Cybersecurity at Lviv Polytechnic: specialty, programs and admission

Cybersecurity at Lviv Polytechnic is one of the strongest educational fields in western Ukraine. Lviv Polytechnic National University — the oldest technical university in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, founded back in 1816 — trains specialists in specialty 125 "Cybersecurity and Information Protection" (F5 in the new classification) across two dedicated departments, and its partnership with the Lviv IT Cluster and major IT companies brings the studies as close as possible to real industry work.

Demand for such specialists in Ukraine grows every year: businesses, banks, government institutions and the defense sector are constantly looking for people who can protect systems from breaches and data leaks. So choosing a university here is not just about a diploma, but about a launchpad into a profession with steady demand.

Lviv Polytechnic is the largest technical university in Lviv and one of the best known in Ukraine. For those seeking a profession with clear career growth, cybersecurity here is a proven option: a strong mathematics foundation, access to the industry and the chance for international experience in a single package.

In this article we will look at which educational programs the university offers, how the Information Protection and Information Technology Security departments differ, how to enroll in bachelor's and master's programs, which partners and international programs are available to students, and where graduates find jobs. If you are just getting acquainted with the profession, start with our article on how to start learning cybersecurity from scratch.

The "Cybersecurity" specialty at Lviv Polytechnic: code 125 and departments

Specialty 125 "Cybersecurity and Information Protection" is delivered at the Institute of Computer Technologies, Automation and Metrology (ICTAM) of Lviv Polytechnic National University. Specialists are trained by two departments:

• Information Protection Department (IP) — headed by Dr. Sc., Professor Ivan Romanovych Opirskyi. Located at 1 Kniazia Romana St. (academic building No. 19).
• Information Technology Security Department (BIT) — headed by Dr. Sc., Professor Ihor Mykhailovych Zhuravel. Established in early 2010 on the basis of the Information Protection Department.

The bachelor's program lasts 4 years, the master's program one and a half to two years depending on the program. Study modes are full-time, part-time and external; you can enroll under the state-funded order (budget) or on a contract basis. Graduates receive internationally recognized diplomas in the field of "Information Technologies".

Why students choose cybersecurity at Lviv Polytechnic

The field has several strengths that set it apart from similar programs at other universities:

• Industry ties. Lviv is one of Ukraine's main IT hubs, and the Lviv IT Cluster is the country's largest IT community, actively investing in education. Cybersecurity students get direct access to partner companies, mentors and real projects.
• Two dedicated departments. Training is concentrated not in one but in two departments — Information Protection and Information Technology Security — each with its own specialization and research base.
• International programs. ERASMUS+, the Tempus ENGENSEC project and internships abroad allow some students to earn a double degree and gain study experience in the EU.
• History and reputation. Lviv Polytechnic has trained engineers for over two centuries, and its diploma is recognized among Ukrainian and international employers.
• Real-world practice. The Student Scientific and Technical Society for Information Protection and specialized labs let students take part in research and cybersecurity competitions while still studying, not just after graduation. Beyond academic courses, students join CTF competitions and other hands-on formats, which helps sharpen their skills in conditions close to real incidents.

Bachelor's and master's educational programs

At the first (bachelor's) level you can choose one of several educational programs. The Information Protection Department offers the following specializations:

• Technical Information Protection Systems;
• Information Security Management;
• Cybersecurity Systems Administration;
• Information and Communication Systems Security.

The Information Technology Security Department adds the tracks "Cybersecurity of Computer Systems and Networks" and "Technical Information Protection Systems and Automation of Its Processing".

At the master's level, students choose between the programs "Information and Communication Systems Security", "Technical Information Protection Systems", "Information Security Management" and "Cybersecurity Systems Administration". In 2026 the licensed intake for the "Cybersecurity Systems Administration" master's program was 65 places: 31 state-funded and 34 contract.

The Cybersecurity program jointly with the Lviv IT Cluster

The bachelor's program "Cybersecurity", developed together with the Lviv IT Cluster, deserves special attention. It is taught at the Information Protection and Information Technology Security departments, and its content is adapted to the modern labor market. The studies are structured like working in an IT company: from the second year students build their own projects under the mentorship of experienced IT specialists from the industry, while developing soft skills and learning the basics of project management.

A working group of staff from both departments and cyber defense experts delegated by the Lviv IT Cluster jointly defined the competencies and curriculum recommendations for five specializations. From the third year, students of the program can choose the specializations "Cybersecurity Systems Administration" or "Information and Communication Systems Security".

