Cyber expert discussing cyber security with a new learner

Postgraduate

Postgraduate Certificate in Cyber Security

30 September 2024

Advance your career and become a cyber security expert through flexible online study. Gain the specialised knowledge you need to effectively test and mitigate cyber threats. Be ready to meet evolving challenges in this dynamic and rapidly growing field with our online cyber security courses.

HOW TO APPLY

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Price

Domestic learners

$1,176* per 15 point course

International learners

$5,475* per 15 point course

*Fees outlined are based on the 2025 fee schedule and are subject to revision each year. Prices include GST where applicable. Non-tuition fees, such as the Student Services Levy (SSL), will also apply.

Qualification

PGCertCySec
60 points

Duration

1 year part-time

Entry times

14 July 2025
2 February 2026
13 July 2026
2027

In this section

Overview

Looking to step up your IT career? Learn the core skills you need to work in the growing field of cyber security, upskilling through our flexible online cyber security courses.

Master computer & network security, ethical hacking and information security management, unlocking new career opportunities. Gain the knowledge you need to pursue roles such as Security Specialist, Security Operations Centre (SOC) Analyst, Penetration Tester and Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Analyst.

Join the digital defence in cyber security, learning how to identify, test and mitigate threats. Explore global trends and technological developments, growing the skills you need to secure an exciting career in this growing field.

Partnership with CompTIA coming soon - we’re thrilled to announce an upcoming partnership with CompTIA, a global leader in IT certifications. This partnership will provide learners with access to discounted CompTIA exams, training materials, and labs across popular certification pathways like Network+, Security+, CySA+, and PenTest+. This gives our learners the edge by enhancing their employability with valuable industry credentials that complement their PGCertCySec university qualification. Sign up to stay updated on this partnership and other PGCertCySec news.

Requirements

To ensure that our learners have the necessary background and experience to succeed, you must have completed one of the following:

A bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in the field of computer science, computer engineering, software engineering or a similar field with a GPA of at least 4 in your 300-level papers (or equivalent).
A bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in any subject with:
- A GPA of at least 5 in your 300-level papers (or equivalent); and
- At least five years of practical, professional, or academic experience in a relevant field (such as computer science or software engineering).
An equivalent degree, or degree plus experience as outlined above, from an international institute that is approved under Academic Equivalent Standing.

If English is your additional language, you are also required to meet UC's English language requirements.

For the full entry requirements, see the Regulations for the Postgraduate Certificate in Cyber Security or use the admission requirements checker.

Your eligibility will be considered upon enrolment, with successful applicants approved as students by the Amo Matua, Pūhanga | Executive Dean of Engineering or delegate.

Unsure about your suitability?
As part of our application process, your eligibility will be assessed by our engineering academic team to make sure that your academic and/or professional background meets the entry criteria. Unfortunately our Tuihono UC | UC Online team cannot confirm your eligibility before your application is submitted, beyond referring you to the requirements above. We are happy to help answer any general questions you have about the programme or online learning, however. You can get in touch with us here.

At a glance

Get a quick look at how this flexible online programme can help advance your career.

Structure

The Postgraduate Certificate in Cyber Security can be studied part-time over 1 year, subject to course availability. It must be completed within 2 years.

We expect to open full-time availability (studying across 6 months) in February 2026 - stay updated to be the first to know when full-time learning is available.

Time commitment  
Unless otherwise stated, Tuihono UC | UC Online learners study across terms, rather than semesters. We have four terms per year which consist of nine weeks of study (including a one-week study break), followed by a period of marking and feedback.

Part-time learners complete one 15-point cyber security course every term, requiring approximately 18.5 hours of study per week. Full-time learners complete two 15-point cyber security courses every term, requiring approximately 37.5 hours of study per week. Study time includes taking in course material, reflection time and writing assessments. Our Postgraduate Certificate in Cyber Security is flexible, enabling you to plan your study around your other commitments.

Upcoming term dates
Our current learning dates can be found below (please note: these dates exclude our period of marking and feedback).

2025 dates:

14 July - 14 September 2025
- Study break: 11 - 17 August 2025
29 September - 30 November 2025
- Study break: 27 October - 2 November 2025

2026 dates:

2 February – 5 April 2026
- Study break: 2 – 8 March 2026
27 April - 28 June 2026
- Study break: 25 – 31 May 2026
13 July - 13 September 2026
- Study break: 1 – 16 August 2026
28 September - 29 November 2026
- Study break: 26 October - 1 November 2026

Please note: these dates are provisional and may be subject to change.

Begin

A UC Online Cyber Security student sits at a picnic table in a park, completing online study on her laptop.

Get started by learning our Cybersecurity Fundamentals course, introducing core conceps in cyber security. This is the first step towards your Postgraduate Certificate in Cyber Security.

Course taken: Cybersecurity Fundamentals (COSC446)

Develop

Grow your learning through three more courses that will develop your skills in cyber security across computer networks and security, testing methodology and techniques, and IS security and risk management.

Courses taken: Computer Networks and Security (COSC447), Ethical Hacking: Penetration Testing Methodology and Techniques (COSC448), and IS Security and Risk (MBIS622)

Finish

Complete your studies and graduate with a Postgraduate Certificate in Cyber Security!

What you'll study

You'll study four NZQF level 8 postgraduate cyber security courses for the Postgraduate Certificate in Cyber Security.

