Description of the Double Degree MSc Program

 

General Principles

The Master’s Program in Cybersecurity is part of the educational and research strategic planning of the Department of the Informatics and Computer Engineering, aiming to meet the contemporary needs of the country.

The Master’s Program refers to related specialties and seeks to further promote scientific knowledge and advance research, primarily considering the needs of the global market in matters of network security, privacy, etc.

To further promote and strengthen the Master’s Program, the staff may collaborate with reputable research institutions in Greece or abroad, which have relevant scientific staff and the necessary technical infrastructure.

 

Organization – Operation of the Master’s Program

The organization and general operation of the Master’s Program are governed by Law 4957/2022 on Postgraduate Studies (Governmental Gazette 4957/2022), with its respective amendments.

The governing body of the Master’s Program are as follows:

The Steering Committee (S.C.) of the Master’s Program consists of faculty members from the Department of Informatics and Computer Engineering who have undertaken postgraduate work and are responsible for coordinating and overseeing the Master’s Program, as well as addressing any administrative or organizational matters related to postgraduate studies. The committee is formed after approval by the S.C. and has a two-year term.

The members of the Coordinating Committee for the Academic period 2022-2024 are:

  • Giannakopoulos Panagiotis, Professor, Director of the Master’s Program
  • Vogiatzis Ioannis, Professor, Deputy Director of the Master’s Program
  • Sgouropoulou Cleo, Professor, Member

The remaining four members are appointed from the collaborating Universities (one per University member).

The Director of the Master’s Program is a member of the S.C. and is appointed, along with the Deputy, by a decision of the S.C. for a two-year term. Presides over the S.C., is a faculty member (either Professor or Associate Professor), in the same or a related field to that of the Master’s Program and performs the duties outlined in the law and the Postgraduate Studies Regulations. The Director is responsible for the organization, operation, and promotion and the effective implementation of the program. Specifically, the Director convenes and chairs the Coordinating Committee, proposes matters concerning the effective operation of the Master’s Program to the S.C., coordinates the teaching staff, and enforces the decisions of the collective bodies.

 

Program Structure – ECTS Credits

The courses, the teaching and the research activities are distributed across three (3) academic semesters. The semesters consist of 13 weeks of instruction and course examinations, and are defined as follows:

  • Fall semester: October – February
  • Spring semester: February – July

The Program offers the possibility of part-time postgraduate studies.

Distance learning may be implemented based on Article 88, Paragraph 1 of Law 4957/2022. The Program is equipped with the appropriate technical infrastructure for both synchronous and asynchronous learning to meet educational needs.

With this mode of instruction:

  • Accessibility to the specific subject matter offered by the Master’s Program is enhanced by providing equal opportunities for participation in the educational process to a wide range of interested individuals across the entire country or abroad. Working students, students from remote regions, and international students can access educational materials without the need for continuous physical presence.
  • It is also possible for distinguished scientists in the field of Cybersecurity from universities and research centers in the region or abroad who are unable to be physically present to teach in the Master’s Program. This improves the level of teaching, knowledge, and experiences that students gain.
  • Continuous support is provided to students throughout their participation in the Master’s Program, in addition to in-person meetings with the instructors.
  • Direct connection of students with external knowledge sources and increased opportunities for collaboration with instructors and geographically dispersed learners are also provided.

The Master’s Program is organized based on the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). The courses are described by the number of credit units assigned to all individual educational elements and their activities, making it possible to transfer and accumulate successful achievements in equivalent postgraduate programs at other Higher Education Institutions, both nationally and internationally.

The total number of ECTS credits required for the Master’s degree is ninety (90), with thirty (30) credits per academic semester (totally 60 per Academic year as state in the law). The thirty (30) credits of each full-time academic semester or thesis writing correspond to approximately 750 hours of workload required from each postgraduate student.

All courses in the Master’s Program are mandatory, comprising a total of 39 hours of instruction (lectures, exercises, labs, case studies), and the courses carry between 3 and 8 credits. Courses are taught in the afternoon on weekdays, according to the timetable. Additionally, lectures on current topics in Engineering and Cybersecurity are held as part of seminars, where guest speakers from Greece and abroad will be teaching.

Courses that are scheduled but cannot be held for any reason will be rescheduled by the instructor and conducted on a different date via distance learning. Rescheduling of courses by instructors must be done in coordination with the Secretariat and the S.C. of the Master’s Program.

To improve the curriculum, detailed course descriptions, and the expertise provided to postgraduate students, the following are required: a) continuous updates of the academic coordinators and the postgraduate students through on-site visits to companies and organizations, and b) the transfer of modern and innovative knowledge through the invitation of high-profile scientists and professionals from the domestic or international field. The invitation and the travel and accommodation expenses of the Director of the Master’s Program, the instructors, and guest speakers are covered by the special budget code of the Program, following a proposal from the MSc program Director and a decision by the Coordinating Committee, according to the relevant legislation.

The Master’s Program in “Cybersecurity” places emphasis not only on theoretical or laboratory training but also on research to prepare students who wish to continue to the third cycle of studies. During the third semester, students complete their Master’s thesis, which corresponds to thirty (30) ECTS credits.

All courses are mandatory. Specifically, the program has the following structure:

  • 1st semester: Five courses.
  • 2nd semester: At least four courses if elective courses are not activated.
  • 3rd semester: Master’s Thesis.

The regular review of the curriculum of the Master’s Program takes place every two years. In this case, the S.C. appoints a Curriculum Review Committee, which proposes the curriculum revisions for final approval.

With a proposal from the S.C. and approval from the Senate, the distribution of courses in the Program may be adjusted, and modifications to the program and course content may be made.