Applied MSc in Cyber Security

DSTI Applied MSc in Cyber Security, a master’s level programme designed and supervised by a committee of experts comprised of the best in the French defence, telecommunications, and software publishing industries, anchored in the highest tradition of DSTI’s expectations, rigour, and quality.

The programme is resolutely technical and aims for employment in operational roles, even though it also incorporates crucial elements of the “human” factor in cybersecurity: social engineering, quality compliance standards and certifications, as well as law and project management.

DSTI educated Cyber Security specialists, who are the best computer engineers, excel at:

  • Fundamentals of computing: component architecture, operating systems engineering, and telecommunications network setup and supervision.
  • Low-level software engineering: C & C++, with a reading ability of assembly code.
  • Various database management systems, all middleware layers, and, of course, application servers, particularly web servers.
  • Mechanisms of code compilation or interpretation and how to obfuscate code.
  • Infrastructure, whether local, cloud, hybrid, barebone, virtualised, or containerised.
  • Enlightened usage of cryptographic systems and tools, and insights on formal verification of algorithms and their implementations.
  • Processes, methodologies, methods and tools for cyber defence and cyber attacks (ethically so)

 

Apply now to deep dive into the techniques and technologies of cyber security systems’ management.

DSTI Applied MSc in Cyber Security - Student Testimonial
Features
Study Modes
Campus
Admission

All DSTI MSc programmes – Key Dates for the 2025 Entries

Spring 2025

Application deadlines for:

  1. International students: 1st February 2025
  2. EU students: 21st March 2025

Induction Days:

  1. Applied Data Analytics | Engineering | Science & AI
    28th March 2025
  2. Applied Cyber Security
    No Spring entry – see Autumn 2025
  3. Executive AI
    24th April 2025

Classes start dates:

  1. Applied Data Analytics | Engineering | Science & AI
    31st March 2025
  2. Applied Cyber Security
    No Spring entry – see Autumn 2025
  3. Executive AI
    25th April 2025

Autumn 2025

Application deadlines for:

  1. International students: 3rd August 2025
  2. EU students: 26th September 2025

Induction Days:

  1. Applied Data Analytics | Engineering | Science & AI
    3rd October 2025
  2. Applied Cyber Security
    17th October 2025
  3. Executive AI
    30th October 2025

Classes start dates:

  1. Applied Data Analytics | Engineering | Science & AI
    6th October 2025
  2. Applied Cyber Security
    20th October 2025
  3. Executive AI
    3rd November 2025

Please note that Self-Pace Online Course (SPOC) applicants are not subject to any particular application timeline

Accreditations

As a front-runner in data and AI in France, DSTI offers a Bachelor programme at RNCP level 6. Our MSc programmes hold a RNCP level 7 accreditation. DSTI is recognised under the 3IA Cote d’Azur Label for extensive AI content and proudly possesses Qualiopi RNQ certification, affirming the quality of our processes. Our Qualiopi certificate can be downloaded by clicking on this link.

Objectives of Applied MSc in Cyber Security

The following are the major objectives of the Applied MSc in Cyber Security programme:

Cybersecurity Skill Mastery

Master the latest cybersecurity protocols and technologies to effectively protect digital infrastructures from advanced cyber incidents.

Risk Analysis Expertise

Develop critical skills to analyse and neutralize cyber threats, ensuring robust information security in the digital era.

Certification Achievement

Strategically prepare for key cybersecurity certifications, signifying your validated skills to employers worldwide.

System Security Insights

Gain in-depth knowledge in secure system design and operation, encompassing network security and encrypted communications, to excel in the cybersecurity field.

Programme Structure

The Applied MSc in Cyber Security programme bestows 120 ECTS. It encompasses 850 hours of instruction, equivalent to 90 ECTS, and an additional 50 hours of support sessions. Internships or apprenticeships, carrying 30 ECTS credits, provide excellent practical experience.

