Graduate Diploma of Cybersecurity

The Graduate Diploma of Cybersecurity is a one-year course for people who want to work in security operations, risk and compliance, or incident response, and who already hold a bachelor's degree in any field. It is a graduate diploma, which sits at AQF Level 8, above a bachelor degree, below a master's. You do not need a computing background to get in, but you do need to be willing to learn how systems, networks and attackers actually work.

What you study

Expect core units in network security, operating system and application security, cryptography basics, digital forensics, security governance and risk management, and incident response. You will spend time in labs working with the tools security teams use day to day, packet capture, log analysis, vulnerability scanning, and writing up findings for a non-technical audience. Assessment is a mix of practical labs, reports and exams, with a capstone unit at the end where you scope and deliver a security project or a substantial piece of research. The course is delivered by the Australian Cybersecurity Institute at Global Leadership Institute Pty Ltd, and the CRICOS code is 120768J.

How it is structured

Australian graduate diplomas are usually one year of full-time study, split into two or three study periods, semesters or trimesters depending on the provider. You enrol in units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you need to pass the required credit points to graduate. Some providers let you exit with the graduate diploma after the first year of a master's, or use it as a stepping stone into one. Confirm the exact unit list, credit point values and study periods on the official course page before you apply.

Skills and who it suits

You finish able to assess risk, harden systems, investigate an incident and explain what happened to management. That combination is what employers actually hire for. The course suits career changers from IT, engineering, law, finance or defence, and also suits people already in a technical role who need formal security credentials. If you are an international student, note that a Student visa lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Check the current rules with the Department of Home Affairs.

• Security analyst or SOC analyst in banking, insurance, telecommunications and government
• Incident response and digital forensics roles in consulting firms and managed security service providers
• GRC (governance, risk and compliance) analyst working to Australian privacy and critical infrastructure obligations
• Network or systems administrator with security responsibilities in healthcare, education and utilities
• Penetration tester or vulnerability analyst in specialist security consultancies
• Security engineer or cloud security roles in technology companies and government agencies