International Cybersecurity Studies MA
Information
- International Cybersecurity Studies MA
- A 60-ECTS, full-time blended MSc at Ludovika University of Public Service that prepares graduates from diverse backgrounds to lead cybersecurity governance, risk and strategy – qualifying you for roles such as CISO, policy/compliance officer, or cybersecurity risk manager, with only three on-campus weeks per semester in Budapest
- Format: blended (3 on-campus-weeks / 9 online weeks per semester )
- Duration: 2 semesters
- Location: Budapest, Hungary and online
- Language: English
- Tuition fee: €1,600 / semester
- Scholarships available: INT – Stipendium Hungaricum | HU – state scholarship
Location
Central location
Hungary is located in the heart of Europe, sharing borders with Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Its central location makes it a strategic gateway between Western and Eastern Europe. Over the centuries, Hungary has developed a vibrant, rich cultural tapestry, shaped by various civilizations, nationalities, who have left their footprints in the Carpathian Basin, contributing to the colourful community that defines Hungary today.
An unforgettable cultural experience
The country has a very long history that dates back to the 9th century, and it is now among the top tourist destinations in Europe. Visitors are drawn by stunning natural landscapes, architectural treasures, thermal baths, cultural heritage and gastronomy. Hungary offers a vibrant cultural life with countless festivals, concerts, exhibitions, and culinary events throughout the year. From classical music to contemporary art, Hungary provides an immersive cultural experience for all tastes.
Excellence in higher education
Hungarian higher education has been representing academic excellence for over 650 years, beginning with the founding of the first university in the city of Pécs in 1367. Today, there are 66 accredited higher education institutions in the country, including state-funded, privately-funded, and church-funded universities and colleges. Among these, Ludovika University of Public Service holds a unique position. It offers specialized programmes in public administration, international relations, defence and security studies, military science, pedagogy and teacher training, and water sciences. As a key institution in Hungary’s public service education, Ludovika combines tradition with innovation, preparing students for leadership roles in national and international contexts.
LUPS (in a nutshell)
Why study at Ludovika in Budapest?
- Central European location with a student friendly campus in the heart of Budapest, offering easy access to cultural, academic and professional opportunities
- affordable living costs, among the lowest in the EU, making it an attractive destination for international students
- student dorms and free access to university library, ensuring a supportive and resource-rich learning environment
- cutting edge expertise provided by academic professionals and practitioners, combining theoretical foundations with hands-on field studies and real-world applications
- modern and interdisciplinary curriculum that reflects contemporary challenges in international relations, public governance, security and sustainability
- opportunity to participate in international research projects and collaborative initiatives across all academic fields of the university, fostering global engagement and academic development
Ludovika – University of Public Service (LUPS) is the only institution in Hungary offering degree programmes in public service with a comprehensive approach tailored to the needs of government and society. The university educates the next generation of experts and leaders in the fields of public administration, international affairs, military science, law enforcement. A specialised faculty focuses on the field of water sciences, a critical and increasingly global issue with long-term implications for sustainability and security. In this field, Ludovika UPS actively collaborates with national stakeholders and international partners contributing to research and policy development at both domestic and global levels. Starting from 2025, Ludovika – University of Public Service has established a dedicated faculty to include teacher training and selected disciplinary programmes in humanities into its portfolio. This strategic development reflects the university’s commitment to supporting public service not only through administration and security, but also through education and cultural development.
Due to the variety of these special fields, our University has a multifaceted student body, bringing together students from different branches of public service to become better acquainted with each other and cooperate in many fields of life. All students benefit from a shared introductory module embedded in each degree programme, which provides a common foundation in public service values and principles. In addition, students have the opportunity to participate in joint public service exercises, promoting teamwork, mutual understanding, and practical skills across disciplines.
The faculty
Faculty of public governance and international studies
Competitive knowledge preparing students for domestic and international public service
The Faculty of Public Governance and International Studies (FPGIS) is the leading institution in Hungary for educating domestic and international professionals and future leaders in public administration. Operating in its current form since 2019, the primary objective of the faculty is to provide a unified, practice-oriented approach to training experts for government bodies, foreign missions and sectors of public administration related to foreign affairs and European integration.