Any course and/or block of courses/skills (teaching unit) validated according to the knowledge assessment procedures automatically constitutes partial validation, with the associated ECTS credits. 

Programme Features

7+

Hands-on projects

5

International Certifications preparation

Study Modes

DSTI offers the Applied MSc in Cyber Security in two modes in initial education: Full-Time or Part-Time (Apprenticeship).

DSTI School of Engineering - Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education

Undergraduate & Postgraduate Education

Undergraduate & Postgraduate Education is designed for students under 30 transitioning from school or university, preparing them to become proficient data professionals. Choose between two options: Full-Time or Part-Time (Apprenticeship).

Full-Time Mode

For beginners in Cybersecurity, we suggest the 2-year Full-time mode with options for two data-related internships, the second being mandatory.

Part-Time (Apprenticeship) Mode

The apprenticeship mode combines part-time work and study, open only to EU students or those with a long-term visa in France. Read details before applying.

Curriculum of Applied MSc in Cyber Security

Code Security – 225 Hours

Embark on a deep dive into Code Security with our module, exploring advanced C and C++ programming, system call fundamentals in Microsoft Windows and Linux, and securing code execution through sandboxes, virtual machines, and formal verification techniques, vital for robust cyber security.

Advanced C and C++ programming

Explore the fundamentals of advanced programming, delving into the compile-link process, manual memory management, I/O management, and ensuring program stack consistency with and without exception handling.

Operating Systems Part 1 : Microsoft Windows & Linux Basics – 25hrs

Operational skills of command-line tools for operating systems configuration and automation

Operating Systems Part 2 : Fundamentals of System Calls – 25hrs

Memory management Filesystem Networking Processes and threads Entropy generation For all topics, whenever applicable: using secured (encrypted) features

Part 1 : Sandboxes, Virtual Machines, Containers – 50H

Techniques for isolated code execution using sandboxes, virtual machines, and containers, crucial for enhancing cybersecurity and system integrity

Part 2 : Interpreted, quasi or totally human readable code – 25H

Security aspects of interpreted code, script protection and vulnerability mitigation, whenever applicable Using secured (encrypted) features

Part 3 : Formal verification methods and techniques – 25H

Formal verification in cybersecurity Ensuring code reliability and safeguarding digital systems against threats

Geopolitics of cybersecurity, range of cyber threats International communication networks and security Cyber security stakes of critical national infrastructures, operations and processes Critical infrastructures Research centres and critical corporates Media, social networks religious organisations and polling organizations Official and critical voting systems

IT Architecture Security– 200 Hours

The IT Architecture module in the Applied MSc in Cyber Security programme delves into the architectural bedrock of IT security, where you’ll navigate through cloud computing, networking, and system defences, preparing for top-tier certifications in the field.

Dive into the core of cybersecurity with our course covering extensive architecture, operating systems, and networking, including key aspects of the Cisco Certified Networking Associate exam, equipping students with vital, industry-aligned skills in cyber security infrastructure.

Preparation to Amazon AWS Solution Architect Associate exam – 50hrs

Preparation to Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administrator Associate exam – 25hrs 

Dive into Cloud Computing essentials, focusing on architecture, assets management, and security, and prepare for top industry certifications like Amazon AWS Solution Architect Associate and Microsoft 365 Security Administrator Associate, crucial for advancing in the cybersecurity sector.

Enhance your cybersecurity expertise with our dedicated course preparing you for the Cisco CyberOps Professional Certification Exam, covering crucial topics for advancing in the rapidly evolving field of cyber operations.

Preparation for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate certification

Key aspects of the Cisco Certified Networking Associate exam, equipping students with vital, industry-aligned skills in cyber security infrastructure

Information Systems Security – 200 Hours

Discover the depths of Information Systems Security in our module, encompassing cryptography, AI in cybersecurity, and a thorough review of securing data banks, middleware, and application servers, crucial for safeguarding modern information systems against evolving cyber threats and vulnerabilities.

