Offered by Nova Scotia Community College in Halifax, Canada, Diploma in Cyber Security is a diploma in Cyber Security programme. The programme runs for 2 years, delivered on campus. Tuition for international students is CAD 13,505 per year (CAD 3,800 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Diploma
Field:Cyber Security
Duration: 2 years
Delivery: On Campus
Local tuition: CAD 3,800 / year
International tuition: CAD 13,505 / year
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
Cyber Security at Nova Scotia Community College is a two-year diploma covering ethical hacking techniques, risk analysis, applications of cryptography, vulnerability testing, auditing, security management, physical security, cyber crime, cyber warfare, and incident response. A mandatory field experience course, typically unpaid, runs for about five weeks, and students can pursue an optional cooperative education placement between year one and two offering paid, full-time employment related to their program for a minimum of 12 weeks and 420 hours. Instruction is delivered in person at the Institute of Technology campus in Halifax and the Sydney Waterfront campus. The program suits students with a strong background in self-directed learning, puzzle solving, and computer literacy, particularly programming concepts such as decision statements, loops, arrays, functions, and procedures. Graduates pursue roles such as cyber security analyst, information security analyst, penetration tester, and positions with law enforcement and military organizations.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Nova Scotia Community College requires a High School Graduation Diploma or equivalent for this programme; no Grade 12 subject prerequisites are published, though applicants are advised to have strong self-directed learning, problem-solving and programming fundamentals (decision statements, loops, arrays, functions, procedures). International applicants' English language requirements vary by country, and the programme defers to NSCC's institution-wide proficiency standard: IELTS Academic minimum 6.0 on each band, TOEFL iBT 80 overall (pre-January 2026), Duolingo English Test 115 overall with no subscore below 95, CAEL Band 60, CanTest 4.5 average, or PTE Academic 55, or an exemption. Applicants are advised that eligibility for Canadian secret-level security clearance is highly recommended, and that many employers in the field require a criminal record check as a condition of hiring. Students develop a professional portfolio during their studies; no interview or immunization requirement is stated.
Application Details
Start Date:September
Application Deadline:Domestic (Canadian and permanent resident) applicants apply directly to NSCC on a first-come, first-served basis with no fixed opening or closing date; because many of the college's 140+ programmes fill quickly, applicants are advised to apply as early as possible. International admissions run on a fixed annual cycle: the 2026/27 academic year's international deadline was 1 April 2026 and that intake is now closed, with the college stating international applications will re-open in late September 2026 for a future intake. NSCC has not yet published a firm international deadline for the next (2027/28) academic year, so domestic admission is rolling while international admission follows an annual deadline once applications reopen. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
