Don your armour and get ready, there’s a long battle ahead!
Well, maybe things aren’t that dramatic, but protecting internet-connected systems (networks! data!) is major business. Singapore recognises this, too, and that’s why there are numerous initiatives in place to help safeguard the internet: Singapore will be contributing 30 million to the upcoming ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (ASCCE), for starters, and National Cyberspace Masterplans with key areas underlined for action and improvement (one is ending this year!)
With cyber-attacks rapidly increasing worldwide, cybersecurity is more important than ever. Singapore alone saw a 54% year-over-year increase in ransomware attacks on organisations, and cybercrime making up 48% of overall crime in 2021[i]. Currently, there is a global shortage of cybersecurity talent, which means many job opportunities lie in wait. If this is a (battle)field you’re keen to explore, mount yer trusty cybersecurity courses and get ready to roll!
*All course fees are for 2021/22’ intakes and are subject to changes depending on the school. All fees are in SGD unless otherwise stated. This is merely a list and not an endorsement of the courses listed, do conduct sufficient research to make sure a course fits your needs!
What are some roles employers and organisations are looking/find hard to fill?
Source: Fortinet 2022 Cybersecurity Skills Gap Global Research Report |
Interesting Schemes/Initiatives
- Cyber NSF Scheme (MINDEF)
- Cybersecurity Entrepreneurship Hub (ICE71)
- SG Cyber Talent programmes
- The National Integrated Centre for Evaluation (NiCE)
[i] https://www.csa.gov.sg/News/Publications/singapore-cyber-landscape-2021
Degrees
1. National University of Singapore – Bachelor of Technology (Cybersecurity)
Offered in partnership by NUS’s School of Continuing and Lifelong Education (SCALE) and the School of Computing, this degree is for working adults with at least one year of full-time working experience. It aims to equip them with strong knowledge of computer science foundations and fundamentals. The degree only has one intake per year, and you will need a polytechnic diploma qualification or equivalent to apply.
Curriculum: Modules such as Discrete Structures, Communication for Computing Professionals, Computer Networks and Applications, Professional, Ethical and Social Issues in Computing and so on.
Duration: 4 years (part-time, maximum candidature is 6 years)
Course Fees: SGD 24,000 for Singaporeans and $46,240 for PRs after subsidy. International students pay SGD 153,760.
2. PSB Academy – Bachelor Of Science With Honours In Cybersecurity
Awarded by Coventry University, which has been awarded 5 Stars for Teaching (QS Stars University Ratings) and also the top 51st university in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2023), the degree consists of 12 modules. The course brings together a computer science foundation with cybersecurity, digital forensics and more.
Curriculum: Modules include Computer Forensics, Information Security, Networking, Cryptography, and so on. All learning will also be reinforced through Individual Projects.
Accreditation: PSB Academy is EduTrust certified. Coventry University is accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS).
Duration: 16–24 months (maximum candidature 4 years), part-time and full-time available. Classes are typically held 5 times a week.
Course Fees: SGD 24,652.80 with exemptions (Year 2 Entry), SGD 36,979.20 without exemptions
Prospects: Graduates from Coventry University’s Cybersecurity degree have found roles in ethical hacking, penetration testing, malware and software security analysis, just to name a few capacities.
SUTD promises its students a multidisciplinary and design-centric curriculum, and this is no different for its ISTD students. An ISTD grad, according to SUTD, will stand out from his/her peers through their multi-disciplinary design approach and systematic design approach. They will be able to provide computing solutions that are not only problem-driven, but also technically sound. Security Track students will take core courses in networks and security, with the option to choose from electives like Blockchain Technology and Systems Security.
Curriculum: See above
Duration: 3.5 years
Course Fees: SGD 13,500 for Singaporeans, 19,050 for PRs and SGD 29,150 for international students with tuition grant per academic year
Prospects: Jobs as Information Security Analysts, Security Specialists, and so on. Graduates can also go on to pursue higher education, such as SUTD’s Master of Science in Security by Design.
