Bachelor in Cybersecurity

About the course

One of the first full professional bachelors in cybersecurity in the EU, taught entirely in English at Howest’s Bruges Station campus (Building J). You start with web development, programming, operating systems, Linux, networks, databases and cybersecurity basics. Later semesters cover web and mobile security, pentesting, Windows and Linux server security, digital forensics, cloud security, reverse engineering, cybercrime law, risk management and incident response, with security projects and capture-the-flag work. The final semester includes an 18-credit internship, which can be abroad. Graduates work in security firms, IT departments, consultancies, police, defence and government. You earn a Bachelor’s degree (professional bachelor).

Entry requirements for Irish students

• Howest’s country list for Ireland: a Leaving Certificate (Established or LCVP) with at least 5 subjects, including English or Irish and usually maths, at O6/H7 or better, and a minimum of 200 CAO points. Each file is assessed individually.
• Maths: Howest expects at least four hours of maths a week in secondary school; if you had less, it recommends its entry-level maths courses. Prior computing is useful but not required.
• English at B2 level. Howest accepts proof of at least one full year of English-taught secondary school in an EEA country, so most Irish students will not need a test (students from Irish-medium schools should check). Otherwise IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79, Duolingo 110 and others are accepted.
• No entrance exam, interview or portfolio. You write a short motivation letter in English. If you meet the diploma and language rules you are accepted, though Howest may stop taking applications from one country once a limit is reached, so apply early.

How to apply

1. Apply online from 1 JanuaryApplications for September 2027 open on 1 January 2027. Apply on Howest’s online platform and choose Bachelor in Cybersecurity.
2. Upload your documentsUpload your passport, your school transcript plus a letter from your school confirming your expected Leaving Cert, a motivation letter, and pay the €50 application fee.
3. Meet the deadlineFor 2026/27 the EEA deadline was 1 July. Check the 2027 date when Howest publishes it.
4. Send your results and enrolAfter the Leaving Cert results, upload your final results and ask your school to email Howest confirming you graduated. You then get a Certificate of Acceptance and enrol online.

Costs

• Tuition 2026/27: €1,181.40 for 60 credits (€305.40 fixed + €14.60 per credit) for EEA students. The 2027/28 fee is not yet published.
• Non-refundable €50 application fee, plus a flat-rate study cost for Cybersecurity of €128 in 2026/27 (software, licences, equipment).
• Flemish study grants are only for students who meet nationality and residence rules; Howest has no scholarships for international students.

At a glance