u/ElectricalSide2374

I’m looking for some advice because I’m quite conflicted about what to do after finishing my bachelor’s.

I’m currently going into my final year (4th year) of a bachelor’s degree that combines Computer Science and Business at a well-regarded Irish university.

As part of my degree I completed a 7-month internship as a SOC Analyst. At the moment I think cybersecurity is the area I want to work in, but I’m still unsure which specialisation (blue team, cloud security, DFIR, GRC, security engineering, penetration testing, etc.).

I also spent a semester on Erasmus in Switzerland and absolutely loved the experience. Living abroad was probably the highlight of my degree, and it’s one of the biggest reasons I’m considering doing a master’s abroad rather than going straight into full-time work.

My current thinking is that a master’s could give me:
- More time to figure out which area of cybersecurity I want to specialise in.
- Time to complete industry certifications (Security+, BTL1, AZ-500, etc.).
- Another opportunity to live abroad.
- Potentially make it easier to start my career in another European country.

However, I’m not sure whether that’s actually the best decision, or whether I’d be better off taking a graduate cybersecurity role and gaining work experience instead.

Some questions I have:

1. Is a master’s actually worth it in cybersecurity, or is work experience generally more valuable?

2. If I do one, should it be a general Cybersecurity master’s or something more specialised (Cloud Security, Digital Forensics, Information Security, etc.)?

3. Is it better to study in the country where you eventually want to work?

4. How important is speaking the local language for cybersecurity jobs? I’m a native English speaker, I know a little German from Erasmus, and I have basic French from school, but I’m far from fluent.

5. Which European countries would you recommend for someone in my position? I’ve been looking at places like Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Spain, but I’m open to suggestions.

6. If you were in my position—with a CS & Business degree, a SOC internship, and one year left before graduating—what would you do?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s studied or works in cybersecurity, especially if you’ve moved abroad after university.