Arqus European University Alliance
Master in International Cybersecurity and CyberintelligencePadua, Italy
DURATION
4 Semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Oct 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 4,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* First call closes 17.02.2025
** 4000 EUR/year for EU citizens and 6000 EUR for non-EU citizens
Key Summary
Introduction
The Master’s Programme in International Cybersecurity and Cyberintelligence is a full-time master’s program jointly developed and taught in English. The program offers specialized academic education in Cybersecurity, Cyberintelligence, and International Relations and Law for Cybersecurity. It corresponds to a regular study period of four semesters or two years, jointly carried out by four European Universities: University of Granada (Spain), University of Minho (Portugal), University of Padua (Italy), and Vilnius University (Lithuania), through the use of physical mobility around these four universities, and students attending virtual, blended and local courses.
The University of Padova and the University of Minho are in charge of the teaching during the first semester; Vilnius University during the second semester; the University of Granada during the third semester; and the last semester is designated for the master’s Thesis, with tutoring from all partners of the consortium, and a Graduation Week, all of these activities organized by the University of Minho.
At the end of their studies, students will be able to integrate not only in any field of the cyber security industry but especially in cyber intelligence teams working at an international level.
Basic information about the program
- Full name of the program: Master in International Cybersecurity and Cyberintelligence
- EQF level: 7 (Master degree)
- Degrees awarded: Master in International Cybersecurity and Cyberintelligence
- Number of ECTS points: 120 ECTS
Curriculum
Mobility path
The students will be organized in a cohort that will jointly move around the four universities in the master consortium. This way, they will stay:
- at the University of Padova for the first semester (face-to-face classes), and extra classes for a single course taught by the University of Minho;
- at Vilnius University for the second semester (face-to-face classes);
- at the University of Granada for the third semester.
- Finally, the fourth semester will be dedicated to the master’s Thesis (with remote or local tutoring, as preferred by students), ending with the graduation week to be held face-to-face at the University of Minho.
Curriculum
The curriculum is structured into four semesters, for a total of 12 mandatory classes and 4 optional classes to be chosen among 12.
The core of the curriculum consists of the following mandatory classes:
- Fundamentals of cryptography (I semester, Padova)
- Digital Forensics (I semester, Padova)
- Secure software development (I semester, Padova)
- Fundamentals on international cybersecurity (I semester, Minho)
- Operating systems security (II semester, Vilnius)
- Security of applications (II semester, Vilnius)
- International management of cybersecurity (II semester, Vilnius)
- Research projects (II semester, Vilnius)
- Ethical hacking (III semester, Granada)
- Cyberprotection systems (III semester, Granada)
- Network security (III semester, Granada)
- International cyberintelligence (III semester, Granada)
The students will then choose:
one class among the following electives in the I semester (Padova):
- Mobile security
- Cyberphysical and IoT security
- Machine Learning techniques for event correlation
- Formal methods for cyberphysical systems
- Quantum cryptography and security
- Privacy preserving information access
- Law and data
one among the following electives in the II semester (Vilnius):
- Malware
- Rapid reaction and first response
and finally, two classes among the electives in the III semester (Granada):
- International cooperation in cyberspace
- Cyberwarfare
- Post-quantum cryptography
The IV semester will be mainly devoted to the thesis work and writing. It will be spent by the students as an internship either in a company or in a research institution.
The program conclusion will be held at the University of Minho with the thesis defense by all students which will be preceded by a practical laboratory exercise.
In addition to this, as an academic program, our master's seeks to be agnostic, prioritizing training in open-source tools and platforms. The following table includes the platforms and tools used, highlighting those that are used more intensively.
Career Opportunities
Cybersecurity and cyberintelligence are recognized for their multidisciplinary nature, scope, and demand in training. The skills, knowledge, and disposition for the tasks involved are complex, requiring continuous updating and research. Cyberspace is global, as is the effort to keep supporting Information Systems secure, which justifies the international approach advocated in this program.
ENISA, the EU Agency for Cybersecurity, published in September 2022 a document known as the European Cybersecurity Skills Framework Role Profiles. This document describes twelve professions, including, among other characteristics, alternative designations, the necessary knowledge, associated professional acts, and basic skills – in this case, linking to another initiative that seeks to categorize skills in the area of ICT, known as European e-Competence Framework (e-CF). Although more focused on recognized professions, the reference produced is not far from similar ones, such as the framework developed by NICE known as NCWF (NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework) and based on areas of expertise linked to skills and professions typically associated.
