Post Graduate Diploma in Automotive Cybersecurity

The global automotive Cybersecurity market size was valued at USD 2.0 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 5.3 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 21.3% during the forecast period 2021-2026, according to a MarketsandMarkets report. Automotive cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important with the rise of connected and autonomous vehicles.

The cybersecurity in an automotive vehicle has its unique set of challenges. The long lifespan of an automobile exposing itself to the hackers, the consequences of a cybersecurity breach, the complexity of the cyber-physical systems and the real-time response requirements limit the adoption of traditional cybersecurity methods in this context. It requires specialized knowledge and skills to address the challenges of automotive cybersecurity, which is what the program offers.

The Post Graduate Diploma in Automotive Cybersecurity is a two-semester program designed for working professionals , who are aspiring for rapid career progression in the high-growth area of Automotive Cybersecurity systems and wish to stand out in highly competitive work- places by acquiring prestigious Master’s-level qualification from a premierinstitution.

 

Programme Highlights


  1. Lectures are delivered by BITS Pilani faculty members through Contact classes over a technology enabled platform, or at the organisation's premises, and are designed to offer similar levels of interactivity as regular classrooms at the BITS Pilani campus. The contact classes will be conducted mostly on weekends or after business hours.
  2. This programme is of 2 semesters and can be pursued only by working professionals.
  3. Program promoted by the Telangana Mobility Valley as a part of a State-wide development initiative
  4. Programme and curriculum developed by senior faculty and researchers in this field, Labs to develop working competence
  5. Campus immersion to interact and work with faculty experts and research scholars in their labs
  6. Faculty led industry scale projects for working professionals
  7. Program designed to suit working professionals with no industry experience
  8. Blended learning with live instructor led lectures complemented by digital content
  9. Technology enabled learning offering flexibility to learn at one's own phase (within the semester calendar)
  10. Continuous formative assessments in addition to the end-semester summative assessment
  11. Students may study from home/anywhere and can take the program in addition to other formal educational/employment programs.
  12. Participants who successfully complete the programme will become members of an elite & global community of BITS Pilani Alumni.

Programme Curriculum

  • Introduction to Autotronics
  • Automotive Networks and Communications
  • Embedded Network Security
  • Automotive Security
  • Ethical Hacking
  • Cyber Security and Cyber Laws
  • Network Security
  • Elective 1
  • Elective 2
  • Elective 3
  • Software Engineering for Secure Systems
  • Cloud and IoT Security
  • AI and ML for Cyber Security
  • Cryptography
  • Information Security Project
  • Network Security Project
  • Cyber Forensics and Incident Handling
  • Blockchain Technology

Choice of Electives is made available to enrolled students at the beginning of each semester. A limited selection of Electives will be offered at the discretion of the Institute.

Mode of Learning

The Mode of Learning used in this programme is called - Work Integrated Learning. Internationally, Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is defined as "An educational approach involving three parties - the student, educational institution, and employer organization(s) - consisting of authentic work-focused experiences as an intentional component of the curriculum. Students learn through active engagement in purposeful work tasks, which enable the integration of theory with meaningful practice that is relevant to the students' discipline of study and/or professional development*.

An education model can be considered as WIL if and only if:

  1. The programs are designed and developed by the institute in collaboration with industry.
  2. Work-focused experiences form an active part of the curriculum.
  3. The program structure, pedagogy and assessment enable integration of theory-with relevant practice.

The innovative Work Integrated Learning Programs (WILP) of BITS Pilani are quite aligned with the above definition and requirements. The programs are designed in collaboration with its industry partners, subject matter experts from industry and academia that enable the students to remain relevant in their chosen profession, grow in their career and retain the habit of lifelong learning. The continued availability of workplace related experiences along with the weekly instruction sessions promote integration of theory with practice. An active participation of the organization mentor in the learning process of the student plays a key role. Case studies, simulation exercises, labs and projects further strengthen this integration.

