MSc Cybersecurity at University of the Witwatersrand

Programme overview

The MSc by Coursework and Research Report in the field of Cybersecurity equips students with a rigorous foundation in the technical aspects of securing digital systems, drawing on areas such as cryptography, network security, secure software engineering, digital forensics, and artificial intelligence for threat detection. The programme emphasises both the development of advanced technical skills and the critical consideration of ethical responsibilities, ensuring that graduates are able to design and implement secure solutions that protect information and infrastructure while upholding principles of privacy, integrity, and responsible digital practice. The coursework covers topics including

Faculty: Science | Department: Computer Science and Applied Mathematics | Duration: Full-time: 1 year coursework and 1 year research. Part-time: 2 years coursework and 1 to 2 years research | Study mode: full-time | Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

What you will study

Compulsory courses:; COMS7047A: Adaptive Computation and Machine Learning; COMS7055A: Data Privacy and Ethics; COMS7075A: Research Report: Cybersecurity [After completing coursework]; COMS7076A: Research Methods and Capstone Project in Cybersecurity; COMS7077A: Cybersecurity; COMS7078A: Cryptography; COMS7079A: Secure Systems Design and Analysis; COMS7080A: Offensive Security and Ethical Hacking

Career pathways

A master’s degree in cybersecurity opens diverse career opportunities across industries. Graduates can work as security analysts, penetration testers, or security engineers, applying advanced knowledge of cryptography, secure systems, and threat detection to protect digital assets.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Minimum Entry Requirements The below outlines the minimum entry requirements for admission to the programme. Candidates not meeting any of the points will not be admitted; however, meeting these criteria does not guarantee admission. The programme is unfortunately competitive, and priority will be given to applicants based on academic merit. Applicants require a minimum average of 70 percent in the final year of their prior studies. Applicants are required to have a Bachelor of Science with Honours degree from a relevant discipline in Science (Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics) or a relevant NQF level 8 qualification. Or a relevant Professional Engineering Degree with demonstrable knowledge of basic principles of Algorithms, Computing, Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability and Statistics equivalent to 2nd Year Mathematics and 3rd Year Computer Science (see FAQ for mo

Tuition is charged per module, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Postgraduate applications are made online at www.wits.ac.za/applications; the closing date for each programme is listed in its course finder entry. The application fee is R200 (not payable by current Wits students applying online), paid via the Self-Service Portal or by EFT to the Wits University Application Fees account at FNB.

Apply through the official page: https://www.wits.ac.za/applications

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