Welcome Message from the Coordinator
Welcome to the Master of Science in Information Security Management at the University of Professional Studies, Accra. We live in an era in which every organisation — from banks and hospitals to ministries and start-ups — depends on digital systems to deliver value, and where every one of those systems is a potential target. The professionals who can secure them are among the most sought-after talent of our generation.
This programme is designed for ambitious graduates who want to lead, not just respond. Over one intensive year, you will move beyond technical fundamentals to master the strategy, governance, and management of information security inside real organisations — protecting critical national infrastructure, advising leadership, investigating incidents, and shaping policy.
Our faculty bring together deep academic credentials and industry experience, and our partnership with the Cyber Security Authority of Ghana gives our students direct exposure to live, national-priority challenges. We invite you to join us in building the next generation of information security leaders for Ghana, West Africa, and beyond.
— Programme Coordinator, MSc Information Security Management
Philosophy of the Programme
The MSc Information Security Management programme is designed to develop information security professionals who understand both the technical and the managerial dimensions of securing modern organisations. Unlike traditional cyber-security or digital-forensics programmes, our curriculum balances hands-on technical mastery — secure systems and applications, network security, cryptography, digital forensics — with the executive-level skills required to set strategy, manage teams, ensure compliance, and align security with business objectives.
Graduates emerge with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to take leadership responsibility for the protection of critical information assets in any organisation, public or private.
Why MSc Information Security Management — and Why Now?
Cybersecurity is no longer an IT problem. It is a business, national-security, and economic-development problem — and the demand for qualified specialists has outpaced supply at every level.
The Global Picture
- Global unfilled cybersecurity jobs grew 350% between 2013 and 2021, reaching an estimated 3.5 million open positions (Cybersecurity Ventures, 2022).
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects “Information Security Analyst” as the 10th fastest-growing occupation, with 31% employment growth versus a 4% average across all occupations.
- The average total cost of a single corporate data breach is US$3.92 million (Deloitte, 2019), yet only 30% of organisations have clearly defined cybersecurity policies.
The Ghanaian & African Context
- Ghana’s economy is rapidly digitising — financial services, government services, healthcare, telecoms, education — making cyber threats imminent for every sector.
- Cybercrime is costing Africa an estimated €3.5 billion annually (CSDS Africa, 2021), and a 2013 FBI report ranked Ghana the second-largest source of cyber fraud and financial scams in Africa — a gap that requires home-grown defenders.
- Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act (Act 1038, 2020) created a comprehensive national framework to safeguard critical information assets and regulate cyber activity. Compliance requires a new generation of qualified specialists.
- Our programme directly collaborates with the Cyber Security Authority of Ghana — the national regulator — for practical training, projects, and industry exposure.
What This Means for You
You are entering a field with a structural talent shortage, a clear regulatory tailwind, and a national mandate to grow. Graduates of the MSc ISM are positioned to take senior, well-compensated roles in banking, telecoms, government, defence, consulting, and international organisations — at a moment when those organisations are actively hiring.
Programme Aim
The MSc Information Security Management programme aims to equip students with high-demand knowledge and skills in applying information security technologies and management strategies. This intensive one-year programme prepares graduates for higher-level responsibility in industry, where they will work as information security analysts, managers, and specialists.
Programme Objectives
On enrolling in the programme, students will:
- Analyse information security management concepts to develop comprehensive security strategies.
- Evaluate cyber threats and develop cybersecurity solutions integrating cryptography, encryption, intrusion detection, and access controls.
- Apply digital forensics techniques and incident-response methodologies to investigate cyber incidents.
- Evaluate and assess IT auditing processes and controls to ensure compliance and risk mitigation.
- Analyse the social, ethical, and legal implications of emerging technologies in cybersecurity contexts.
Outcome of the Programme
On completing the programme, students will be able to:
- Synthesise and apply information security principles to develop robust security policies and governance frameworks.
- Evaluate cyber threats and recommend effective cybersecurity measures to protect organisational assets.
- Use digital forensics tools and methodologies to manage and respond to cybersecurity incidents effectively.
- Conduct IT audits and provide detailed reports on control effectiveness and compliance status.
- Critically assess the social, ethical, and legal challenges associated with emerging technologies in cybersecurity contexts.
Programme Structure
The MSc ISM is a 33-credit, full-time programme delivered over one academic year (two semesters). Students complete ten core courses, one elective, a project proposal, and a six-credit industry-based project work.
Semester One — 18 Credits
| CODE | COURSE TITLE | CREDITS |
| MISM601 | Information Security Management | 3 |
| MISM603 | IT Strategy and Management | 3 |
| MISM605 | Cybersecurity | 3 |
| MISM607 | Network Security | 3 |
| MISM609 | Information Systems Research Methods | 3 |
| MISM611 | Project Proposal | 0 |
| Elective – Select One | ||
| MISM613 | Cloud Security | 3 |
| MISM615 | Biometric System Security | 3 |
| Semester One Total | 18 | |
Semester Two — 21 Credits
| CODE | COURSE TITLE | CREDITS |
| MISM602 | Secure Systems and Applications | 3 |
| MISM604 | Information Systems Audit | 3 |
| MISM606 | Cryptography and Applications | 3 |
| MISM608 | Digital Forensics and Incident Management | 3 |
| MISM610 | Information Technology Law | 3 |
| MISM600 | Project Work | 6 |
| Semester Two Total | 21 |
Career Outcomes — Where Our Graduates Go
The MSc ISM is engineered for employability. Graduates move into senior, high-demand technical and managerial roles in cybersecurity and information assurance across virtually every sector of the economy.
