Cyber Warfare
PostgraduateMAQ-PICX80302026
Course information for 2026 intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 15 Feb 2026
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 23 Feb 2026
- Price from
- $4,320
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Cyber Warfare
About this subject
On successful completion, a student will be able to:
- Critically analyse characteristics and typologies of different cyber threats through a geopolitical lens.
- Evaluate cyber offense and defence capabilities, policies and strategies.
- Formulate evidence-based policy recommendations to strengthen national cyber defence.
- Apply evidence-based critical reasoning through written and/or visual presentations.
- A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials.
As digital threats become increasingly entangled with geopolitical tensions, cyber operations have emerged as strategic tools to advance national interests and disrupt adversaries. This unit investigates the evolving landscape of cyber conflict, focusing on how nation-states and sophisticated non-state actors shape power dynamics in cyberspace. Students will critically assess the capabilities, strategies, and influence of key actors in cyberspace, while exploring the broader geopolitical and social contexts that inform their actions. The unit examines major challenges in cyber attribution, the limitations of existing cyber governance frameworks, and efforts to establish international norms. Through the analysis of real-world cyber incidents and policy responses, students will engage with contemporary debates on cyber offence, defence, and resilience. By the end of the unit, students will be able to evaluate cyber threats, assess defence strategies, and formulate evidence-based recommendations to strengthen national cyber security in response to an increasingly dynamic and contested digital environment.
- Case Study (40%)
- Recommendations for National Cyber Defence (40%)
- Group Evaluation of Cyber Capabilities (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about Macquarie University.
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- QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:
- 11
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:
- 9
Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Elective
- MAQ-STS-MAS-2026 - Master of Strategy and Security
Others
Pre-requisite-Admission to MCT(OUA) OR MCrim(OUA) OR MCyberSecAnalysis(OUA) OR MSS(OUA) MIntell(OUA) OR MStrategySec(OUA) OR GradCertStrategicPolicy(OUA) OR GradCertSecStudCr(OUA)
NCCW (2020 and onwards)
PICT8030 Cyber Warfare
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Master of Strategy and Security
PostgraduateMAQ-STS-MAS