Southern Africa-Netherlands Cyber Security School 2026

Q: When will SANCS26 take place?

A: SANCS26 will be held around March – April 2026. The exact dates will be announced soon. The lecture period runs for three weeks after which a two-week challenge period follows, where students collaborate in groups to accomplish targeted tasks. Throughout the entire period of the school, the National Cyber Resilience Game will be played. The outcomes of the National Cyber Resilience Game and these challenges will be unveiled during the closing week of SANCS26, culminating in the Closing Ceremony.

Q: How much time should I allocate for SANCS26 coursework and assignments?

A: Participants in SANCS26 are expected to engage on a part-time basis to ensure their academic commitments aren’t compromised. Generally, attendees will need to dedicate around 20 hours to lectures and 10 hours to assignments spread across four weeks.

Q: When will the final program details be disclosed?

A: The complete program details for SANCS26 will be made available closer to the start of the course, encompassing course specifics and instructors. Assignment details will be released midway through the courses, coinciding with the participant selection process from the student pool.

Q: I lack a background in Cybersecurity. Can I still sign up for SANCS26?

A: Absolutely! The lectures in SANCS26 are thoughtfully curated to cater to both newcomers to the field and those aiming to build upon existing knowledge.

Q: Is there a participation fee?

A: There is no participation fee due to the generous contributions of our sponsors and partner organisations.

Q: How will courses be conducted?

A: Courses will be conducted online. Participants need a digital device (desktop, laptop, or smartphone) with sufficient bandwidth to attend livestreamed lectures via Microsoft Teams.

**Please note that the email you register with on Eventbrite needs to be the same email you plan to attend the lectures with on Microsoft Teams. The attendance is automated; thus, we need the name and email that you use to be consistent. If you need to change your email, please simply re-register via Eventbrite before the registrations close.**

Download Microsoft Teams here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app

Q: What type of Certificate will I receive?

A: SANCS26 provides two types of certifications. Upon attending the lectures and participating in the Game, participants earn a Certificate of Attendance. Successful completion of the Challenges, constituting the second phase, results in a Certification of Participation.

**Our certificates are also automated which is why it’s important to keep the name/email you use consistent, so you don’t miss out on receiving a certificate for the work you’ve done**

Q: What are the Certificate requirements?

A: Students attending at least 75% of the SANCS26 lectures and meet the participation requirements for the National Cyber Resilience Game obtain an official Certificate of Attendance. Successfully concluding a Challenge grants participants a Certificate of Participation.

Q: I still have a question, where can I ask it?

A: If you still have unanswered questions and/or want some further clarifications, please watch the online optional Q&A session that we hosted last year. There will be 2026 Q&A session scheduled in due course, before the SANCS26 registrations close.