Its programmes are designed in close alignment with the needs of employers, combining problem-based learning with real-world applications. Students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to work in international environments, including institutions at the intersection of domestic public administration, the public and private sectors, and European Union bodies. The faculty’s interdisciplinary and globally relevant curriculum ensures that graduates are well-prepared to address the complex challenges of governance in a rapidly changing world.
FPGIS offers unique training programmes in both Hungarian and English, complemented by international scholarship opportunities, practice-oriented training, and internship programmes that equip graduates with competitive skills and knowledge.
Located on Budapest’s only truly traditional university campus, the Ludovika Campus, the faculty provides a vibrant academic environment, including a state-of-the-art dormitory with 600 beds, fostering a strong sense of community and collaboration.
Join us and understand better the 21st century’s fast-evolving reality in which new priorities emerge at an unprecedented speed. Identity, belonging to a culture and traditions, understanding the common values your community is built upon is becoming ever more prominent.
There is a need for future professionals and leaders of complex governance structures – who have the skills, the knowledge, and the courage to face an ever more volatile cybersecurity, geo- economic and geopolitical reality. This new world needs youth that masters the skills required at the international level, but is also able to act locally, to understand the potentials as well as the limitations and risks of globalisation or the recently emerging disruptive factors such as social media or artificial intelligence. A generation of leaders that succeeds not only in a business-as-usual environment but also in crises.
FPGIS offers a vibrant academic community, where students develop advanced professional competencies while gaining a solid foundation in political and legal sciences, classical international relations, and diplomacy, taught by experienced practitioners.
The faculty’s mission is to train highly qualified professionals for all levels of state administration, ready to work with integrity, adaptability, and strategic insight.
The program
MA in International Cybersecurity Studies
‘Lead the Digital Frontline — Secure Systems, Shape Strategy’
What is it?
This 2-semester, full-time blended learning master’s programme is tailored for students and professionals seeking to understand and lead in the field of international cybersecurity. It combines legal, strategic and technical perspectives to address the growing complexity of digital threats in global governance, military operations and law enforcement. The programme is hosted by Ludovika University of Public Service, Hungary’s leading institution in public service education and is designed to meet the needs of international students and working professionals through a flexible learning format.
What does it offer?
Students engage in weekly online coursework complemented by three intensive in-person weeks per semester, allowing for deep immersion and networking. The curriculum covers the full spectrum of cybersecurity — from legal frameworks and risk assessment to intelligence operations and digital forensics. After acquiring the legal and IT knowledge that forms the basis of the field, students learn about security standards and legal regulations, risk assessment and then the technical fundamentals of information security. They will then gain deeper knowledge in the international, military and law enforcement areas of cybersecurity with a focus not primarily on Europe, but on the international arena. Renowned foreign lecturers will also be involved in the training. Acknowledged international experts and practitioners contribute to the programme, offering insights into global cybersecurity strategy, crisis communication and the human factors that influence digital security. Graduates will be equipped to work in international organisations, national cybersecurity agencies, defence institutions and private sector roles requiring strategic cyber expertise.
What qualification will you earn?
International Cybersecurity Expert
Main subjects:
Cybersecurity strategy and leadership; crisis management and communications; critical information infrastructure protection; human factors of cybersecurity; intelligence in cyberspace; security testing and forensics; cyber diplomacy.
