How you learn

The course starts by building your knowledge and skills in network security where you will learn how to secure networks and detect intrusions.  This builds into information security that provides further layers of cyber protection including cryptography, access control and risk management.  To aid your learning in this area, you will be using real-world case studies and build their solutions. 

You will then develop your ethical hacking / pen-testing skills to try and compromise those systems to understand vectors of attack.  This includes learning how to identify security vulnerabilities within operating systems, undertake password attacks, and exploit social engineering to gain system access.  You will use platforms, such as Hack The Box, to safely practice and develop your skills in this area. 

Once the fundamentals principles are covered, you will further your understanding towards security measure compliance by working on case-studies that reflect industry scenarios.  This aspect of the course also prepares you for the Lead Auditor certification, for example, determining whether sensitive data is being properly managed with specific reference to Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA). 

Cyber threat intelligence is another important component of the discipline where you will learn about frameworks (e.g. Mitre Att&ck) and adversary behaviour to help identify attack vectors.  Once attacks have happened, you will use digital forensics to better understand their origin and compile evidence to help protect from future threats and support law enforcement agents to tackle the source. 

Towards the end of the course, you will undertake a significant dissertation project where you will be researching a relevant topic.  This allows you to tailor your learning towards a specific area in the domain, perhaps one that you are keen to pursue into your career.  You are supported through your dissertation project by a supervisor, who will be a domain expert. 

You learn through: 

• tutorials 
• workshops 
• problem-solving activities 
• practical projects 
• team work 
• reports 
• demonstrations 
• discussions 
• presentations 
• structured walk-throughs 

Key themes 

You'll begin by learning the fundamentals in network security, where you'll learn to secure networks and detect intrusions through real-world case studies. Information security is emphasised, covering cryptography, access control, and risk management for robust cyber protection. The course also focuses on ethical hacking, teaching penetration testing techniques to identify and exploit system vulnerabilities. You'll gain expertise in cyber threat intelligence and digital forensics to understand attack vectors and compile evidence for law enforcement. 

The curriculum includes crucial practical real-world work experience as well as preparation for the BSI ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certification, ensuring you are ready to implement and manage information security within organisational frameworks.

Course leaders and tutors

Sina Pournouri

Lecturer in Cyber Security

Staff profile for Sina Pournouri, Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University

Applied learning

Work Experience 

You’ll have the opportunity to go on a work placement for up to 12 months, where you’ll apply academic theory and your skills in a real-world setting. This hands-on experience will enhance your professional development and help you to make informed career choices after graduation. We’ll support you to source a placement that is relevant to your course. Throughout your placement, you’ll be supported to reflect on your experience and contribution to the organisation you work for. You'll also share your progress and achievements with your Placement Academic Supervisor as part of your final assessment.

In addition, the transformative impact that a placement can have on personal and professional development can be further enhanced through the completion of Sheffield Hallam’s Applied Professional Diploma. The Applied Professional Diploma is an award that demonstrates the learning you have gained from the placement, and it is undertaken while on placement not during the normal academic class time.  

On the Work Experience route, you’ll complete an additional placement preparation program that introduces you to the UK employment landscape and prepares you for the recruitment and assessment activities you will experience when applying for placement opportunities.

Networking Opportunities 

We’re a member of the Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec) Academic Partner Programme. The CIISec is the only information and cyber security institution to have been granted Royal Charter status. This means you’ll be able to develop contacts within the cyber security community. You’ll also have access to world-class speakers and the opportunity to network with prospective employers.  

As part of the weekly cyber lecture seminar series, we have expert guest lectures that you can network with.  This has included previous talks from law enforcement agents (e.g. South Yorkshire Police and FBI), security auditors, pen-testers, and digital forensics experts.  

Throughout the course, there are numerous networking opportunities for you to engage with career management, attend career fairs and workshops, participate in employer presentations and visits, and seek guidance from professional advisors. 

Competition 

Every year, the course runs a Capture the Flag event across UK universities.  Using the Hack The Box platform, teams are tasked to hack into vulnerable machines against increasingly harden devices that present more challenging problems. 

Future careers

MSc Cyber Security prepares you for a career in areas such as: 

• Pen tester 
• Information security officer 
• Security consultant 
• Threat analyst 
• Risk management 

Previous graduates of this course have worked for companies that include: 

• Airbus 
• Deloitte  
• HSBC 
• DataGuard 
• South Yorkshire Police 
• Regional Cyber Crime Unit 
• British Assessment Bureau 

Where will I study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

City Campus map | City Campus tour 

Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Adsetts library

Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

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Entry requirements

Fees and funding

• Home students
• International students

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £12,120 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. For this work experience route, your fees will be payable over two years, divided into two annual payments based on credits studied. The fee includes dedicated employability support to help you prepare for and secure work experience. It does not guarantee you a placement and if a placement is not secured the work experience fee will still be charged. If a placement is not secured you will transfer to the standard version of the course to complete your remaining credits, where the balance of your course fees will be due in year one in line with completing the course.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £19,225 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. For this work experience route, your fees will be payable over two years, divided into two annual payments based on credits studied. The fee includes dedicated employability support to help you prepare for and secure work experience. It does not guarantee you a placement and if a placement is not secured the work experience fee will still be charged. If a placement is not secured you will transfer to the standard version of the course to complete your remaining credits, where the balance of your course fees will be due in year one in line with completing the course.

Postgraduate student loans

Up to £12,471 is available in 2024/25 for home students on most masters courses.

Learn more

Additional course costs

The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

General course additional costs

Additional costs for School of Computing and Digital Technologies (PDF, 131.3KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.