4. Management Development Institute of Singapore – Bachelor of Science (Hons) Cybersecurity and Networks
Awarded by Teesside University, which ranked 15th in the University of the Year category of Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2018 (part of the Hotcourses Group) and achieved Silver in the Teaching Excellence Framework (2017), the degree has a 1:30 ratio for tutorials and practical classes. Lessons are taught by faculty with Masters and PhD’s from schools like NUS and Curtin University of Technology.
Curriculum: Modules include Information Governance, Network Architecture, Server Administration, Information Security Management and Information Security and Cybercrime, just to name a few.
Accreditation: MDIS is EduTrust Certified. Teesside University is accredited by the British Computer Society as well as the Chartered Institute for IT Institution of Engineering and Technology.
Duration: 3 years (direct entry available), Full-time and part-time
Course Fees: SGD 11,770–31,030 (full-time and part-time) for Singaporeans, SGD 12,305–32,635 (full-time) for foreigners
Prospects: Graduates can find employment in roles like IT Security Specialist, Network Security Engineer, Security Sofrware Developer and so on.
Awarded by Murdoch University, which achieved a 5-star rating for teaching, employability, research, internationalisation, innovation, and inclusiveness in the QS Stars Assessment 2022, this degree is a double major. It offers students the chance to learn both the theoretical as well as the practical, and aims to impart digital forensic and critical thinking skills, and be able to identify and respond to threats.
The degree will expose students for the professional field through an IT Professional Practice Project, which entails working in a team with other students, and consulting with real clients to come up with feasible solutions real-world cybersecurity problems. Students will also be eligible for a Student Membership with the Centre of Strategic Cyberspace and International Studies (CSCIS)
Curriculum: Modules such as Introduction to ICT Research Methods, Databases, Cyber Forensics and Information Technology, Enterprise Architectures and more
Accreditation: Kaplan is EduTrust Certified.
Duration: 16–28 months (full-time and part-time options available)
Course Fees: SGD 24,147.76–27,597.44 for Singaporeans and PRs. SGD 32,014.40 for international students
Tired of searching and comparing various AI course?
Diplomas
1. Nanyang Polytechnic – Diploma in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics
Nanyang Polytechnic’s Diploma in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics promises to equip its graduates with knowledge in phishing, encryption, steganography, digital forensics, zero-day attacks, system hardening and enterprise security. The polytechnic’s School of Information Technology was established in 1993, and the school offers overseas internship opportunities, industry exposure (>100 industry partners and >250 industry projects) and opportunities to obtain professional certifications.
Curriculum: Modules such as Design Thinking, Principles of UX Design, Software Engineering as well as Infosecurity Standards, Policies & Audit. During Year 3, students have the option of pursuing either the Cybersecurity Track or the Cyber Forensics Track
Duration: 3 years
Course Fees: SGD 3,087 for Singaporeans, SGD 6,317 for PRs, SGD 11,541.60 for international students
Prospects: NYP Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics Graduates can go on to further study, or take up roles such as Security Engineers/Executives, Security Operation Testers, Cybersecurity Analysts, as well as Incident/Forensics/Threat Investigator in many sectors—whether private, public, or otherwise.
2. Temasek Polytechnic – Diploma in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics
Temasek Polytechnic’s Diploma in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics promises to open the door to many opportunities for its students. Its lecturers comprise of Certified Information System Auditors (CISA) and Certified Information System Security Professionals (CISSP), students can anticipate internship opportunities with organisations such as KPMG and Symantec, and students will be able to attain professional certifications such as RedHat Certified System Administrator/Engineer (RHCSA/ RHCE), Certified Ethical Hacker, Cisco CCNA or Huawei HCIA.
Curriculum: Coding principles and practices, data analytics, data structures and algorithms, network security technologies and so on.
Duration: 3 years
Course Fees: With tuition grant: SGD 3,041.60 per academic year for Singaporean students below 40, SGD 6,241.16 for PRs and SGD 11,464.10 for international students
Prospects: According to Temasek Polytechnic, grads will have good employment opportunities in the government/finance sectors as well as in consulting firms and local/MNCs. Roles you could take up include Security Penetration Tester, Security Operation Analyst, Incident/Forensic/Threat investigator as well as IT Security Auditor.
