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Cyber Security at Sheffield Hallam University - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information. Course summary

  • Develop ethical hacking skills to fundamentally understand cyber-attacks.
  • Learn to deploy countermeasures that secure and protect computer systems.
  • Apply and manage information security in organisational frameworks.
  • Gain skills to undertake BSI ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certification.
During our MSc Cyber Security course, you’ll develop your knowledge and skills to prepare for a career as a computing security professional. With accreditation from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), you can be confident you’ll graduate with the Cyber-Body of Knowledge (CyBok), industry-standard techniques that so many employers are seeking. How you learn At Sheffield Hallam, all our courses are designed to engage you with the world and challenge you to think in new ways. You’ll get to collaborate with others, and you’ll be taught in a supportive environment where you can thrive. This course explores the fundamentals in network security, where you'll learn to secure networks and detect intrusions through real-world case studies. Your tutorials and workshops will emphasise information security, covering cryptography, access control and risk management for robust cyber protection. The course also focuses on ethical hacking, teaching you 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. We’ll also prepare you for the BSI ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certification, making sure you’re ready to implement and manage information security within organisational frameworks. Towards the end of the course, you’ll undertake a significant dissertation project where you’ll be researching a relevant topic. This allows you to tailor your learning towards a specific area – perhaps one you’re keen to pursue as a career. You’ll be supported through your dissertation project by a supervisor, who themselves will be a domain expert. You learn through:
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops
  • Problem-solving activities
  • Practical projects
  • Teamwork
  • Reports
  • Demonstrations
  • Real-world case studies
  • Discussions
  • Presentations
  • Structured walk-throughs
Key themes You’ll start by building your knowledge and skills in network security, where you’ll learn how to secure networks and detect intrusions. This progresses into information security that provides further layers of cyber protection – including cryptography, access control and risk management. You’ll 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’ll use platforms such as Hack The Box to safely practise and develop your skills in this area. Once the fundamentals are covered, you’ll further your understanding towards security-measure compliance by working on case studies that reflect industry scenarios. This 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’ll learn about frameworks – e.g. Mitre Att&ck – and adversary behaviour to help identify attack vectors. Once attacks have happened, you’ll use digital forensics to better understand their origin, compiling evidence to help protect from future threats, and to help law enforcement agents to tackle the source. Work experience This course also has a work experience route that offers a placement in industry of up to 12 months.

Modules

Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page. Compulsory modules Cyber Threat Intelligence And Digital Forensics Dissertation For Cyber Security And Computer Networks Hacking Techniques And Countermeasures Network And Information Security Research Methods And Strategies Standard Based Security Audit And Assessment

Assessment method

Coursework

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • National Cyber Security Centre

Entry requirements

You need • a good level of general education with good analytical skills • an ambition to develop to a high level in the area of information security • a degree 2.2 or above in computing or a closely-related discipline. You may also be able to claim credit points which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam. Find out more We will consider your application if you cannot meet the above criteria but have at least one year-s direct work experience in information security or a closely related discipline. You can apply for prior certificated credit or prior experiential credit for the course if it is appropriate. We consider any professional certification of a suitable level and other criteria related to your application. In some cases we may ask you to take an entrance exam. If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6An IELTS score of 6.0 with 5.5 in all skills (or equivalent) is the standard for non-native speakers of English.

Overseas applicants from countries whose first language is not English must normally produce evidence of competence in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 with 5.5 in all skills (or equivalent) is the standard for non-native speakers of English. If your English language skill is currently below an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English level.

Please click the following link to find out more about English language requirements for this course

https://www.shu.ac.uk/Courses/Computing/MSc-Cyber-Security/Full-time/

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
EU £17155 Year 1
International £17155 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate degree courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200. 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 at https://www.shu.ac.uk/study-here/terms-and-conditions-and-student-regulations under student fees regulations. Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200. Please refer to our website for up-to-date information on costs and fees: https://www.shu.ac.uk/study-here/undergraduate/fees

Sponsorship information

Scholarships, discounts and bursaries may be available to students who study this course.

Cyber Security at Sheffield Hallam University - UCAS