This Diploma in Cybersecurity Essentials* is an 11-week, part-time standalone and stackable micro-credential designed to provide learners with foundational knowledge and practical skills in protecting information systems, networks, and digital assets. The course is funded by the Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy 2026 programme and fees are subsidised at 80% for all eligible learner categories.
The programme addresses the well-documented national shortage of cybersecurity professionals in Ireland. The SOLAS Difficult-to-Fill Vacancies Survey (November 2025) identifies cybersecurity experts as among the most sought-after roles in the Irish labour market, while Eurostat’s 2024 survey on ICT security skills found that almost one in four Irish companies report difficulty recruiting staff with cybersecurity competencies. Cyber Ireland estimates the sector employs approximately 8,000 professionals across 535 firms contributing €2.7 billion annually to the Irish economy, with demand continuing to outpace supply.
The programme equips participants with labour market relevant skills including threat and vulnerability assessment, security architecture principles, network and application security, incident detection and response, and the practical use of industry-standard cybersecurity tools and technologies. These skills map directly to entry-level and associate cybersecurity roles and provide a strong foundation for professional certifications such as CompTIA Security+.
This micro-credential has been developed with input from CCT’s Industry Engagement Forum (IEF). Industry partners have consistently indicated demand for graduates who can identify threats, assess risk, and implement protective measures in organisational settings. The programme content reflects current enterprise needs and has been informed by feedback from employers across financial services, technology, and the SME sector in Dublin and nationally.
At a regional level, Dublin’s concentration of technology multinationals, financial services firms, and a growing indigenous SME base creates strong and sustained demand for cybersecurity skills. Nationally, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) Skills Insights Note 2025-2 confirms that Ireland is close to the top of global rankings for AI and digital skills demand, with cybersecurity identified as a critical enabler across all sectors. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 ranks cybersecurity among the fastest-growing job categories globally.
Target cohorts include employed individuals at all qualification levels seeking to upskill in cybersecurity, career changers with no prior ICT background, recent graduates from NFQ Level 8 programmes, returners to the workforce, and SME owners or managers responsible for organisational digital security. No prior ICT knowledge is required. The programme is transversal in nature, spanning technical skills (network security, threat analysis, incident response) and professional competencies (risk awareness, ethical and legal understanding, communication of security posture to stakeholders).
This Certificate in Cybersecurity Essentials course is scheduled to commence week of October 12th 2026*. This is an 11 week, part-time programme with contact hours delivered over evening and weekend schedule slots. This programme will lead to a QQI award at Level 7 of the NQF.
*Subject to validation by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
This programme provides a comprehensive introduction to cybersecurity concepts, threats, and defensive strategies for the protection of information systems and digital assets.
Content covers cybersecurity fundamentals and the threat landscape; security architecture principles and defence-in-depth strategies; network, system, application, and data security; traffic analysis and network monitoring techniques; information monitoring, detection, and alerting; incident response planning and execution; and the practical use of cybersecurity tools and technologies including vulnerability scanners, packet analysers, and intrusion detection systems.
For October 2026 the course will be offered on an evening/weekend blended learning basis. Typically learners will attend two evenings per week (online) plus 1-2 Saturdays (on campus).
All students will be introduced to the CCT online learning environment as part of the induction to the programme and will have access to further support as required.
Online activities can include live or pre-recorded lectures, independent learning and assessment activities such as research tasks, discussion forums, simulations, quizzes and e-portfolio work along with online group activities such as live classes, group project work, virtual labs and tutorials. Completing the online elements of the programme each week is essential to successfully complete the programme. On campus activities can include small group tutorials, labs, project supervision, problem solving case studies, library research and seminars.
Assessment is through a combination of practical lab exercises (portfolio) and a scenario-based security assessment report. Industry initiated real-world problems are used as the context for planning and designing assessment solutions, as well as being an aid for problem solving sessions. Summative assessment is a blend of integrated assessment and module specific assessment utilising both group and individual work, while formative assessment is pipelined into module delivery and feedback, so as not to add to the assessment burden of students.
Admission to this Certificate in Cybersecurity Essentials is through one of the following:
Evidence of prior learning, including experiential learning,
or
Possession of an NFQ level 5 award, including leaving certificate, FET award, or equivalent.
In addition, all applicants must evidence competence in mathematics equivalent to O6 standard in leaving certificate and competence in the use of IT. Basic computer literacy is not sufficient for this programme.
International applicants whose first language isn’t English must demonstrate a minimum competency in the English
Language of CEFR B2+.
Applicants are encouraged to apply for entry based on prior learning (RPL) or prior experiential learning (RPEL) in line with the College policy. The College will thoroughly assess applications received through RPL and RPEL to ensure that candidates are able to evidence learning to an appropriate standard – normally the framework level equivalent to the direct entry qualification requirement and demonstrate potential to succeed and benefit from the programme.
Those who are in employment/working :
For eligible applicants who are currently in employment/working 80% of the tuition fees will be covered by the HEA through the Micro-Credential Learner Fee Subsidy (LFS) and the remaining 20% is payable by the student or their employer.
The Course Tuition Fee is €1050 so €210 euro is payable by the student or their employer
Those who are unemployed, formerly self-employed and ‘Returners’:
Th is Micro-credential course is also 80% funded for eligible applicants who are unemployed, formerly self-employed or who are classified by the HEA as ‘Returners’ or ‘Homemakers’.
Application for this Micro-Credential Certificate in Cybersecurity Essentials should be made via the Springboard Courses Website.
