Founder

Built by someone
who lived through it.

CyberGrad exists because this guidance didn't exist when Rakesh needed it. This is the resource he wishes had existed.

RE
The story

I was you.

I came to the UK as an international student to complete an MSc in Cybersecurity Engineering. I had the technical background, the degree, and the drive. What I didn't have was any understanding of how the UK job market actually works for someone like me.

I did what everyone does. I applied on LinkedIn. Hundreds of applications. Carefully tailored — or so I thought. I heard almost nothing back. Not because I wasn't qualified. But because I didn't know the rules. The unwritten ones nobody puts in a job description.

How UK CVs are formatted differently. What employers actually filter for in ATS systems. Which certifications UK hiring managers care about. How to build a professional network from scratch as an outsider. How to handle visa questions without signalling anxiety.

"I figured it out eventually. But I wasted months learning things nobody should have to learn by trial and error alone."

— Rakesh Elamaran, Founder, CyberGrad

CyberGrad is the resource I wish had existed. Not a bootcamp. Not a course platform. Not a job board. A structured, honest, practical guide — from someone who has been exactly where you are right now.

The programme is deliberately small. Every cohort is 10–20 students maximum. Because this is not about scale for its own sake — it is about giving each student the attention that actually moves the needle on their job search.

Timeline

How we got here.

Before UK
~5 years AppSec & DevSecOps
Building real security engineering experience — application security, DevSecOps pipelines, vulnerability management — before making the move to the UK.
UK MSc
MSc Cybersecurity Engineering
Completed a full Master's degree as an international student. Strong technical foundation. Zero understanding of the UK job market at the time.
The reality
The UK job search — the real version
Navigated the UK market as an international graduate. Learned through experience what actually works — and what costs you months of wasted applications.
2026
CyberGrad launched
Built the programme that didn't exist. Launching Cohort 1. The goal: give students in 4 weeks what took months to figure out alone.
Why trust CyberGrad

What makes this different.

Built by someone who did it. Not a training company, not a recruiter. Someone who went through exactly what you're facing.
Honest by design. Practical industry knowledge beyond your degree. No job promises. No inflated claims.
Small cohorts always. 15 to 20 students maximum. You are not a number.
UK-specific. Everything is built for the UK market. Not recycled generic career advice.
Open to students and graduates. Whether you're in your final year or six months post-graduation.
One-time pricing. No subscriptions, no surprise charges. Pay once, get everything in your plan.
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