What students study: key disciplines

The curriculum combines fundamental mathematics training with practical security courses. Among the core disciplines students master during their studies:

• information protection in computer networks;
• security of cyber-physical systems;
• cloud technologies and their protection;
• mobile technology security;
• protection of economic information.

In addition, the department cooperates with the IBM Academy, and students have access to modern equipment and labs for hands-on work with security tools. That is why the program emphasizes lab work and projects rather than lectures alone — from the first years students work with real tools and defense scenarios. This matters, because cybersecurity is a field where theory without hands-on practice quickly loses its value.

How to enroll: NMT, EMI and the competitive score

Enrollment in the bachelor's program is based on the results of the National Multi-Subject Test (NMT). Demand for the specialty is consistently high: according to Lviv Polytechnic's admission campaign, the bachelor's program "Cybersecurity" (full-time) had 352 licensed places in 2026, and the competition exceeded 8 applications per place — one of the most competitive IT fields at the university.

For master's admission, the results of the Unified Entrance Exam (EMI) are counted, covering the general academic competence test and a foreign language, plus a professional exam in cybersecurity and information technologies (EFVV/EDKI). The exact list of subjects, weighting coefficients and minimum scores should be checked on the official admissions committee website, as they may change from year to year.

How to prepare for admission: where to start

Competition for budget places is high, so it is wise to start preparing in advance — and not only for the tests. Here are a few practical steps:

• Brush up on math and physics. This is the foundation both for the competitive score and for the first years of study.
• Learn English. Most quality cybersecurity materials are in English, and a B2 level opens the way to international programs and internships abroad.
• Try free platforms. TryHackMe and Hack The Box let you practice in a safe environment from day one, while Cisco Networking Academy offers free introductory courses on networks and cybersecurity.
• Follow industry news. Cybersecurity changes quickly, so it is useful to read about current attacks and vulnerabilities even before enrolling — this will help both in your studies and at your first interviews.

Partners, internships and international programs

The departments maintain close ties with industry, and this is not a formality: the cooperation influences curricula, internships and graduates' first jobs. Partners include SoftServe, ELEKS, EPAM, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Digital Security Office, Tadiran Telecom International and Xilinx. Students do internships and placements directly at IT companies and can get hired even before finishing their studies.

A strong side of the field is its international component. Through the ERASMUS+ program, the best master's students with English at B2 level or higher can study one or two semesters abroad and earn two cybersecurity master's degrees — a Lviv Polytechnic diploma and a European university diploma recognized in EU countries. The Information Protection Department took part in the Tempus ENGENSEC project, a European education network in information security. Students also complete internships at educational institutions in the USA, Eastern and Western Europe.

Specialized research units also operate within the departments: the Western Regional Educational and Scientific Center for Information Protection (ZRNNTsZI), the research laboratory for information security assessment (NDL-15), and the Student Scientific and Technical Society for Information Protection, where students do research while still studying.

What graduates do: career after graduation

The program builds practical skills in demand among employers. Graduates can:

• develop specialized software and personal computer protection systems;
• design computer network protection systems;
• build devices and systems for technical information protection;
• protect the software and hardware of banking systems;
• develop secure websites using cryptographic methods;
• build secure data storage.

Cybersecurity specialists are needed in private and public companies of various profiles, research institutions and government bodies — everywhere that handles information constituting state or commercial secrets.

Career growth in the field typically looks like this: beginners start as SOC analysts or junior penetration testers, then grow into security engineers or senior pentesters, and with experience move into leadership roles — security team lead or CISO. A Lviv Polytechnic diploma and partnerships with IT companies give a good start for first employment. If you want a deeper understanding of the roles in the profession and how much specialists earn, check out our breakdown of the cybersecurity specialty.

By the way, you can check whether your data has already appeared in known breaches using the free cyberpeople.tech tool — data breach check.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity at Lviv Polytechnic is a balanced program that combines an academic foundation with practice at real IT companies and international opportunities. Specialty 125 "Cybersecurity and Information Protection" gives graduates an in-demand profession with a wide range of career paths — from security systems administration to technical information protection. So if your goal is a profession where theoretical knowledge is immediately backed by practice and where there is a clear path from the first year to a leadership position, this field is worth considering first. If you are planning to enroll, pay attention to the joint "Cybersecurity" program with the Lviv IT Cluster and prepare for the NMT and the competitive selection in advance: the high competition for this field requires a solid foundation in mathematics and the exact sciences.