The WILP of BITS Pilani is comparable to its campus-based programs in terms of structure, rigor, instruction, labs, assessment, faculty profile and learning support. The pervasive adoption of technology in all its academic processes makes the same high-quality education of BITS Pilani available to the aspirants at scale with the required flexibility. 

Key Benefits of BITS Pilani WILP

1) Can pursue the programme without any career break and along with the job.

2) The programme curriculum is highly relevant to sectors, industries and organisations they work for

3) In addition to the institute, the learning experience of working professionals in the programme is also supported by the employer organisation and Industry Mentors.

4) Effective use of technology to deliver a range of learning interventions at the location of the working professional such as faculty contact sessions, asynchronous learning materials, remote, virtual and cloud labs, Learner support, peer to peer collaboration etc. 

5) Contact sessions with faculty take place mostly over weekends or after business hours and are conducted over a technology platform that can be accessed from anywhere. 

6) Mid semester and End semester examinations for every semester are conducted mostly at designated examination centres distributed across the country (for details refer to link mode of examinations) 

7) Learners can access engaging learning material which includes recorded lectures from BITS Pilani faculty members, course handouts and recorded lab content where applicable.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Experiential learning opportunities that can help build the skills and competencies listed in the document include:.

  • Hands-on experience with automotive systems to assess their vulnerabilities through lab exercises and internship opportunities.
  • Participation in competitions or challenges related to automotive cybersecurity to develop skills in threat modeling, risk assessment, penetration testing, and vulnerability analysis.
  • Learning about and implementing automotive cybersecurity standards and regulations through classroom instruction or practical projects.
  • Collaborating with cross-functional teams on real-world projects to gain experience in secure software development practices, effective communication, and problem-solving skills.

These are just a few examples, and there may be other experiential learning opportunities that can help build the skills and competencies required for automotive cybersecurity.

CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT

Continuous Assessment includes graded Assignments/ Quizzes, Mid-semester exam, and Comprehensive Exam.

CASE STUDIES AND ASSIGNMENTS

Case Studies and Assignments: Carefully chosen real-world cases & assignments are both discussed and used as problem-solving exercises during the program

 Labs

Training graduates in automotive cybersecurity requires a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills. To provide students with hands-on experience, the following lab infrastructure is made available to the students:

Automotive hardware and software

Students are provided access to actual vehicles and vehicle components, such as engine control units (ECUs), electronic control modules (ECMs), and infotainment systems. They also have access to automotive software, such as automotive operating systems and diagnostic tools.

Cybersecurity testing tools

Students have access to various cybersecurity testing tools, such as network sniffers, penetration testing tools, and vulnerability scanners. These tools are necessary for identifying and testing vulnerabilities in automotive systems.

Simulation environments

Creating simulation environments for automotive cybersecurity is essential for training students in a controlled and safe environment. Simulated environments help students practice and develop their skills in a risk-free environment.

Data acquisition and analysis tools

Students gain access to tools that enable them to collect and analyze data from automotive systems. These tools can help students understand how systems operate, identify patterns and anomalies, and identify potential threats.

Networking infrastructure

A network infrastructure that mimics real-world automotive networks is provided for training students in automotive cybersecurity. Students understand how these networks operate and identify vulnerabilities and threats within them.

Cybersecurity policies and procedures

Training in automotive cybersecurity include knowledge of cybersecurity policies and procedures. Students understand the importance of complying with regulations and standards related to cybersecurity in the automotive industry.

Overall, the lab infrastructure for training graduates in automotive cybersecurity provides students with practical, hands-on experience in a safe and controlled environment. The infrastructure include hardware, software, simulation environments, data storage and analysis tools, networking infrastructure, and policies and procedures.

Eligibility Criteria

Employed professionals holding B.E./ B.Tech./ M.Sc./ Integrated First Degree of BITS or its equivalent with at least 60% aggregate marks, and are employed in an industry relevant to the program.

Student Speak

Industry Endorsements