skills to prevent and manage attacks, minimise damage and stop cyber crimes.
We make sure you graduate workforce ready. We’ve partnered with the Sunshine Coast Technology Industry Alliance and have an advisory panel made up of leading IT companies such as Cisco, Dell, Oracle, Next DC and the Sunshine Coast Council. They regularly keep us abreast of trends and challenges so that we know you have the cutting-edge information you need to succeed.
View coursesGraduate with your masters and industry-recognised certifications, too
You’ll save time and thousands of dollars in our program — and be placed well ahead of peers with the same educational background — because the knowledge, prep and exams for these certifications are all included as part of our program.
- Microsoft (Security, Compliance, Identity Fundamentals)
- ITS Python
- Fortinet Cybersecurity certification
Entry requirements
Entry requirements: we make it easy to get started
Apply online
No application fee
To enrol you need:
- A completed Bachelor’s degree
- Transcripts from your completed bachelor’s program
- Resumé or CV
You can apply now.
If English is not your first language, you also need to meet the minimum English language requirements for your chosen program.
View entry requirements pageFees and support
Fee details
$1,192-$2,384 per course*
14 courses
Limited CSPs available
Your education is a long-term investment that pays dividends over time with top-paying careers that are in demand.
Even so, we realise that looking at total costs can seem daunting, but we’re here to help. This online Masters degree is available for FEE-HELP, and we have limited Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available for eligible students. We can also help guide you through how to have a conversation with your employers about getting tuition assistance.
Connect to study assist optionsOnline cyber and forensics program outcomes
When you graduate from UniSC’s online Master of Cyber Security and Forensics program, you’ll have the knowledge, experience and industry credentials you need to advance your career quickly.
Graduate able to:
- Use an advanced and specialist set of ethical and legal problem-solving and decision-making tools to assess, evaluate and analyse data related to cybercrime
- Apply specialist cyber forensic skills and competencies
- Use an advanced range of software and hardware in complex cyber security and forensics
- Demonstrate autonomy, well developed judgement and advanced qualities of professionalism, leadership and collaboration
- Demonstrate advanced theoretical and integrated understanding of computer technology, cyber security methods, forensics and legal frameworks
- Critically analyse the role of digital technology in society, including its capacity to be exploited by the criminal community and its effects on the victims
- Practice self-reflection using an ethical lens for continual skill and professional development
- Communicate research and data to specialist and non-specialist audiences
- Research and apply established theories to cyber security issues and innovations in industry or simulated environments. Present these globally recognised industry certifications:
- Microsoft (Security, Compliance, Identity Fundamentals)
- ITS Python
- Fortinet Cybersecurity certification
Short on time?
You can choose to earn a graduate certificate in either Cyber Security or in Cyber Forensics. Each graduate certificate consists of 4 courses that you could complete in just 8 months. As part of the programs, you’ll earn your graduate certificate alongside globally recognised industry certifications, making you a stand-out candidate in a high-demand job market.
If you decide to pursue the masters program after completing a graduate certificate, you may transfer your graduate certificate credits to the program. This means you’ll only need to complete 10 courses to earn your masters degree.
Explore Cyber Grad Cert Explore Forensics Grad CertYour teacher
DR. DENNIS DESMOND
- Lecturer, Cyber Intelligence
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Dennis Desmond has spent the majority of his career in the counterintelligence discipline, first as a U.S. Army Special Agent, later as an FBI Special Agent, and finally, as a Special Agent with the Defense Intelligence Agency. Dennis is a veteran of Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom IV and V. As an FBI Special Agent, Dr. Desmond was assigned to the National Computer Crime Squad as a National Security Division detailee. Dennis specialised in international and state-sponsored cyber threats, especially those from Eastern Europe. Dennis also worked closely with the various intelligence community members on national security-related cybercrime issues. As a Senior Intelligence Officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency, Dennis served as a HUMINT support officer focusing on identity Operations and Identity. Dennis earned several awards and recognition for establishing and leadership of a specialised cyber unit at Fort Meade, Maryland for the U.S. Department of Defense. Dennis’s last assignment was with the U.S. Special Operations Command as the Chief Identity Scientist supporting Special Mission Unit operations.
Dennis was selected to attend Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government as a National Security Fellow, attended the George C. Marshall School of Government in Garmisch, GE as a Senior Fellow, and has attended a variety of specialised law enforcement and intelligence training courses throughout the world. Dennis has also been an instructor for various U.S. Government agencies specialising in signature reduction, identity operations, and other intelligence-related topics.
For his PhD, Dennis researched the processes used by criminals to launder cryptocurrencies from a human-factors and sociotechnical systems perspective. He is also currently a researcher at the Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems on darknet interventions under an ARC Linkage Grant. Dennis has extensive experience working with international law enforcement and intelligence agency personnel.
Professional memberships
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia (HFESA)
Awards/fellowships
- ARC Linkage Grant – Scholarship, University of the Sunshine Coast (PhD) (2017)
- National Security Fellowship, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (2013)
- Fellowship, George C. Marshall School for Democratic Studies (1994)
- Scholarship, Indiana University, Russian and East European Institute (1992)
Professional social media
Frequently asked questions
Please know that you can talk to a real human to get your questions answered. We’re always happy to chat with you. You can call us at +61 7 5345 6342 or request more information.
You should expect additional costs for course materials. You can learn more about all fees here.
Yes, the online Master of Cyber Security and Forensics program accepts up to 96 transfer credits. You can learn more about our entry requirements here.
The online program is designed for professionals who work full time and is offered in a part time format with one or two courses every trimester. This allows you to achieve a realistic balance between work, school and personal responsibilities.
To see the curriculum, view our courses page.
You can complete the program in just 1.25 years. To see the curriculum, view our courses page.
You’ll complete 14 courses to earn the Master of Cyber Security and Forensics degree.
Source and disclaimer
- Australian Government – Department of Home Affairs (2023). Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy 2023–2030. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/cyber-security-strategy
- Australian Signals Directorate (2024). Annual Report 2023–24. https://www.asd.gov.au/about/asd-annual-reports
- Jobs and Skills Australia (2024) Cyber Security Skills Shortage Analysis. https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au
- SEEK (2024) SEEK Labour Market Insights https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice
*Cost shown is with a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) applied. There are limited CSPs for our upcoming intake.