- Rolling application
Foundations of Cybersecurity and AI
The Foundations of Cybersecurity and AI course offers a live, twelve-week introduction to the key ideas, actors, and challenges at the intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
Introduction
The Foundations of Cybersecurity and AI course offers a live, twelve-week introduction to the key ideas, actors, and challenges at the intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. It explores how these two fields increasingly shape one another — from the growing use of AI tools in cyber operations to the security implications of large-scale AI systems.
This selective course is taught by leading experts from academia, government, and industry. It combines rigorous academic foundations with real-world insight. Students will learn not only how systems are protected and attacked, but also how AI is transforming both sides of this equation – from automated vulnerability discovery and attack simulation to enhanced detection and defense. Through case studies, discussion, and practical examples, participants will examine ransomware, spyware, hacktivism, and state operations, as well as new policy and regulatory frameworks emerging across Europe and beyond.
Each week, participants engage directly with instructors and guest speakers, analyze recent incidents, and debate policy responses. Lectures are not recorded – active participation is central to the course experience.
Course Overview
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the core concepts of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
- Identify major threats, actors, and operations in the cyber domain.
- Assess how AI is used to defend and attack systems.
- Analyze the policy and ethical implications of AI–cybersecurity interactions.
Lecturers
Course Schedule
- What is Cybersecurity?
Week 2 | April 9
- What is AI?
Week 3 | April 16
- How Do We Protect Systems?
Week 4 | April 23
- How Do We Attack Systems?
Week 5 | April 30
- How Do We Secure the AI Supply Chain?
Week 6 | May 7
- How Do We Attribute Cyber Attacks?
Week 7 | May 14
- What Are States Doing?
Week 8 | May 21
- What is Spyware?
Week 9 | May 28
- What is Ransomware?
Week 10 | June 4
- What is Hacktivism and Digital Resistance?
Week 11 | June 11
- How Are AI and Cybersecurity Regulated?
Week 12 | June 18
- What Have We Learned — and What Comes Next?
Time Commitment and Certificate
- The course runs for 12 weeks, with 2 hours of live lectures each week and approximately 8 hours of preparation. Sessions are not recorded - attendance and participation are required.
- As part of the assessment, students write an essay reflecting on one of the key topics discussed during the course.
- Students who successfully complete the requirements will receive an official Certificate of Completion from Virtual Routes.
Application and Selection
The Foundations of Cybersecurity and AI course is selective and open to a limited number of students.
Eligibility
- Open to graduate students, and in exceptional cases, final-year bachelor’s students with an outstanding academic record.
- Students from all disciplines are welcome
- No prior technical experience is required.
Application materials
- An undergraduate grade list (and graduate transcript if available)
- A CV
- A short questionnaire (provided via the application link)
Course fee
- €299 for accepted participants.
- Free of charge for students currently enrolled at a Dutch university. This is made possible through support from Google.org for the expansion of the Cybersecurity Seminars to the Netherlands.
Timeline
- Submissions will be reviewed and successful applicants will be notified on a rolling basis.