Cyber Security Management (M.Sc.)
FOM Hochschule für Berufstätige · Essen, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
Cyber Security Management (M.Sc.) qualifies you to plan technical security measures strategically and implement comprehensive security concepts. The program deepens your knowledge in IT security, risk management, compliance, and data protection, and teaches you to manage security systems, conduct IT audits, and manage crises professionally, including disaster recovery and communication.
You complete your berufsbegleitendes study with a state-recognised and internationally recognised Master of Science degree from FOM Hochschule für Berufstätige. The study model is a Digital Live program, with live-streamed lectures from FOM studios, and you start in either the winter or summer semester.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- You deepen your knowledge in IT security, risk management, compliance, and data protection.
- You learn how to strategically plan technical protection measures and implement holistic security concepts.
- You build capabilities for steering security systems and performing IT audits.
- You strengthen professional skills for managing cyber incidents and crises.
- You cover crisis management topics including disaster recovery and crisis communication.
- You further develop leadership competencies for cybersecurity management roles.
- You complete the Master thesis as part of the 4-semester programme structure.
- You consolidate what you have learned by applying cybersecurity management concepts to an academically supervised topic.
- The Master thesis follows the programme’s overall 120 ECTS workload.
Curriculum
120 ECTS master's with programme modules organised across semesters and a master thesis.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS / CP | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | 1. Semester (programme modules) | Enterprise Security Architecture | 5 | 22 |
| Cyber Attack & Threat Management | 6 | |||
| Change & Innovation | 6 | |||
| Forschungsmethodik in MINT Studiengängen | 5 | |||
| Semester 2 | 2. Semester (programme modules) | Kryptologie | 6 | 17 |
| Security Analytics & Defense | 5 | |||
| Nachhaltigkeit | 6 | |||
| Semester 3 | 3. Semester (programme modules) | Security Governance, IT-Recht & Compliance | 5 | 16 |
| Information Security Strategy | 6 | |||
| Awareness & Social Engineering | 5 | |||
| Forschungsforum | ||||
| Semester 4 | 4. Semester (preparation modules for master thesis) | Enterprise Continuity & Crisis Management | 5 | 16 |
| Audit-Projekt: Sicherheitsstandards & Reifegradmodelle | 6 | |||
| Exposé zur Master-Thesis | 5 | |||
| Semester 5 | 5. Semester (master thesis phase) | Master-Thesis | 49 | 49 |
| Total | All programme modules plus Master-Thesis | 120 CP | ||
Career outcomes
- You prepare for technical management roles in cybersecurity, including responsibilities in IT security management and enterprise security governance.
- You gain strategic capabilities to plan technical protection measures and implement end-to-end security concepts, which supports roles in risk management and compliance.
- You develop the practical skill set to manage cyber incidents professionally, including disaster recovery and crisis communication.
- You strengthen leadership and communication competencies, helping you move into specialist and leadership positions in cybersecurity organisations.
- You build job-relevant confidence through security management topics such as IT audits and security systems steering.
Employability rate
Cybersecurity management graduates in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 86% and an unemployment rate of about 14%, reflecting ongoing demand for security and compliance professionals.
Together, these figures point to a stable career outlook with reliable opportunities in companies and public organisations that must protect systems and data.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| First academic degree with IT credits | You must have a first university degree (for example a Bachelor’s or equivalent). Admission depends on your prior study background: if you have at least 40 ECTS in (business) informatics modules, you can start directly. |
| Alternative degree + relevant professional experience | If your degree is in another field, you may be admitted with relevant professional experience (for example from software development or operating/administrating software and networks). For each year of relevant work experience, up to 10 ECTS may be recognized, so that up to four years of relevant practice can be sufficient for admission. |
| Current employment requirement | In addition to your degree and prior knowledge, you need a current period of employment (active employment) as part of admission for this program. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science & IT | Direct match | Applicants with at least 40 ECTS in (business) informatics modules can start directly. |
Language requirements
For international applicants, the program language requirement is German. You may be required to provide evidence of sufficient German proficiency for admission, unless the university confirms an exemption for your specific case.
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 17090 / total program | Total tuition and programme fees are stated as 17.090 Euro for this Master programme; payable in 30 monthly instalments of 500 Euro (plus additional one-off fees as described on the programme page). |
| Immatriculation fee | EUR 1590 / one time | One-time enrolment (Immatrikulationsgebühr) fee: 1.590 Euro, payable in 6 monthly instalments of 265 Euro within the first semester. Reduced to half for participants with an already completed or ongoing study or an accepted further qualification at a BCW Group institute, as stated on the programme page. |
| Examination fee | EUR 500 / one time | One-time examination fee: 500 Euro, due at the end of the programme, as stated on the programme page. |
Proof of financial resources
For Germany visa and residence processes, you may need to show proof of sufficient funds. Your embassy or visa guidance and the German immigration authority may require a blocked account arrangement for students.
- Blocked account amount as required by the German embassy/visa guidance for student visas
- Proof of travel health insurance and other visa-related documents may be requested as part of visa application requirements
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | March - Summer intake | September - Winter intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | January 01, 2026 | April 01, 2026 |
| Application deadline (final submit) | March 01, 2026 | September 01, 2026 |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | March 01, 2026 | September 01, 2026 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | March - Summer intake | September - Winter intake |
|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | March - Summer intake | September - Winter intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Submit your application online
Complete the FOM online application and submit the required information for the master program during the published application window. Ensure you upload the required certified documents according to the instructions provided by FOM. Double-check that your educational background, degree documents, and any requested supporting materials are included before you finalize submission.
Provide certified copies and required documents
Submit required documents as certified copies as instructed by FOM International. Prepare your passport and academic transcripts in the format the university requests. If specific documents are requested later during the review, respond within the timeline communicated by admissions.
Send the signed application and documents by email
FOM’s international process includes sending the completed and signed application form together with the required documents by email to the admissions address indicated by FOM International. Keep your application reference details available in case the admissions team needs clarification. After processing, you will receive admission confirmation details based on your eligibility.