The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has taken a decisive step to tighten entry into its Master of Science programme in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics, restricting admission strictly to applicants with a Bachelor’s degree background in Computer Science.
The policy shift, confirmed by sources within the Department of Computer Science at KNUST, marks a significant departure from the programme’s previously broader entry criteria. Going forward, only graduates holding a BSc in Computer Science or a closely related computing discipline will be considered for admission into the highly competitive postgraduate programme.
University authorities say the new restriction is informed by years of data tracking student performance within the programme. According to insiders, a notable pattern emerged over successive cohorts: students who entered the programme without a foundational Computer Science background consistently struggled to keep up with the highly technical and demanding coursework, ultimately resulting in high dropout rates and significant failure to graduate.
“The programme is deeply technical in nature. It covers areas such as network security, ethical hacking, digital evidence analysis, cryptography, and advanced forensic investigation techniques. All of which require a strong computing foundation,” a source within the university disclosed. “Admitting students without that background, however well-intentioned, was setting many of them up to fail.”
The decision, while tough, is being presented as one made in the interest of both academic integrity and student welfare.
The MSc Cyber Security and Digital Forensics programme at KNUST is designed to fill a critical national skills gap by training prospective students in new scientific methods for combating cybercrime and improving digital forensic investigations.
The programme focuses on two core areas: Cyber Security — which covers protecting computers, networks, programmes, and data from unauthorised access or destruction, and Digital Forensics, which involves the critical analysis of digital evidence using scientific methods to understand criminal behaviour and its economic impact.
The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. Cybersecurity professionals and academic observers who support the move argue that the integrity of Ghana’s growing cybersecurity workforce depends on producing graduates who are genuinely equipped for the field.
“You cannot produce half-baked cybersecurity experts. The digital threats facing Ghana and the continent are too sophisticated for that,” said one cybersecurity practitioner who spoke to CyberNews Ghana on condition of anonymity. “KNUST is doing the right thing.”
However, critics caution that the blanket restriction could further narrow the pipeline of cybersecurity talent in Ghana, particularly excluding professionals from fields such as law, criminology, banking, and information systems disciplines that increasingly intersect with cybercrime investigation.
“Digital forensics, in particular, has legal and investigative dimensions that benefit from interdisciplinary minds,” argued one academic commentator. “There is a middle ground between open admissions and a complete lockout.”
CyberNews Ghana will continue to follow developments on this story. If you are a current or prospective student affected by this policy change, we invite you to share your experience with us at editor@cybernewsghana.com.
About The Author