Comprehensive review of cybersecurity, covering threats, vulnerabilities, attacks, mitigation strategies, and protection measures

Principles, review of current scope and state of the art, applications & use cases

Protection of relational databases, RDBMS, NoSQL databases and Big Data systems

HDFS, scheduling & resources management Workflow management & ETL, Dataflow management Scalable Enterprise Serial Bus Realtime processing Machine Learning Data Exploration & Visualisation

Securing middleware and application servers Focus on enterprise middleware and web application servers Enhance security in complex server environments within the cyber security field

Behavioural analysis in cybersecurity Advanced skills to anticipate and counteract cyber threats through predictive analytics

Resources Security – 200 Hours

Dive into a holistic cybersecurity learning experience, combining ethical hacking certification preparation, hands-on penetration testing, and essential soft skills in corporate compliance, IT project management, and an understanding of legal ethics and data privacy regulations.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) exam preparation Extensive curriculum outlined by EC-Council Ethical hacking techniques and strategies in the cyber security arena

Practical cybersecurity with real-life lab games and simulations System security design, infrastructure security, data encryption Code safety, comprehensive skills for protecting computer systems and networks against cyber threats

Part 1 : GRC (Governance, Risk and Compliance) Essentials – 15H

Alignment to business objectives. Compliance with legal, statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations. Review and implementation of ISO27001/2, PCI DSS and GDPR. Incident and crisis management

Part 2 : Social Engineering mitigation – 10H

Strategies for mitigating social engineering. Understanding what Social Engineering is, what levers are used by attackers, what are the risks involved, how to detect a social engineering attack and how to protect ourselves against one.

Best practices for project management, being in waterfall cycle, agility or just-in-time Study of PMBOK (Project Management Body Of Knowledge) and Agile (Scrum) approaches

EU & USA approaches GDPR, Safe Harbour & Successors Common Law vs Code Law

50 Hours of Support Sessions

After each course, students get 1-2 weeks for review, with support sessions available for queries. Professors answer doubts in these sessions, ensuring individual attention from DSTI.

Certifications

To stay abreast of changes in the Cyber Security world, students can prepare for the following certifications while completing Applied MSc in Cyber Security.

Technologies in Applied MSc in Cyber Security

Professors

Following are some of the professors who teach Applied MSc in Data Engineering for AI.

David Worms

Industry Member, Professor

David Worms is the CEO and founder of Adaltas, a company specializing in big data and Hadoop consulting services, with over 19 years of experience in the industry, working on a variety of technology projects.

Dr. Catherine Faron

Professor

Dr. Catherine Faron is a respected full professor at Université Côte d’Azur. She holds the position of vice-head of Wimmics, a collaborative research team between the I3S laboratory and the Inria centre.

Pr Charles Bouveyron

Professor

As the Director of Institut 3IA Côte d’Azur, Inria Chair in Data Science, and a Professor of Applied Mathematics at Université Côte d’Azur, he has a wealth of expertise in statistics, artificial intelligence, and data science.

Resources for Applied MSc in Cyber Security

DSTI School of Engineering - Students' Resources

AWS Academy, from which DSTI was one of the first French institutions to be accepted, provides higher education institutions with a ready-to-teach cloud computing curriculum that prepares students to pursue industry-recognised certifications and in-demand cloud jobs. AWS Academy curriculum helps educators stay at the forefront of AWS Cloud innovation so that they can equip students with the skills they need to get hired in one of the fastest-growing industries.

Again, as one of the first French institution members of the  Microsoft Learn for Educators (MSLE), DSTI faculty can easily integrate AI Skills, technical skills, and industry-trusted and verified credentials into their curriculum to set students up for real-world success.

