Please note: This page is aimed at prospective students. Are you already a student at Radboud University? You can find your current study programme in the Course catalogue.

Curriculum of Cyber Security and AI

The Master’s specialisation in Cyber Security and AI has a course load of 120 EC or two years. The first year of the specialisation contains compulsory courses. You can compose the rest of the programme with specialisation electives and free electives in the field of Cyber Security or AI.

About this study curriculum

The Master's specialisation in Cyber Security and AI consists of the following components:

  • Compulsory courses (27 EC)
  • Electives:
         - Specialisation electives (24 EC)
         - Master's electives (18 EC)
         - Free electives (6 EC)
  • Research internship (15 EC)
  • Master's thesis (30 EC)

Provisional overview for prospective students

This overview provides an indication of the study programme of the academic year 2026-2027 and is aimed at prospective students. It is subject to change and no rights may be derived from it. Already a student at Radboud University? View your current study programme in the Course catalogue.

Total EC
120 EC
Compulsory courses
P1
P2
P3
P4
6 EC
6 EC
3 EC
3 EC
3 EC
6 EC
Elective courses
P1
P2
P3
P4
6 EC
6 EC
6 EC
3 EC
6 EC
6 EC
6 EC
6 EC
6 EC

Your core curriculum is supplemented by electives. The elective programme consists of specialisation electives, Master's electives and free electives. You are free to compose the programme as you wish, provided that the level and coherence is sufficient for the Examination Board.

Specialisation electives (24 EC)
You need to pick at least 24 EC worth of specialisation electives (see the list above) that are within the field of cyber security or AI. You can focus on themes like cryptography, network security, privacy, software security, and AI.

Master's electives (18 EC)
These can be any courses offered in the Master's programme Computing Science. Courses from other Master's programmes are also permitted provided there is no overlap and these have been approved by the Examination Board.

Free electives (6 EC)
These electives can be used to take any course taught at Radboud University, another Dutch university or abroad. 

Internships
P1
P2
P3
P4
15 EC

One part of the Master's specialisation Cyber Security & AI is the research internship. Most students will do an internal project within the Digital Security group, but there are also projects in collaboration with external companies and projects done entirely at an external company or organisation. The Privacy & Identity Lab hosted by the Digital Security group, which is a collaboration with SIDN, TNO, and Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, and Society can provide opportunities for internships as well.

Thesis & research
P1
P2
P3
P4
30 EC

Your Master's thesis consists of an individual research project, which allows you to investigate a topic of your choice in cyber security & AI. Generally speaking, students will do their Master's project under the supervision of a member of staff of their own university. You can do research at different places:

  • The Radboud Digital Security group, sometimes in joint research with the Software Science and Data Science groups.
  • iHUB - the interdisciplinary research institute on Security, Privacy, and Data Governance
  • Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, and Society (TILT)
  • TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research)
  • Other institutes and organisations by specific arrangement