Graduates can also go on to pursue further education in higher institutions (there have been grads that secured places in universities such as Carnegie-Mellon) or go for the Earn & Learn Programme.
3. Ngee Ann Polytechnic – Diploma in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics
Students taking Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Diploma in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics will experience studying as part of a small, tight cohort (the planned intake for 2018 was 60). The Diploma promises industry exposure through masterclasses by Information Security Professionals and internship opportunities at organisations such as Microsoft and CrimsonLogic. Students will also be exposed to the Security Development Lifecycle and be able to attain the CompTIA Security+ professional certification.
Curriculum: Take modules such as Ethical Hacking, Cryptography, Vulnerabilities 101, Network Security and Secure Software Development.
Duration: 3 years
Course Fees: With tuition grant: SGD 3,000 per academic year for Singaporeans, SGD 6,200 for PRs and SGD 11,400 for international students
Prospects: Possible careers for NP’s grads include becoming security analyst/engineers, digital forensics investigators, security software developers, penetration testers or malware analysts in security agencies and various IT security/solutions/consulting companies.
4. Singapore Polytechnic – Specialist Diploma in Cyber Security Management
Slightly different from the other polytechnic Diplomas, Singapore Polytechnic’s Specialist Diploma in Cyber Security Management caters to working professionals in the infocomm industry that are looking to pick up specialised skills in infocomm security. The Diploma comprises of two Professional Development Certificates (in Infocomm Security and Defences as well as Security Incident Management) that have to be taken within a two year period.
Curriculum: Consists of 4 modules. They are: Infocomm Security and Network Essentials, Cyber Defence and Range Exercises, Digital Forensics and Investigation as well as Security Policy and Incident Management. Module synopses can be found here.
Duration: Course hours add up to 270.
Course Fees: SGD 1,001.04 for Singaporeans below 40, SGD 2,669.44 for PRs and SGD 6,673.59 for other students. SME Training grant and Workfare support training schemes are also available for this Diploma.
Short Courses
1. Lithan Academy – Express Cyber Security
Learn Cyber Security fundamentals to protect current threat landscape by demonstrating hardening tactics to make a breach more difficult and costly for a hacker to execute and learn early threat detection, classify the extent of a system breach and respond to security incident effectively to minimize the business impact. Singapore Citizens / Permanent Residents can receive up to 70% funding from SkillsFuture Singapore and further subsidies using your SkillsFuture credit and Post-Secondary Education Account.
Curriculum: Expect modules such as Cybersecurity Planning, Cybersecurity Administration, Host and Cloud Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Implementation and Cybersecurity Management Capstone Project
Accreditation: Microsoft Certified, Statements of Attainment by SSG, Singapore
Duration: 5 weeks part time / 2 weeks full time per module , 302.5 hours
Course Fees:
S$15,000 (excluding misc. Fees);
S$4,500 after SkillsFuture Funding (excluding GST);
Job Placement Assistance : Help 500 locals (Singaporeans & PRs) found their dream careers every year.
2.ST Engineering Cybersecurity Academy (STECA) – Cyber Security Operations Specialist course
This course was “developed by practitioners for practitioners” (cyber security professionals, network administrators, compliance managers, etc.). The goal is to teach cybersecurity concepts to course takers and getting them familiar with the functions of security products such as Wireshark, and get them response ready in the event of cyber-attacks. Assessments consist of written tests (incident reports, exams) and practical performances.
Curriculum: Get introduced to network security devices, monitoring tools, attack methodologies, and have exposure to real-world cyber attack scenarios, amongst other things
Accreditation: ST Electronics Cyber Security Centre has attained the Approved Training Organisation status from WDA, and is also the first official training provider for (ISC)²’s Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP®) Common Body of Knowledge (CBK®) training in Singapore.