The master’s in international Cybersecurity and Cyberintelligence is designed with these frameworks in mind to guarantee that the learning outcomes will fulfill the requirements for these professions in the field of cybersecurity:
- Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
- Cyber Incident Responder
- Cyber Legal, Policy & Compliance Officer
- Cyber Threat Intelligence Specialist
- Cybersecurity Architect
- Cybersecurity Auditor
- Cybersecurity Educator
- Cybersecurity Implementer
- Cybersecurity Researcher
- Cybersecurity Risk Manager
- Digital Forensics Investigator
- Penetration Tester
Gallery
Admissions
Ideal Students
The Master in International Cybersecurity and Cyberintelligence is designed for ambitious, globally minded students with a passion for technology, security, and international collaboration.
This programme is ideal for:
- IT and Engineering graduates seeking to specialise in cybersecurity and cyberintelligence.
- Law, political science or international relations students with proven technical skills or professional experience in IT.
- Professionals from the defence, intelligence, or public sector who want to deepen their technical expertise.
- Problem-solvers and critical thinkers who are eager to work on global security challenges in multicultural environments.
- Students committed to mobility and adaptability, ready to live and study in four different European cities over two years.
- Those aiming for careers in cyber defence, digital forensics, security operations, cyber law, or international risk analysis.
If you are motivated by real-world impact, committed to hands-on learning, and ready to take your cyber career across borders, this master’s is for you.
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarships and Financial Support
We are committed to ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds can access this unique international experience. While the Master in International Cybersecurity and Cyberintelligence does not offer fully funded scholarships at the time of application, a range of financial support options are available to enrolled students.
Erasmus+ Mobility Grants are available to all students enrolled in the master programme. These grants help cover travel and living expenses during each stay abroad. Students will apply for Erasmus+ during the programme with the support of the coordination team: always depending on the host university managing the mobility.
Cyberactioning Mobility Support is an additional grant provided through the EU-funded Cyberactioning project (based on availability of project funding). This top-up is available in the second year to support students during the Graduation week.
National and regional scholarships may also be available, since all students are officially enrolled at the four partner universities:
- Students may apply for the MEFP postgraduate grant (Spain), the Veneto Regional Scholarship (Italy), funding schemes available through Vilnius University (Lithuania), and support from the University of Minho or the Portuguese national system. Each institution provides guidance on how to apply for these opportunities once you are admitted and enrolled.
Students are also encouraged to explore external funding opportunities from their home countries or from private foundations, particularly those supporting study abroad or STEM education.
Departmental scholarships are also available. For instance, the Department of Mathematics at the University of Padua offers a scholarship to selected students after enrolment based on academic performance and motivation.
In the final semester, students may have the opportunity to carry out their thesis in collaboration with one of our industry partners. In some cases, this may include internship-linked financial support, depending on the availability of credits and selection by the programme board.
Once enrolled, all students will receive personalised guidance from the coordination team on how to access and apply for each of these funding opportunities at the appropriate time.
Program Outcome
By the end of the Master in International Cybersecurity and Cyberintelligence, students will be equipped with the academic, technical, and strategic tools to excel in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Graduates of the programme will be able to:
- Design and implement advanced cybersecurity strategies in complex, international environments.
- Identify, analyse and respond to cyber threats, applying cutting-edge tools in digital forensics, ethical hacking, incident management and cyberintelligence.
- Bridge the gap between technology and policy, understanding the legal and ethical implications of cybersecurity in a global context.
- Operate across disciplines and borders, having studied in four different countries and collaborated in diverse, multicultural teams.
- Communicate effectively in high-pressure, cross-functional contexts, including work with public institutions, international organisations, and private companies.
- Pursue careers in high-demand areas such as security operations centres (SOCs), cyberintelligence units, risk consulting, government agencies, or doctoral research.
This programme is more than a degree—it's a launchpad into the future of global cybersecurity.
Facilities
Why study at Arqus European University Alliance
Why This Master Is Your Master – With Arqus European University Alliance
Because cybersecurity today is global, and your education should be too. This joint master’s degree gives you the opportunity to learn across borders, experience four top European universities, and build the technical and strategic skills needed to lead in a rapidly evolving digital world. From hands-on training and expert teaching to international mobility and real-world projects with industry partners, the programme is designed for those who want more than just a degree — it’s for those ready to think internationally, act responsibly, and shape the future of cybersecurity. If you're looking for a programme that is academically rigorous, professionally relevant, and globally connected — this is your master.