The course introduces core concepts in cybersecurity and prepares students to analyse and address cyber threats. It covers principles and practices of cryptography, network security, software security, system security, and information security management.

Learning outcomes:

Identify and describe cryptographic algorithms, compare their use, and discuss their strengths and issues
Describe security protocols and standards used to provide security for communications across the Internet
Identify and discuss security threats and attacks and choose appropriate countermeasures in software, computer systems, and networks
Compare and criticise computer security techniques and principles
Apply security principles to management aspects of information security
Develop an appraise of current and emerging computer and network security technologies

This course discusses network security, which is an important part of cyber security, as a large number of attacks are carried out over or even critically rely on the Internet. Following a discussion of core Internet protocols, the course will cover a range of network attacks and possible countermeasures, including IPSec, virtual private networks, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and others. The course will also cover wireless security, including security in the Internet-of-Things.

Learning outcomes:

Explain the structure and operation of relevant Internet protocols
Explain various kinds of network attacks and methods to prevent them.
Analyse recorded network traffic to diagnose attacks.
Explain and critique contemporary security protocols and mechanisms (e.g. IPSec, virtual private networks, firewalls)
Apply and operate contemporary security policies, protocols and mechanisms in complex networks.

This course introduces penetration testing methodology and techniques. It covers techniques, tools, and procedures employed by penetration testers to identify potential security vulnerabilities in networks, systems, and applications. It also places an emphasis on ethical standards and legal compliance of ethical hacking.

Pre-requisite: Cybersecurity Fundamentals (COSC446)

Learning outcomes:

Identify and describe processes, techniques, and tools for penetration testing
Analyse and apply discipline-specific methods and techniques to plan, design, and perform penetration testing
Assess, select, and implement system hardening methods and security measures
Evaluate ethical and legal constraints of penetration testing
Develop reports for communicating penetration testing findings

Our people

Mengmeng Ge

Senior Lecturer | University of Canterbury

Mengmeng Ge is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at University of Canterbury.

She completed her PhD degree at University of Canterbury in New Zealand in 2018. In 2019, she joined Deakin University in Australia and worked as a Lecturer in Cyber and Networking for 2 years. She then joined RMIT University in 2021 and worked as a Lecturer in Cybersecurity for over a year, before coming to Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury.

Mengmeng's research expertise lies in network security with a focus on security modelling for the 'Internet of Things', machine learning-based intrusion detection, and emerging proactive defences, such as moving target defence and cyber deception.

She has also worked at Telstra as an Analytics Engineer and Deloitte as a Senior Cybersecurity Consultant, gaining considerable industrial experience in security analytics and security risk management.

Ke He

Programme Coordinator and Lecturer | University of Canterbury

Ke He is a Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury. He earned his PhD from the University of Auckland in 2024, following a Bachelor of Science with Honours from the University of Canterbury in 2019.

His research focuses on enhancing security and trustworthiness in artificial intelligence, particularly in applications for Network Intrusion Detection Systems.

Stay updated

If you’re keen to know more, stay updated on when enrolments open or ask a question, please sign up for updates below.

Cap & minimum enrolment threshold: a minimum number of learners is needed for effective interaction and feedback, while a maximum cap of learners ensures high quality learning and support. If the minimum number of enrolments required for a course isn’t met, or the maximum cap is exceeded, learners will be given the option to defer their study or receive a refund.

14 July 2025

Enrolments open now

Future enrolments

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Need more information?

FAQ

There are a lot of opportunities in the cyber security field, including certified information systems security professional positions such as SOC (Security operations Centre) analyst and GRC (Governance, Risk and Compliance) analyst.

Cyber security is also acknowledged as a skills shortage area by Immigration New Zealand, listed under ICT Security Specialist.

Learners have access to the same support services as on-campus students, including academic advising, technical support, and library resources. There are also great resources for both Canterbury based and remote learners at the UC RecCentre. Learn more here.

Learners also have the support of our Tuihono UC Learner Experience team.

The overall cost of tuition fees per 15 point course based on the 2025 fee schedule:

for domestic learners is $1,176* incl GST
for international learners is $5,475* plus GST if applicable.

Total programme investment for 60 point programme based on the 2025 fee schedule:

for domestic learners is $4,705* incl GST
for international learners is $21,900* plus GST if applicable.

Please note that the fees are charged on a per year basis and the amount charged reflects the number of courses/points enrolled in the current year. These are based on the 2025 fee structure and subject to revision – you can learn more about the University of Canterbury’s Tuition fee structure here.

Student Services Levy costs
Each year university students around Aotearoa New Zealand are charged a Student Services Levy (SSL) in addition to their tuition fees. All the SSL money collected can only be used for the benefit of students - never for academic or administrative costs.

The SSL is automatically calculated on how many points you enrol in per academic year, capped at a maximum of 150 points. Tuihono UC | UC Online learners are charged a reduced SSL rate, which is 20% of the usual on-campus student levy. This is calculated as $1.94 per academic point in 2025. You can learn more about the Student Services Levy here, and more about UC Support Services here.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Cyber Security is a standalone professionally relevant qualification but is also a good pathway into further postgraduate study.

Options include the on-campus Master of Science, Master of Artificial Intelligence, Professional Master of Computer Science, or Master of Business Information Systems.

We are also developing our online offerings - if you'd like to hear about our latest news and offers, join our mailing list.

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