Duration: 5 days, from 9-5:30pm
Course Fees: $2000 (pre-GST), SkillsFuture claimable
3. SUSS – Introduction to Cybersecurity
Designed for those with little to no knowledge of the field, the Introduction to Cybersecurity course is taught by an adjunct lecturer at SUSS with over 25 years of experience in the IT industry. Participants will learn about three key aspects: a general overview, technical considerations as well as organisation practices and processes. The course is capped off with a quiz to reinforce all learning.
Curriculum: Covers topics such as secure workplace practices, application security, network security and more
Duration: 1 day (conducted online via Zoom)
Course Fees: SGD 695.50 (with GST, as low as SGD 78.65 with relevant subsidies)
4. Harvard short online course – Cybersecurity: Managing Risk in the Information Age
Offered by Harvard’s Office of the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning, in association with HarvardX, this short course is targeted at leaders, technology specialists aspiring to a leadership role, as well as security specialists desiring to upskill. The course does not focus on technical know-how, but rather “how to assess and mitigate specific vulnerabilities within an organisation’s networks, systems, and data…in order to protect…their digital assets”. The course is taught through interactive content, weekly group discussions and class-wide forums, as well as quiz assessments and assignment submissions.
Curriculum: Apart from the orientation module, there are 8 weekly modules. These are: Cybersecurity risk is business risk, Identifying the threats to an organization, Identifying important business systems and assets, The crucial role of leadership in managing cyber risk, Understanding your technology, Cyber risk and the law, Incident response and accountability as well as Designing and implementing a mitigation strategy.
Accreditation: NA
Duration: 8 weeks, 8-11 hours per week
Course Fees: USD 2,900 (approx SGD 4,083)
5. SUTD – Foundation of Cybersecurity
This foundation course can be taken as a standalone course. It can also be taken as a module that makes up either the SUTD Graduate Certificate in Systems and Networking Security or the ModularMaster in Cybersecurity. Open to both newcomers as well as current industry professionals, the course will cover content such as cryptanalysis and secure multiparty computations. There will be projects and examinations as part of coursework.
Curriculum: Cryptographic primitives, common attacker models, and other core concepts
Accreditation: Kaplan is EduTrust certified.
Duration: 6 days
Course Fees: SGD 5,778 (SGD 653.40–1,733.40 after relevant subsidies)
5. Temasek Polytechnic – Introduction to Cybersecurity
If what you want is a quicker primer on cybersecurity, or a resource you can share with others to explain why cybersecurity is important, this is a course you can explore. Open to all, the course shares more about the field via short online video lessons and enforces knowledge with quick tests and assessments. Course finishers will be issued with an electronic certificate of completion.
Curriculum: Introduction to cybersecurity, history of cybersecurity, types of malware, threat and hackers as well as the ‘CIA triad’ and ‘IAAA framework’
Duration: 10 to 15 lessons, each 15 mins long. The course has no expiry date
Course Fees: SGD 49.99 (SkillsFuture Credit claimable)
Masters
Offered by the University of Warwick (79th in Times Higher Education Rankings and 54th in QS World University Ranking 2019), the Master of Science in Cyber Security and Management is fully taught by staff from the University. Lessons are a mix of interactive lectures, activities and exercises (role-play, for example) combined with on the job/in-company assignments and projects culminating in a 20,000 word dissertation.
Curriculum: Expect modules such as Cryptosystems & Data Protection, Cryptosystems & Data Protection, and Digital Forensics
Accreditation: SIM GE is Edutrust certified and is a member of the Singapore Association for Private Education (SAPE).
Duration: 18 months
Course Fees: SGD 35,952.00
Prospects: Graduates of this programme have gone on to work in companies and organizations such as Accenture, PWC, Facebook, and CISCO, serving in capacities such as Marketing Specialists, Network Consulting Engineers, and Cyber Security Consultants.
Cybersecurity sounding like your cup of tea? Why not see where it takes you? Or read our article on Digital Forensics!
Taken a cybersecurity course and have feedback to share? Do tell us about it! We’re all ears! Do leave us a comment, or drop us an email. We’ll be waiting!
Tired of searching and comparing various cyber security course?
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