Master of Cyber Security in Australia: Pick the Right Entry Route
TL;DR: Which master of cyber security in Australia fits your first degree? If your bachelor is in IT, computing or a closely related field, several universities shorten the master to 1 to 1.5 years full-time with credit. If your degree is in another field, plan for the 2-year route or a graduate certificate first. Before you accept an offer, check the CRICOS code, the full course length and how that length sits with the Home Affairs study requirement for the Temporary Graduate visa.
The same cyber security master can run 1.5 years for one applicant and 2 years for another, which changes your total tuition and what you can do after you graduate.
This guide matches your first degree to an entry route, compares what UQ, Monash, RMIT, Deakin and UNE publish on length, intakes and 2027 international fees, and lists the checks to make before you accept. If you are applying from Sri Lanka, the local points are near the end.
Not sure which route your degree opens? Check your eligibility with Prosper.
Which entry route fits your first degree?
Your bachelor's field and the subjects on your transcript set your course length.
| Your first degree | Entry route | Typical length on the pages | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in IT, computer science, software engineering or information systems | Shortened master: UQ 1.5-year, Monash entry level 2, Deakin 12 credit points, UNE Rule A | 1 to 1.5 years full-time | Your transcript shows the named subjects, such as Monash's Python programming, algorithms, and operating systems and networks |
| Bachelor in engineering or another cognate field | Shortened route only if your subjects match | 1.5 years (Monash) or the full 2 years | UQ asks for at least three listed subjects for its Cyber Defence and Cryptography fields |
| Bachelor in any other field | Full route: UQ 2-year, Monash entry level 1 ("not necessarily in IT"), Deakin 16 credit points | 2 years full-time | UQ asks for a GPA of 5.0 on a 7-point scale, Monash a credit (60%) average |
| Any-field bachelor plus at least two years of relevant work | Deakin 12 credit points route | Less than 2 years, depending on credit | Work letters that show dates and duties |
| Non-IT bachelor, unsure about the subject | Graduate certificate first, such as UNE's Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity and Computing | Certificate, then the master with credit | UQ warns that a graduate certificate entry without a relevant degree means "you will not be eligible for credit towards the Masters program" |
What do the universities' own pages say?
Figures are as each page shows them on 20 October 2026, in Australian dollars, per year or first year. RMIT's page does not list its academic entry rules, so check its admissions guide.
| University and course | Length (international, full-time) | Intakes | Fee as shown on the page | CRICOS code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UQ, Master of Cyber Security (5257) | 1.5 or 2 years | Semester 1 (22 Feb, 2027), Semester 2 (26 Jul, 2027) | "AUD $60,952" for 2027, the approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units) | 0100693 |
| Monash, Master of Cybersecurity (C6002) | 1.5 or 2 years, depending on prior qualifications | February and July | "The fees for 2027 are: A$44,740" per 48 credit points, not labelled international, so confirm | Course code not shown; provider 00008C |
| RMIT, Master of Cyber Security (MC159) | 2 years | February and July | "AU$47,040 (2027 annual)" | 116688K |
| Deakin, Master of Cyber Security (S734) | 2 years, or one to two years with credit | Trimesters 1, 2 and 3 | "$45,800 for 1 yr full-time AUD", an estimate on the 2027 course information page | 093941G (Waurn Ponds) |
| UNE, Master of Cybersecurity | 0.5, 1 or 1.5 years | Trimester 1 (starts 22 February 2027), Trimester 2 (starts 21 June 2027) | "$34,800*", the estimated first-year on-campus international fee | 113711G |
On English, UQ lists "IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6" and Deakin "IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent". IELTS waivers may be available for some applicants.
Which course length will you be offered?
What should you check before you accept an offer?
- The CRICOS code. Monash's page shows only its provider number, so search the course itself. Our guide to the CRICOS course search shows how.
- The total fee. Multiply the yearly figure by your course length, and expect yearly rises.
- Course length and the 485 study requirement. Study Australia says the Post-Higher Education Work stream "is for applicants meeting the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement with a degree level qualification or higher." Home Affairs sets out how it is met on its page "Meeting the Australian study requirement". Read it before choosing a 1.5-year or shorter route, and see our guide to the Temporary Graduate visa 485 and its two-year study rule.
- Closing dates. UNE's Trimester 1 applications close on 12 February 2027, and RMIT's Semester 1 classes begin on 1 March 2027.
How does the course fit with what you studied before?
An IT degree lets the shortened route skip programming and networking basics; the 2-year route teaches them first.
Still deciding between broad IT and a specialist degree? Compare our Master of Information Technology in Australia guide. Also looking at the UK? See our MSc Cyber Security in the UK guide.
Applying from Sri Lanka
- Ask your university for an official transcript that lists every subject and grade. Monash, UQ and UNE shorten the course only when the named subjects appear on it.
- Tuition is in Australian dollars, so your rupee cost moves with the exchange rate. Budget with a margin.
- For Deakin's work experience route, collect letters on company letterhead showing your dates and duties.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do a master of cyber security in Australia without an IT degree?
Yes. UQ, Monash and Deakin publish routes for a bachelor in any discipline, usually 2 years full-time. UNE asks applicants without a relevant bachelor to start with a graduate certificate.
Is a 1-year master of cyber security available to international students?
With credit, some are. UNE lists 0.5, 1 or 1.5 years full-time, and Deakin one to two years. Check the length against the Home Affairs study requirement first.
What are master of cybersecurity fees in Australia for 2027?
UQ lists AUD $60,952 a year, RMIT AU$47,040 (2027 annual), Deakin an estimated $45,800 and UNE an estimated $34,800 for the first year on campus.
PS: Before you compare fees, check which subjects your transcript lists, because that decides your route. Check your eligibility with Prosper and we will tell you which length to expect.
Lasantha Jayawardena
References
- Master of Cyber Security (5257), 2027, The University of Queensland. https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/programs/master-cyber-security-5257?year=2027 (accessed 20 October 2026)
- Master of Cybersecurity (C6002), Monash University. https://www.monash.edu/study/courses/find-a-course/cybersecurity-c6002 (accessed 20 October 2026)
- Master of Cyber Security (MC159), RMIT University. https://www.rmit.edu.au/study-with-us/levels-of-study/postgraduate-study/masters-by-coursework/mc159/apply-now (accessed 20 October 2026)
- Master of Cyber Security, Plan MC159P25, RMIT University. https://rmit.edu.au/study-with-us/levels-of-study/postgraduate-study/masters-by-coursework/master-of-cyber-security-mc159/mc159p25auscy (accessed 20 October 2026)
- Master of Cyber Security (S734), international, Deakin University. https://www.deakin.edu.au/course/S734-international (accessed 20 October 2026)
- Master of Cybersecurity, 2027, University of New England. https://www.une.edu.au/study/courses/2027/master-of-cybersecurity (accessed 20 October 2026)
- Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity, 2027, University of New England. https://www.une.edu.au/study/courses/2027/graduate-certificate-in-cybersecurity (accessed 20 October 2026)
- Meeting the Australian study requirement, Department of Home Affairs. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485/australian-study-requirement (accessed 20 October 2026)
- Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa, Study Australia, Australian Government. https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/plan-your-move/your-guide-to-visas/temporary-graduate-visa-subclass-485 (accessed 20 October 2026)