Azure for Education offers students access to an impressive library of fully licensed Microsoft software, developer tools, and cloud resources, including a yearly $100 voucher. These resources are vital for learning and completing AI-related projects, leveraging the Microsoft cloud ecosystem.

O’Reilly is a comprehensive platform providing over 60,000 books, 30,000 hours of video, live events, and interactive labs on topics like cloud computing, software development, AI, and machine learning. It offers students extensive learning resources to deepen their knowledge in AI and related fields.

Students gain access to our partner Adaltas cloud-based cluster, which leverages Hadoop and Spark for processing large-scale data sets. This enterprise-grade cluster provides 24/7 availability, allowing students to experience real-world big data environments.

All students enrolled in the programme receive access to a SAS license. This software suite is essential for advanced analytics, business intelligence, and data management tasks, providing students with tools relevant to AI-based decision-making.

Through DSTI Learn, based on the latest Moodle LMS core, students can access their study materials, including notifications, course schedules, exams, live sessions, recorded lectures, and assignment submissions. This platform ensures students remain connected with their coursework anytime, anywhere.

DSTI offers a support system through Zendesk, allowing students to seek help for academic, career, or administrative queries. Students can also revisit past responses, ensuring continuous support throughout their studies.

DSTI students are provided with lifelong access to an alumni email account, along with Microsoft Windows and Office 365 licenses, enabling them to stay connected and use essential software for professional and personal use.

Careers

Graduates of our Applied MSc in Cyber Security gain expertise to tackle evolving cyber challenges, opening doors to careers in cyber security analysis, risk management, and digital protection, within diverse sectors, shaping tomorrow’s cyber security landscape.

Career Opportunities

Our Applied MSc in Cyber Security students work as

  • Cyber Security Analyst
  • Information Security Manager
  • Cyber Security Consultant
  • Network Security Engineer
  • Penetration Tester (Ethical Hacker)
  • Risk Management Analyst
  • IT Security Architect

Apprenticeships and Contrat Pro

1,600€

average monthly salary for Apprenticeship

1,950€

average monthly salary for Contrat Pro

2/3

students receive CDI offers.

50% +

students sign their contracts through DSTI

Employers of our Applied MSc in Data Engineering for AI students

  • Adaltas
  • Africa Prudential
  • Alvedoo
  • Ambrator Games
  • Axa France
  • Baobab Circle
  • Capgemini
  • Cloudreach
  • Content Square
  • Dashlane
  • Data Minded BV
  • Datakhi
  • DATASULTING
  • EDF LAB Paris Saclay
  • Enel
  • FENYX Consult
  • Foodwize
  • Google
  • Huawei Technologies Nigeria Ltd
  • INETUM
  • INFONOMICS TECHNOLOGY SERVICES LIMITED
  • JSC
  • Lixo
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • Pelico
  • Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland
  • Sterling
  • TTE World
  • Volt

Admissions

The admission procedure at DSTI School of Engineering is a selective and competitive, yet inclusive endeavour that provides deserving candidates a fair chance. This outlined admission process applies to all study modes.

Please note that DSTI does not offer parallel admission for direct entry in second year of its Applied MSc programmes.

Eligibility

To qualify for DSTI’s Applied MSc in Cyber Security, applicants must satisfy these conditions:

Applicants should have studied Mathematics at high school level or possess an equivalent qualification.

Candidates must have completed a 3 or 4-year bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or Electronics and Telecommunication or equivalent from a recognised university.

DSTI provides three ways for prospective students to demonstrate their academic credentials. Students may only submit one type of academic record from the three options provided. However, submitting evidence of more than one qualification listed below will enhance your chances of admission.

Option 1: Minimum Grades + Bachelor Degree Certificate

For consideration into the Applied MSc programme, candidates must attain at least the following grades or their equivalents: USA – GPA 2.0; Germany – 3.5; France – 12; UK – 2:2 (2nd Class Lower Division); India – CGPA 6.5 or Upper second class; China – 67%.

