German University of Digital Science

M.Sc. Cybersecurity

The Master’s program Cybersecurity at the German University of Digital Science is an innovative study program that teaches advanced knowledge and skills in the field of cybersecurity. Whether through viruses, malware, or phishing, cyberattacks on governments, businesses, and individuals are becoming increasingly sophisticated and on the rise. The protection of digital systems is becoming increasingly important as the volume of data grows rapidly.

The demand for young professionals in this field is also growing rapidly. Graduates of the Master's programme in Cybersecurity will be able to take on management and leadership positions, particularly in areas where the development, maintenance, and operation of complex security systems play a key role. As security engineers, security analysts, privacy officers, chief security officers, or IT security entrepreneurs, IT security professionals identify and address weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and security gaps in IT systems. Graduates of this Master's programme are expected to work across all industries, primarily in large organizations, but also in academia. The MSc. in Cybersecurity can be completed in eight quarters. The course focuses on the research and development of a new generation of security strategies, methods, and techniques for monitoring and securing complex IT infrastructures.

Program Objectives

The aim of this Master program is to train students with comprehensive technical, methodological, and social/personal skills to meet the increasing demands in the field of IT security. Teaching should be strongly hands-on and practice-oriented, and follow the principle of “learning by doing”. In terms of content, the focus is on the development and research of a new generation of security strategies, methods, and techniques for the monitoring and protection of complex IT infrastructures. The planned teaching focus is on:

• Security technologies, systems, and engineering: new technologies for cybersecurity and also cybersecurity for new technologies, such as machine learning, 2 blockchain, mobile systems and platforms, quantum computing, IoT, and cyberphysical systems, etc.
• Cyber attack and defense: vulnerability modelling, penetration testing, forensics, red team exercises, risk analysis, defending strategies, protection solutions, blue team tooling, detection approaches, network monitoring, incident response, and disaster recovery, etc.
• Secure Identity Management (Secure IdM): digital identities and innovative authentication and access control mechanisms for complex use cases and scenarios with high-security requirements, e.g., governments, military, healthcare, and finance etc.
• Enterprise Security: AI-powered Security Operations, Big Data Security Analytics, Corporate and Business Security, Cloud Security, etc.

Unique Features

• Applicable across multiple industries: medicine, business, entertainment, architecture, journalism, and more.
• German UDS has several immersive lab spaces dedicated to Networking and IT Security research and design.
• Preparing students for careers in industries that utilize cybersecurity, including research, development, entrepreneurship, and management.
• Enabling interdisciplinary collaboration and exchange of ideas between students from different disciplines.
• Study a critical, practical, and production-based master’s degree. Students work individually and in teams to conceptualize, research, plan, and deliver a series of creative projects.
• Developing critical evaluation, conceptual thinking, and communication skills for diverse media and audiences.
• Engaging with external communities of researchers and attending professional events, festivals, and masterclasses with industry practitioners. Refine their practice in a relevant, real-world context.

Accreditation

German Science and Humanities Council (Wissenschaftsrat)

A university needs an evaluation from the German Science and Humanities Council (Wissenschaftsrat) to prove the scientific quality and performance of its institutions - a key requirement for state recognition and accreditation as a university in Germany. The WR is the most important advisory body for science policy in Germany.
It evaluates new university foundations with regard to their research strength, study programs, personnel structure, and strategic orientation. Its expert opinion serves as the basis for the relevant ministries' recognition decisions and ensures that scientific standards are maintained in the higher education system. The WR has given a positive assessment of the innovative German University of Digital Science.

Brandenburgian Ministry of Science, Research and Culture

The Brandenburgian Ministry of Science, Research and Culture (MWFK) of the State of Brandenburg plays a central role in the state recognition of private universities. It verifies that a university project meets the legal requirements and decides on its formal integration into the public higher education system. This recognition entitles the university to conduct university examinations and award academic degrees. The legal basis for this process is the Brandenburg Higher Education Act.
In the case of the German University of Digital Science, the MWFK granted state recognition in February 2025 following a positive recommendation from the German Science and Humanities Council.

ASIIN

The accreditation agency ASIIN evaluates whether all study programs at the German University of Digital Science meet national and international standards in terms of content and structure. As part of the accreditation process, ASIIN conducts a detailed review of the programs. This includes an analysis of the course content, the intended learning outcomes, the qualification objectives, and the types of examinations. Based on this report, the ASIIN Accreditation Commission decides whether to award the seal of quality.
For the German University of Digital Science, the accreditation by ASIIN is an official confirmation of the high quality of its study programs. The accreditation ensures that the university's study programs meet the requirements of science and professional practice, thereby offering a high-quality academic education.

German Akkreditation Council (Deutscher Akkreditierungsrat)

The final accreditation decision of the German Accreditation Council (DAR) for the study programs of the German University of Digital Science marks a decisive step in the quality assurance and recognition of the university. The DAR is the central decision-making body in the German accreditation system and awards the quality seal for study programs after a successful evaluation by an accreditation agency. The DAR examines whether the criteria of the "Staatsvertrag über die Akkreditierung von Studiengängen" and the "Musterverordnung" are fulfilled.
The accreditation by the DAR ensures that the study programs of the German University of Digital Science meet the high-quality standards of the German higher education system. It guarantees the international comparability of the degrees and confirms the academic quality of the university.