Master of Cyber Security, Strategy & Diplomacy

Enhancing International Cyber Security

Cyberspace has become a major focus in international relations. With high levels of cross border connectivity, many global powers have incorporated cyber issues into their foreign policies. As cyber threats escalated, governments and organisations need to work together to develop cyber strategies and appoint delegates to oversee these strategic objectives.

The Master of Cyber Security, Strategy, and Diplomacy at UNSW Canberra is a postgraduate course offered by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. This course provides students with the opportunity to explore how cybersecurity, strategy and diplomacy intersect. Learn how to develop and apply effective cybersecurity strategies to real-world problems, and understand the policy, operational, and ethical challenges that result from increasing advances in technology.

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You can find more information on this degree on the UNSW Handbook.

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Program Structure

To qualify for the award of the degree of Master of Cyber Security, Strategy and Diplomacy, students are required to complete courses totalling 48 Units of Credit (UOC) from those listed below. 24 of these UOC must come from four core courses, 12 UOC from the elective courses in the Strategy and Politics list below, and 12 UOC from elective courses in the Technology and Security list below.

Research Thesis

The research thesis is recommended for those with a strong interest in pursuing original research in a particular area or intending to undertake a higher-level research qualification. Students who obtain at least a Distinction average in four courses may take a 12 UOC research thesis, ZHSS8401 Research Thesis A 6UOC and ZHSS8402 Research Thesis B 6UOC. You must enrol in both units to fulfil the requirements. You may enrol in the two units concurrently to do the thesis in a single semester, or consecutively to complete it over two semesters. Enrolment is subject to approval by the Postgraduate Coordinator.

Course Availability

Core Courses		Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZHSS8441	Cyber Security and World Politics	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZHSS8455	Australian Cyber Diplomacy	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZHSS8456	Australia and Cyber War	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZHSS8458	Cyber Policy in China	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZHSS8460	Power and Australian Government Policy	Not Offered	Not Offered

Students should complete no more than two electives or 12 UOC from each of the following two lists:

Strategy and Politics Electives		Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZHSS8125	Strategic Communications	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZHSS8403	Global Security	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZHSS8409	Asia Pacific Security	Not Offered	Not Offered
ZHSS8410	Australian Defence Policy	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZHSS8430	China's Security Policy and Military Modernisation	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZHSS8435	Contemporary Strategy	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZHSS8459	Special Operations: Theory and Strategic Utility	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZHSS8462	Ethics in Special, Complex and Irregular Military Operations	Not Offered	Not Offered
ZHSS8463	International Law in Global Politics	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZHSS8467	Military Game Changers in 21st Century Warfare	Not Offered	Not Offered
ZHSS8504	Space Conflict and Competition	Not Offered	Distance Mode

Technology and Security Electives		Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZEIT8017	Cyber Crime and Cyber Security	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8018	Cyber Defence: Governance, Management and Acquisition	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8020	Cyber Offence:Threats and Opportunities	Distance Mode	Distance Mode Intensive Mode
ZEIT8026	Cyber Defence: Network Security Operations	Distance Mode	Distance Mode
ZEIT8032	Information Assurance Principles	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8115	Information Operations	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8303	Project Mgmt Body of Knowledge	Distance Mode	Distance Mode

**IDM dates may be subject to change. Enrolled students will be advised if changes occur.

RESEARCH THESIS		Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZHSS8401	Research Thesis A	Distance Mode	Distance Mode
ZHSS8402	Research Thesis B	Distance Mode	Distance Mode

PLuS Alliance Online Course Exchange
UNSW Sydney is part of the PLuS (Phoenix-London-Sydney) Alliance with Arizona State University and King’s College London. The PLuS Alliance provides unique international study opportunities for students in all three universities. Select Master courses from each university are available through the PLuS Alliance Online Course Exchange.

For further information about PLuS Alliance - please visit https://www.plusalliance.unsw.edu.au/.

For further information about PLuS Alliance Online Course Exchange, how to access PLuS courses, support and contact - please visit https://www.plusalliance.org/orientation

The following ASU course is available as a Technology and Security elective in the Master of Cyber Security, Strategy and Diplomacy program.

PLuS Alliance Elective Course available through Arizona State University

Course Dates for 2023

YCAN8000

US Cyber Policy and Information Security

13 March - 28 April

(Census date - 26 March - Drop YCAN8000 without financial or academic penalty)

For further information and enrolment to this course - please contact SAS at sas@adfa.edu.au.

Maximum Class Size

Please note that the enrolment capacity of this course is 15 places. Once this capacity has been reached, SAS will hold a ‘waiting list’ of 5 students and no further enrolments can be considered.