Bachelor of Cybersecurity
UndergraduateLAT-CYS-DEG2025
Join the fast-growing world of cyber security
Discover how to safeguard businesses from digital threats. This course covers both IT fundamentals and cyber security techniques, so you can pursue opportunities across the ICT sector. You will also learn Python, one of the most used programming languages.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Cybersecurity
About this degree
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Investigate, critically evaluate and apply current and emerging cybersecurity practices, regulations and standards.
- Apply well developed knowledge and skills to safeguard data, systems and networks.
- Employ professional skills and practice including effective team building, negotiation and high level communication across a range of environments.
- Apply critical and ethical awareness of human factors to develop effective policies that protect against cyber threats.
- Develop effective and innovative solutions and risk management strategies to address real work problems in cybersecurity.
- Formulate coordinated strategic communication processes for cyber incident responses.
- Apply the principles of cybersecurity into practice through real-time industrial projects.
La Trobe’s Bachelor of Cybersecurity offers you the opportunity to step into the rapidly evolving digital world of cybersecurity.
You’ll build a highly specialised technical skillset as you learn about the history of hacking, build your coding expertise, and access industry-based projects and mentoring opportunities with major corporations.
You’ll also have the opportunity to complement your industry-focused learning with a choice of elective subjects, which are available to you.
You'll learn:
- Cybersecurity fundamentals
- Learn the basic principles and best practices of cybersecurity. Understand how it mitigates cyber vulnerabilities and protects confidential information.
- Ethical hacking and defence
- Gain evaluation techniques to assess the security of network configuration and apply these skills to defend against network-based threats.
- Programming and cyber algorithms
- Explore the widely used Python programming language and learn how algorithms are used to solve cybersecurity challenges.
- Network engineering
- Study the architecture of computer networks and the internet, and examine protocols and services used in the defence of online information.
- Cyber governance and risk management
- Learn the frameworks for cybersecurity governance and risk mitigation based on your emerging understanding of business strategy and risk appetite.
- Cybersecurity fundamentals
Recommended study pattern
This degree is an Open Access pathway course, which means there is a recommended series of subjects that, once successfully completed, can be credited towards this degree. To commence the pathway for this degree, simply select subjects identified within the Entry requirements field.
Students who wish to enrol in a part time load are recommended to enrol in two subjects per study period. Please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook to review the full structure.
Students who are studying and want to take a break (minimum one study period) must submit a leave of absence covering the relevant dates.
Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first study period as a CSP student:
LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module
ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Cybersecurity, students must complete 24 subjects (360 credit points) as follows:
- 16 core subjects
- 8 elective subjects
Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first study period as a CSP student:
LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module
ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education
Exit points
Upon completion of Level one 8 subjects (120 credit points), students have the option to exit with a Diploma of Information Technology (SDIT).*
Upon completion of Level one and Level two 16 subjects (240 credit points), students have the option to exit with an Associate Degree in Cybersecurity (SACY).*
*Please note that if you are a past La Trobe student who has discontinued study, or if you have been absent without leave, you are not eligible to apply for an alternative exit retrospectively.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$9,841
Indicative total fee $29,523
The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
The third university established in Victoria, La Trobe University has a diverse community of more than 38,000 students and staff. Its commitment to excellence in teaching and research prepares students to make a bold and positive impact in today's global community. La Trobe provides Open Universities Australia with its core tenets, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
Learn more about La Trobe University.
Explore La Trobe courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 17
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 15
Entry requirements
Successful completion of two of the following four Open Access Pathway subjects:
- CSE1ICB Introduction to Cybersecurity
- STA1DCT Data-Based Critical Thinking
- CSE1PE Programming Environment
- CSE1IIT Inside Information Technology
Demonstrate proficiency equivalent to Year 12 prerequisites.
Satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice if you:
- are not currently studying an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent)
- have no prior secondary school (Year 12), VET studies, HE studies or relevant work experience that can be considered for entry, or
- do not meet the minimum academic requirements for the program.
Refer to the La Trobe University STAT page for further information.
La Trobe University will consider applications for advanced standing, or credit for prior study. Credit may be applied to a current degree if you have undertaken previous tertiary study and completed and passed subjects similar in content and standard to those offered at La Trobe, from either another recognised tertiary institution or a different La Trobe course.
Note: Applications for credit will not be considered until you have successfully been admitted to a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in a La Trobe course offered through OUA.
Assessing whether you should apply for credit for subjects in your course:
Credit may be granted for relevant subjects. The following steps will help you to decide which subjects you wish to apply for:
- Identify subjects within your course that you think align with subjects you have already studied and have completed within 8 years of your La Trobe University course commencement year.
- Provide subject outlines with detailed information for each subject that you wish to submit for assessment for credit, identifying which subject within your course that you have identified as a match. Include subject learning outcomes/objectives and subject content for each subject.
- Provide your academic transcript for your previous studies.
*Note that a subject studied can only be used once for credit
Career opportunities
After graduation, you could work across a range of industries, including technology, communications, education, finance, government, defence, healthcare, and energy and resources.
Possible roles include:
- Ethical hacker
- Bypass system and network infrastructure to safely expose weaknesses that could be exploited by a malicious hacker.
- Cryptographer/cryptanalyst
- Develop security systems using algorithms and ciphers to encrypt sensitive data. Analyse and decrypt information contained within cypher texts and encrypted data.
- Security architect
- Plan, implement and supervise computer and network security systems to protect against cybercriminals.
- Cybersecurity policy adviser
- Understand and articulate complex business needs to develop and implement tailored cybersecurity policies.
- Software developer
- Design, test and develop software to meet user needs. Write code for programs and applications that can adapt and respond to evolving online threats.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Network Professionals | $93K to $120K | Up 12.9% |
| Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists | Over $120K | Up 45.1% |
| ICT Security Specialists | N/A^ | N/A^ |
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Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
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