Curriculum snapshot
Semester 1
Cybersecurity Regulations and Standards
42 hours4 creditsExamIntroduction to Cybersecurity
28 hours3 creditsExamCyber Warfare
28 hours3 creditsExamApplied Cybersecurity Technologies
28 hours3 creditsExamPersonal Data Protection
28 hours3 creditsPractical gradeRisk Assessment, Risk Management
28 hours3 creditsExamCritical Information Infrastructure Protection
28 hours3 creditsExamCybercrime
28 hours3 creditsExamIT System and Network Security
28 hours3 creditsExamSemester 2
Cyber Diplomacy
42 hours4 creditsExamCybersecurity Strategy and Digital Transformation
28 hours3 creditsExamCrisis Management and Communications
28 hours3 creditsPractical gradeHuman Factors of Cybersecurity
42 hours4 creditsExamIncident Management
14+14 hours3 creditsExamCyber Threat Intelligence
14 hours2 creditsExamSecurity Testing and Forensics
28 hours3 creditsPractical gradeElective Subject 1
28 hours2 creditsPractical gradeElective Subject 2
28 hours2 creditsPractical gradeThesis Work
84 hours5 creditsPractical gradeInternational student mobility
The Faculty of Public Governance and International Studies in cooperation with its numerous international partners provides its students with opportunities to participate in intensive study and professional internship mobility programmes. These are available within Europe through the Erasmus+ programme and outside Europe through the International Credit Mobility (ICM) programme.
All of these provide our students with excellent opportunities:
- to gain lifelong experiences, build relationships with the professional world
- study for up to two semesters at more than 75 partner institutions within Europe and at numerous universities outside Europe (ICM)
- accumulate social capital across countries and cultures
- get to know the world and, through challenges, get to know themselves
What we offer:
- semester(s) spent studying abroad with our international partners
- internship opportunities at international organizations, embassies, and consulates
- membership in a vibrant “Erasmus community” with access to constantly updated programmes
- an extensive range of foreign language courses, facilitating the acquisition and development of the professional language skills necessary for gaining experience abroad
Student life
Students come to Ludovika from all over the country and abroad, creating a diverse and dynamic community with a wide variety of mindsets and attitudes. Here you’ll learn from each oer, build lasting friendships and perhaps even find love. Together, you’ll share many unforgettable moments that will define your university years.
Beyond academic life, the university offers a rich variety of student events each year, including a college week, sports day, gastronomy, culture and quiz days. Scientific and intellectual life is also vibrant: students’ afternoons are enlivened throughout the year by conferences and presentations by various guest speakers, organized by the institutes, the National Scientific Students’ Associations Conference and specialized colleges.
The Student Councils of Ludovika University of Public Service play a decisive role in shaping student-life and community. In addition to organizing traditional events and cultural programmes, they are committed to making university life enjoyable and fulfilling. Their primary mission is to authentically represent student interests, help resolve any issues that arise, and ensure effective communication between students and university leadership.
Ludovika campus
The Ludovika Campus of the Ludovika University of Public Service is not only a centre of public higher education in Hungary but also a stronghold of varied and cultured leisure activities.
One of the main jewels of the campus is the former Ludovika Royal Hungarian National Defence Academy, a neoclassical building which is now the LUPS headquarters.
Accomodation
Ludovika Residence Hall
The Residence Hall is located in the Ludovika Campus, Nagyvárad tér. The Residence Hall is surrounded by the Orczy Park, which offers opportunities for leisure, a green area in the inner city of Budapest and the lake gives the visitors a good location for relaxation. The proximity of the inner city allows the residents to easily enjoy the entertaining and cultural possibilities of the city.
Sport facilities
The Ludovika University of Public Service has a wide choice of indoor and outdoor sport facilities on the campus including a swimming pool, gyms, weights rooms, a tennis court and a sauna. Sport facilities are open for every student, instructor and employee.
The sport centres provide a wide range of sport opportunities: ball games (basketball, football, volleyball, handball, badminton and tennis), combat sports (judo, thai box, tanfa- karate, ju-jitsu, aikido, kyokushin) aerobic, table tennis, indoor climbing, swimming, strength development and cardio training, equestrian sport, shooting sports, fencing and hiking.
How to find us
The Ludovika University of Public Service can be reached easily by metro M3. The University is located at the station ’Nagyvárad tér’.
Useful Information:
Address: 1083 Budapest, Üllői út 82.
Phone: +36 1 432 9000
Web: University website
Email: nke@uni-nke.hu