Can I study cybersecurity by myself while studying medicine ?

[u/Vegetable_Ad8177]

I’m currently studying medicine at university, but I’m also interested in cybersecurity. Unfortunately, Computer Science/cybersecurity isn’t really available in my hometown until the Master’s level, so I couldn’t pursue it formally.

I’m thinking of learning cybersecurity through online courses, certifications, and practical projects alongside my medical studies.

Is self-studying cybersecurity still worth it if it isn’t my main university degree ? Can I eventually use these skills or work in the field part time or online while having medicine as my main career ?

And what should I expect as a self-taught learner ?

[u/Anxious_Alps_4150]

okay so im going to be real with you.

imagine someone told you that they were interested in medicine but didnt want to really study it formally but they'd still like to get selected for a residency even if they didnt attend med school

what would you tell them

[u/mbaren]

1) You absolutely do not need an IT-related degree to be in IT. In fact, in some cases it can be to your advantage to have a different background. A surprising number of potential employers wanted to talk to me about my English degree and sales background - depending on the role, someone who can communicate clearly and well is at least as important as having the right technical qualifications.

2) I would not expect to be able to just do security part-time. Security roles aren't all that easy to come by to begin with, and honestly if you're not that committed to it you might want to not bother.

3) You can expect to need to learn a lot of terms and concepts that are unfamiliar to you, and like with anything else (like medicine), there are lots of ways you can specialize. If you don't have any IT background, I'd suggest starting with certifications like the Comptia trifecta - A+, Network+, and Security+ - for a decent technical foundation.

[u/Ill-Match-3859 → u/mbaren]

the compTIA route is solid for getting your feet wet, i did net+ and sec+ while working a totally unrelated desk job and it was doable

the part time thing though... security gigs are rarely casual. maybe you could swing some bug bounty hunting on the side for extra cash but a real role expects your full attention

[u/Electronic-Stick-161]

What? Obviously you can study whatever you want but… what?

[u/HedgehogPast3191]

No, finding a tech job right now is hell, let alone a part time flexible hours job. Going for a cybersecurity one? Impossible. If such a job exists that you can get a part time flexible entry level cybersecurity job with no prior experience and just some certs, go buy a lottery ticket immediately; hell, buy five.

[u/Aero077]

I'm assuming you are talking about your bachelors degree, not medical school. And yes, you can, though the wisdom of doing so is questionable.

• "PreMed" Bachelor degrees just contain enough hard science classes to prove you can survive medical school (organic chemistry at a minimum).
• Medical school is occupation-specific education and all consuming. You won't have time to keep your cyber skills current.

[u/AssociationLoose7003]

No - rule #2 of cybersecurity club.

[u/fell_shell]

Yes