University of Andorra Launches First Cybersecurity Postgraduate Program

The University of Andorra unveiled its first postgraduate programme in cybersecurity on Friday, developed in partnership with Crèdit Andorrà and backed by Creand Fundació, the National Cybersecurity Agency of Andorra (ANC-AD), and Andorra Telecom.

The course will run from October 2026 to June 2027, with places limited to 35 students. It targets individuals holding university degrees in computer science or telematics, vocational qualifications in related IT fields, or professionals who can demonstrate relevant experience in cybersecurity or computing. Tuition costs 2,400 euros per student and involves around 600 hours of work, including 162 hours of in-person classes held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the university campus.

Rector Juli Minoves voiced satisfaction at advancing the initiative, which expands the university's offerings while addressing local needs in training and research. He stressed cybersecurity's growing importance amid rising cyber threats to businesses, public bodies, and individuals, noting that digital tools for handling information and personal data often face sophisticated attacks risking sensitive details and key infrastructure.

Minoves shared a recent example from a meeting of university leaders from small states, where the rector of the University of Iceland had to leave after learning of a cyberattack on her institution's management system. "It can happen anytime, even to public institutions," he added.

Albert Santisteve, Crèdit Andorrà's director of technology and security, described the programme as a key opportunity for the country to meet demand for skilled experts. The curriculum adopts a technical focus across nine modules, covering topics such as security governance, incident response, web security, security architectures, and security operations.

Jordi Ubach from ANC-AD highlighted the programme's alignment with the four-year-old National Cybersecurity Strategy. The agency raised its alert level 18 months ago following multiple incidents and sees local training as essential. Ubach projected an 8-10% rise in detected incidents for 2026, following steady growth from 2024 to 2025—despite a late-2025 dip—though he cautioned these are estimates that may not fully materialise.

César Marquina, director of Andorra Telecom's Digital Office, said the company joined to boost cybersecurity knowledge, benefiting both students and firms seeking trained talent.