Option 2: standard admission test + Bachelor Degree Certificate

To uphold application quality, we value scores from standardised tests. For the GRE, aim for a minimum of 155 in the quantitative section and an average total score close to 300. For the GMAT, target a minimum score of 42, with an average total score approaching 600.

Option 3: Online DSTI Entry Exam + Bachelor Degree Certificate

If the above criteria are unattainable, consider taking the online DSTI Entry Exam from home. All that’s needed is a computer and stable internet access. The exam comprises two sections: Mathematics and IT.

Since all courses are taught in English, students must have a B2 level of proficiency in English. DSTI will assess English proficiency during the Admission Interview.

To boost an application, students may submit their IELTS or TOEFL scores.

IT Requirements

Students at DSTI should have a Windows PC laptop, not Apple Mac, with these minimum specs:

At least Intel Core i5 quad-core or Intel i7 dual-core (or AMD equivalent).

8GB as the absolute minimum, but 16GB highly recommended.

Minimum 512GB, 1TB recommended. SSD required.

It’s a personel choice of investment. If to be done, NVIDIA GPU.

Your PC must be able to run the main latest Windows version (currently: Windows 11).

DSTI will provide a Windows Education (eq. to Enterprise edition) key when classes start.

Don’t purchase MS Office 365: DSTI will provide a full product license when classes start.

Admission Process

DSTI School of Engineering admission process is a comprehensive exercise that offers an opportunity to all deserving candidates.

To start your application, browse our various Applied MSc programmes to find your perfect match. Schedule an online meeting with our team for guidance and to check each programme’s tuition fees.

The application is an online process, and we assess your suitability. You’ll need to upload standard documents: ID, CV, and a cover letter.

After initial application assessment, DSTI will invite applicants for further processing. Applicants should provide documents specified in either Option 1 or 2. If these are unavailable, Option 3 may be chosen.

Option 1: Transcripts and Degree Certificate

Option 2: Standardised Tests and Degree Certificate

Option 3: DSTI Online Entrance Exam and Degree Certificate

If your application advances, we’ll invite you for a 20-minute admission interview to confirm your interest, course suitability and English fluency.

Upon acceptance, you’ll receive an official admission decision via email.

Please refer to our detailed admission process for more information.

Tuition Fees for Applied MSc in Cyber Security

Book One on One Online Meeting with DSTI

At DSTI, we provide one-on-one online meetings with prospective students. Here we answer all their questions regarding our Applied Bachelors and Applied MSc courses.

Join DSTI's Weekly Online Group Meetings (English)

At DSTI, we organize online group meetings where we share valuable information about our selection of Applied Bachelors and Applied MSc courses in data and AI.

Join DSTI's Weekly Online Group Meetings (in French)

DSTI organizes online group meetings to provide information about our range of Applied Bachelor and Applied MSc programs in data and AI.

Open House Sessions at DSTI Paris Campus

Every Wednesday from 2PM to 6PM CEST, DSTI’s Paris Campus hosts an open day for all, no appointment necessary. Inquiries regarding admission, courses or other related topics are welcomed. We are delighted to provide answers to your questions.

Tuition Fees for Applied MSc programmes

Fees are valid for the Autumn 24 and Spring 25 intake.Applied MSc in Data AnalyticsApplied MSc in Data Engineering for Artificial IntelligenceApplied MSc in Data Science & Artificial IntelligenceApplied MSc in Cyber Security
Total Tuition Fees18,700€18,700€18,700€25,000€
Yearly Tuition Fees9,350€9,350€9,350€12,500€

*No tuition fees for the students in apprenticeship mode.

Tuition Fees for Executive MSc programmes

Fees are valid for the Autumn 24 and Spring 25 intake.Executive MSc in Artificial Intelligence
Total Tuition Fees18,700€

Want a career in data and AI? Download the DSTI’s Applied MSc in Cyber Security Curriculum to find out how!