Program Handbook
Everything you need to know to get the most from the Professional Diploma in Cybersecurity.
How to get started
- Read the program overview. Visit the Diploma page to see the three stages, courses and the end goal.
- Begin at the Foundation Certificate. No experience needed — start with Cyber Foundations & the Threat Landscape.
- Work through each course. Read every lesson, tick it complete, review the key takeaways, then pass the assessment (80%).
- Claim your certificates. Finish a course for a course certificate; finish a stage for a stackable credential.
- Track everything. Your Transcript shows progress, credentials and the Master Diploma.
- Finish with the Capstone once all 13 courses are done to complete the full diploma.
Quick links
Frequently asked questions
Do I need any experience to start?
No. The Foundation Certificate assumes zero prior knowledge and builds the vocabulary, networking, operating-system and core-principle skills everything else depends on.
How are the levels structured?
Three stacked stages: Foundation (beginner, 4 courses), Practitioner (intermediate, 5 courses) and Advanced (advanced, 4 courses) — then a capstone. Each stage builds on the last, and courses list their prerequisites.
How long does the whole diploma take?
Roughly 32 weeks part-time across the three stages, though it's self-paced — there are no deadlines. Each course shows an estimated study time.
How do assessments and grading work?
Every course ends with a multiple-choice assessment. You need 80% to pass; you can retake it freely. A course is "complete" when all lessons are ticked and the assessment is passed.
What certificates can I earn?
Three tiers, all printable/save-as-PDF: a course certificate per course, a stage credential (Foundation/Practitioner/Advanced) per stage, and the gold Master Diploma when all 13 courses are complete.
Where is my progress stored?
Entirely in your browser's local storage — nothing is uploaded. That keeps it private, but progress is tied to that browser profile and site origin; it is not automatically synchronised across devices and can be lost if you clear site data or change browsers. Use the Transcript's Export and Import workflow to keep a backup copy.
Is the certificate accredited?
This is an educational program for learning and portfolio purposes, not a nationally accredited qualification. It maps well to entry/associate roles and lets you prove your grade on the AiA Standard (Iron through Black Diamond).
Can I practise hacking techniques?
Yes — but only legally. The Advanced offensive course is strictly authorization-based, and the CTF & Home-Lab guide shows how to build an isolated lab and use platforms that explicitly permit hacking. Never test systems you don't own or have written permission for.
What roles does this prepare me for?
Across the stages: IT-support-to-security and SOC analyst (Foundation/Practitioner), security/AppSec/cloud engineer (Practitioner), and penetration tester, incident responder, consultant or security lead (Advanced).
Does this work offline?
The courses, transcript and certificates work fully offline. Only the live security tools (breach/CVE/DNS checks) need internet, and they're optional extras for hands-on practice.
📐 Grading & conduct
Academic integrity
Assessments are for your own learning — there's no proctoring, so the only person you'd cheat is yourself. Aim to genuinely understand the takeaways before moving on.
Code of ethics
All offensive techniques are taught for defensive and authorized use only. Operating within the law and with explicit permission is a non-negotiable condition of the program.