Master’s Cybersecurity, Science of Software and Hardware Security
The Master’s Cybersecurity, Science of Software and Hardware Security is run by the IT Faculty ‘ISTIC’ at the University of Rennes.
Programme available through dual degree programme with partner institutions: INSA Rennes, Enssat, ESIR, CentraleSupélec and IMT Atlantique.
> ECTS: 120 ECTS
> Duration: 2 years, full-time, starting from Bachelor’s degree (Bac +3)
> Programme managers: Mohamed Sabt (Year 1) and Thomas Genet (Year 2)
> Place: Rennes
Presentation
Upon completion of the two years, students will be able to design, code, validate and manage new secure architectures or assess and correct existing architectures to protect them from cyberthreats.
The teaching team is made up of IRISA (leading French IT lab) and internationally renowned cybersecurity research professors.

Choosing your specialisation
Within this Master’s programme, students must choose one of two specialisations.
Who can apply ?
If you wish to apply for this master, you will need a Bachelor degree or equivalent in Computer Science or in IT & Mathematics or in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Reasonable knowledge of basic IT and communications science and technology is required. Please note that relevant experience may compensate for a degree which is not strictly related to the field. When you candidate, please outline your experience in your cover letter or CV.
Once your application has been submitted, the selection committee will make the final decision as to whether your bachelor’s degree and work experience are an appropriate pre-requisite for this master.

Internships
Students in the Master’s Cybersecurity, Science of Software and Hardware Security, must complete two internships during their programme:
- An internship of 2 to 3 months in the first year, from mid-May (optional)
- An internship of 6 months in the second year, from the beginning of March (mandatory)
These internships can be carried out in companies or in research laboratories.
I have found my internship:
For students currently in the programme, once you have found your internship:
- connect to the ISTIC intranet with your Sesame username and password
- clik on the “your internship” section
- refer to the procedure
Contact:
Elodie Le Coz
elodie.lecoz@univ-rennes.fr
ISTIC, Building 12D, Office 262 (2nd floor)
Monday, tuesday and thursday, 9 am – noon / 2pm – 4:30pm
International exchanges
This master’s programme offers an international track taught by the EIT Digital Master School.
- The first year of the master’s takes place at the University of Rennes, where students follow the programme’s courses, complemented by introductory modules in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E).
- In the second year, students continue their studies at a partner university abroad.
To enrol in this track, please register directly with the EIT Digital Master School here.

Study programme
Find out more about the courses taught in this Master’s (their description, their teaching goals, the teaching team, etc.).
Dual degree
It is possible to obtain an engineering degree and a Master’s in Cybersecurity within the same year for students of CentraleSupélec, Enssat, Esir, IMT Atlantique, and INSA Rennes. These students can simultaneously enrol at the University of Rennes (ISTIC) through the Master’s in Computer Science, Cybersecurity track.
Here are the dual degree options:
- CentraleSupélec x ISTIC: Students enrolled in the “Diplôme d’ingénieur parcours InfoSec” at CentraleSupélec can enrol in the second year of the Master’s Cybersecurity, Science of Software and Hardware Security during their final year.
- Enssat x ISTIC: Students enrolled in the Software and Computing engineering programme, Information management, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, or the Computer Engineer by Apprenticeship programme, Cybersecurity, data and multimedia science, artificial intelligence at Enssat can enrol in the first year of the Master’s Cybersecurity, Science of Software and Hardware Security during their second year. They will thus benefit from teaching provided in Lannion.
- Esir x ISTIC: Students enrolled in the Engineering programme, Computer Science Specialty at Esir can enrol in the second year of the Master’s Cybersecurity, Science of Software and Hardware Security during their final year.
- IMT Atlantique x ISTIC: Since 2023, students enrolled in the Master of Science in Engineering “Diplôme d’Ingénieur”, cybersecurity in-depth theme at IMT Atlantique can enrol in the second year of the Master’s Cybersecurity, Science of Software and Hardware Security during their final year.
- NEW INSA Rennes x ISTIC: Starting from the 2024 academic year, students enrolled in the “Diplôme Ingénieur INFOrmatique option sécurité” at INSA Rennes can enrol in the first year of the Master’s Cybersecurity, Science of Software and Hardware Security during their third year.
For more information on enrolment procedures, please contact the respective institutions.
Partnership
Université de Rennes is unique in that it offers programmes in all cybersecurity subjects with its partners in Rennes and the Pôle d’excellence cyber.
SecNumedu label
The programme has been granted the ANSSI (French national agency for information systems security) SecNumedu label. This label guarantees the relevance of the training in relation to its objectives.

Go to the website of ISTIC
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