Second cohort of students conferred with MSc in Cybersecurity
On Wednesday 3 December, our second cohort of students celebrated their achievement at a conferring ceremony at O’Reilly Hall at UCD. The new graduates embarked on the programme in September 2023 and were working in a wide variety of IT roles while they studied part-time over the past 2 years.
“The past two years have been both challenging and rewarding, deepening my technical and analytical skills, as well as confirming that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. A special thank you to my supervisor, Liliana Pasquale, for all the guidance.”
(opens in a new window)Timi Faromika
“The programme was challenging and very rewarding, giving me a deeper grounding in secure software engineering, cryptography, network and cloud security, incident response, and the legal and regulatory frameworks that shape modern cybersecurity practice. It also strengthened my understanding of leadership in technical environments and the role emerging technologies can play in building secure, resilient systems. I’m grateful for the experience and for everyone who supported me along the way, and I’m looking forward to applying what I’ve learnt in the next stage of my career.”
(opens in a new window)Keith Morgan
“The varied mix of theoretical study, hands-on technical work and research helped me deepen my understanding of the field and explore how privacy governance, secure practices and cyber resilience influence the way organisations operate. I’m grateful for the support from my supervisor Liliana Pasquale, lecturers and classmates throughout the programme, and looking forward to developing further as I begin the next chapter of my professional journey.”
(opens in a new window)Farin Norton
“Balancing the degree with family life and the arrival of my twin boys was challenging, but absolutely worth it. My deepest thanks go to my family and especially to my wife for their incredible support. My thesis focused on securing critical operational technology (OT) environments, especially in the context of the new NIS2 Directive. My methodology focused on actionable steps: inventorying critical assets, conducting security assessments, and building threat models based on ISA/IEC 62443 frameworks. This research is vital given the recent National Cyber Security Centre, Ireland (NCSC-IE) warnings regarding cyber risks to shared critical infrastructure. Thank you to my supervisor, Liliana Pasquale, and to An Post for this opportunity!”
(opens in a new window)Andrei Prian
Research option
The programme offers students an option to undertake a Research project as part of their Master’s. In 2025, students researched a wide range of topics, including:
- Geopolitical risk assessment;
- Adversarial Attacks on Machine Learning Models Used in Production;
- SOC adoption in SMEs;
- Anomaly detection;
- Automated generation of Incident logs;
- Using LLMs for incident response and generation.
If you would like to partner with UCD to host a student to conduct a professional research project with your company please contact the course director Assoc. Prof. Liliana Pasquale (liliana.pasquale@ucd.ie)
Apply now
The MSc Cybersecurity is now reviewing applications to start in September 2026.
Single Modules
It is possible to do single modules from the Master’s programme starting in January 2026 and May 2026 and to carry these credits forward should you decide to continue into the Master’s. Applications for single module options may be made through UCD Microcredentials.
January-April 2026 modules
Cybersecurity Law and Regulation
May-August 2026 modules
CISSP Certification at a Discounted Rate
UCD School of Computer Science has partnered with ISC2 ((opens in a new window)https://www.isc2.org/) to offer graduates of the MSc Cybersecurity a discounted (opens in a new window)CISSP certification. CISSP stands for Certified Information Systems Security Professional - a globally recognized credential in cyber security. This certification is designed for experienced professionals and executives who lead and manage an organization’s security strategy. It's the most in-demand cybersecurity certification, with job listings around the world specifically seeking CISSP holders. With CISSP, you’ll unlock access to high-level roles such as IT Director, Security Manager, or CISO, and increase your earning potential. According to INFOSEC Institute, CISSP is one of the top certifications employers seek. The CISSP is ideal for experienced security practitioners, managers and executives interested in proving their knowledge across a wide array of security practices and principles.
Established in 1989, ISC2 has over 650,000 members worldwide and are considered to be the largest global membership organisation for the profession. ISC2’s CISSP certification is among the gold standards for IT and cybersecurity professionals, and holding this credential can lead to higher salaries, a competitive advantage in the job market, and knowledge of the latest industry advancements.
Published 12 Dec 2025