Job Roles You Can Pursue
| ROLE | WHAT YOU’LL DO |
| Information Security Analyst | Monitor, detect, and respond to security threats; assess vulnerabilities and recommend controls. |
| Cybersecurity Specialist / Consultant | Advise organisations on cybersecurity posture, security architecture, and incident readiness. |
| Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) — Track | Senior leadership role overseeing enterprise-wide information security strategy and governance. |
| Information Security Manager | Lead security operations, manage teams, define policies, and align security with business strategy. |
| IT Auditor / IS Audit Manager | Conduct independent audits of IT controls, governance, and compliance with frameworks like COBIT. |
| Digital Forensics Analyst / Incident Responder | Investigate cyber incidents, collect digital evidence, and lead post-incident recovery. |
| Network Security Engineer | Design and implement secure network architectures across wired, wireless, and mobile environments. |
| Cryptography & Identity Specialist | Implement cryptographic systems, identity management, and biometric authentication solutions. |
| Cloud Security Architect | Secure cloud workloads and design controls for cloud service models and data protection. |
| Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Officer | Manage regulatory compliance with frameworks such as ISO 27001, NIST CSF, GDPR, and Ghana’s Act 1038. |
| Cybersecurity Researcher / Academic | Pursue advanced research and teach in higher education institutions in Ghana and beyond. |
| Cybersecurity Entrepreneur | Launch and scale specialised security consultancies, training services, and product start-ups. |
Sectors That Hire Our Graduates
The skills you build are in active demand across both the public and private sectors. Target employers include:
| Banking & FinTech | Telecommunications | Government & Public Sector |
| Health & Insurance | Energy & Utilities | Consultancy & Advisory |
| Defence & National Security | NGOs & International Bodies | Education & Research |
Beyond direct employment, the programme also positions graduates for advanced doctoral study and research, consulting practice, and entrepreneurship in the rapidly expanding African cybersecurity services market.
Admission Requirements
The MSc ISM welcomes applicants with relevant academic or professional backgrounds in information systems, technology, and engineering disciplines.
| APPLICANT PROFILE | REQUIREMENT |
| Standard Entry | Bachelor’s degree (Second Class Lower or better) in Information Systems, Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Studies, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications, or an equivalent engineering / science-related discipline from an accredited institution. |
| Third-Class Applicants | Required to pass a screening and selection interview. Must have a minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience in an IT, IS, or engineering discipline. |
| Professional Qualifications | Professional qualifications equivalent to a degree in information-systems-related disciplines with at least 3 years of work experience may be considered. |
| International Applicants | Admitted on the basis of qualifications from their home country, subject to equivalence determination by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must provide evidence of English-language proficiency. |
Progression & Graduation
To progress through and graduate from the MSc ISM, a student must:
- Pass all courses with a Final Grade Point Average (FGPA) of 2.5 or better.
- Successfully complete and pass the Project Work component.
- Pass a minimum of thirty-three (33) credits across the programme.
On successful completion, candidates are awarded the Master of Science degree in Information Security Management by the University of Professional Studies, Accra.
Programme Coordinator
PROGRAMME COORDINATOR Dr. Jeremiah Osei-kwakye, PhD Lecturer, Department of Information Technology PhD Computer Applied Technology (Jiangsu University-China, 2025) • MSc. Mathematics and Computer Science (N.I. Lobachevsky University of Nizhny Novgorod State – Russia, 2017) • BSc. Computer Science (KNUST – Ghana, 2014) Telephone: 020 015 3906 Email: [email protected] |
How to Apply
Applications for the MSc Information Security Management are processed through the UPSA Postgraduate Admissions Office. The application process is straightforward:
- Step 1 — Visit admissions.upsa.edu.gh and select the Postgraduate Admissions portal.
- Step 2 — Complete the online application form and upload your transcripts, degree certificate, CV, and a personal statement.
- Step 3 — Pay the non-refundable application fee through any approved payment channel.
- Step 4 — Submit. Shortlisted applicants (especially third-class and professional-qualification candidates) will be invited to interview.
- Step 5 — Receive your offer and complete enrolment with the School of Graduate Studies.
READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP? Apply Now — MSc Information Security Management Postgraduate Admissions • admissions.upsa.edu.gh +233 303 958 571 | +233 303 937 542 | +233 208 381 583 |
Contact & Visit Us
Faculty of Information Technology & Communication Studies
University of Professional Studies, Accra
P.O. Box LG 149, Legon, Accra, Ghana
Programme Coordinator: Dr. Jeremiah Osei-kwakye | Lecturer, Department of I.T Studies
Telephone: 020 015 3906 | Email: [email protected]
General Enquiries
+233 303 958 571 • +233 303 937 542 • +233 208 381 583
Website: upsa.edu.gh • Postgraduate Admissions: admissions.upsa.edu.gh
