Everything you need to know...
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Tuition fees
Home: £11,490 for the course
International/EU: £19,530 for the course -
Course duration
1 Year
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Study location
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Start date
September 2027
January 2028
Course summary
- Deploy AI across threat detection, incident response and malware analysis.
- Use AI to support decision making and cyber defence strategies.
- Develop ethical hacking skills alongside the fundamentals of network security.
- Apply and manage information security within organisational frameworks.
- Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams on real-world cyber security challenges.
Our MSc Cyber Security and Artificial Intelligence course responds to the growing convergence of AI and cyber security, developing the skills and knowledge for emerging industry and government roles. The course is aligned with the Cyber Body of Knowledge (CyBOK), exploring the industry-recognised principles and practices valued by cyber security employers.
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Employability
94% of our postgraduate students are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (2023/24 Graduate Outcomes Survey)
How you learn
You'll be taught by cyber security and AI experts who combine cutting-edge research with industry experience. In tutorials and workshops you’ll explore cryptography, access control and risk management for robust cyber protection. Through case studies you’ll learn how to secure networks and detect intrusions. You’ll then design and deploy AI-enabled cyber security solutions to real-world challenges.
You'll study in our Home of Digital Technologies, a world-class facility with six dedicated cyber security laboratories. It’s the largest setup of its kind in the UK, with specially designed spaces for Capture the Flag cyber attack and defence simulations. Assessment is built around realistic, problem-based situations that mirror real-world challenges.
Towards the end of the course, you'll undertake a substantial dissertation project, researching a topic that reflects your interests. This allows you to tailor your learning towards a specialist area – perhaps one you'd like to pursue as a career. Throughout the project, you'll be supported by a supervisor who is an expert in their field.
You learn through:
- lectures
- tutorials and seminars
- regular feedback
- laboratory sessions
- real-world problems
- practical activity-based sessions
- group and individual project work
- supervisor support and guidance
- acting as mentors for new students
- self-directed study
Key themes
You’ll learn about machine learning, deep learning, data mining and natural language processing. You’ll then apply your learning to areas such as threat detection, anomaly detection, malware analysis and intelligent security systems.
You’ll build knowledge and skills in network security, learning how to use cutting-edge AI systems to secure networks and detect intrusions. You'll then build your knowledge of information security – exploring cryptography, access control and risk management to provide additional layers of cyber protection.
Throughout the course you'll consider the ethical, legal and governance implications of deploying AI in security environments, ensuring the solutions you develop are effective, responsible and legally compliant. You’ll then develop your AI-enhanced ethical hacking and pen-testing skills to try and compromise those systems, learning how to understand vectors of attack. This includes identifying security vulnerabilities within operating systems, undertaking password attacks, and exploiting social engineering to gain system access.
Course support
You’ll be supported in your learning journey through a number of key areas, such as:
- specialist services to help with your personal, academic and career development
- Skills Centre one-to-ones and online resources for planning and preparing for assessments
- industry-specific employability activities
- live projects, simulated environments and networking opportunities
- student peer mentoring support opportunities
Applied learning
Live projects
In collaboration with our industry partners, live projects are embedded into the course, where you get to work individually or in groups on real-world cyber-security-related AI challenges. These projects encourage your creativity, critical thinking and collaboration, mirroring the complex scenarios you’ll encounter in the professional realm.
These client-focused projects allow you to delve deeply into an area you’re interested in. With the support of experienced tutors and industry partners, you’ll apply your knowledge to solve complex problems.
You’ll identify security challenges and explore how AI technologies can be applied to address them. Taking part in regular, agile-style meetings with academics and stakeholders, you’ll define problems, refine requirements and develop actionable solutions. You’ll design and implement AI-enabled security solutions for real-world needs – from developing intelligent intrusion detection systems and automating threat analysis, to detecting phishing or fraud patterns, or using AI to enhance security monitoring and response.
Networking opportunities
We’re a member of the Chartered Institute of Information Security’s (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 and with prospective employers, as well as gaining insights from world-class speakers.
As part of our weekly cyber seminar series, we have expert guest lectures you can attend to gain insights and networking connections. These have previously included talks from law enforcement agents (such as South Yorkshire Police and the FBI), security auditors, pen-testers and digital forensics experts.
Throughout the course, you’ll be able to develop your career through career fairs and workshops, employer presentations and visits, and by seeking guidance from professional advisers.
Competitions
Every year, the course runs a Capture the Flag event across UK universities. Using the Hack The Box platform, you’ll be tasked in teams to hack into vulnerable machines, against increasingly hardened devices that present more challenging problems.
Your course leader
Sina Pournouri
Lecturer in Cyber SecurityStaff profile for Sina Pournouri, Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University
Modules studied may differ depending on when you start your course.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
Modules studied may differ depending on when you start your course.
Final year
Compulsory modules
This module will solve a problem(s) by applying and developing artificial intelligence techniques and engaging with real-world situations. The module will develop an AI project that will be practical in nature, providing an opportunity to learn from work-related activities and to develop skills for collaborating in groups and with external clients.
You’ll study topics such as:
- Identify, develop, and adapt appropriate tools, techniques, and systems from the AI area
- Write project specification(s) and learn and apply project management skills as part of group work
- Identify project risks and issues that may impact the delivery of the final work
- Testing and evaluation of solutions
- Group working and interpersonal communication techniques
- Evaluation and reflection of personal performance
This module enables you to identify a cyber security and computer network research problem, investigate the requirements and/or background work, analyse results of research undertaken and design, develop and evaluate a solution to that problem, within the parameters of an individual project scenario, using appropriate tools, techniques, and methodologies.
You’ll study topics such as:
- Information gathering and literature reviews
- Appropriate selection of tools, techniques, and methods
- Testing and user evaluation
- Critical reflection – evaluating the project deliverables and project success/failure
- Structuring presentations and academic papers, including referencing and citation techniques
- Legal, social, and ethical considerations in the design and development of computer networks and cybersecurity-based projects
- Security, confidentiality, and sustainability
This module develops proficiency in evaluating the repercussions of computer security vulnerabilities on an organisation to enhance preparedness and responsiveness. This includes systematically reviewing, assessing, and scrutinizing diverse categories of computer incidents to enable the design and implementation of countermeasures. The module also covers penetration testing and advanced techniques and tools utilised by hackers to compromise computer systems.
You’ll study topics such as:
- Reconnaissance
- Scanning
- Vulnerability assessment
- Network-level attacks
- Application and Operating systems-level attacks
- Antivirus evasion
- Password security
- Privilege escalation
- Covering tracks
Develop the basic foundations of artificial intelligence tools, including approaches and methods. Explore the influence of the data on AI solutions, the challenges, requirements and limitations of the newest AI tools for main domains. Develop a comprehensive understanding of artificial intelligence principles, theories, and practices through examples from machine learning, deep learning, data mining, natural language processing, computer vision, and intelligent systems.
This module aims to:
Introduce students to the terminology and concepts inherent to artificial intelligence.
Identify the technical requirements and regulations for using and integrating artificial intelligence tools.
Investigate how artificial intelligence transforms industries and creates opportunities while improving processes and outcomes.
Typically, you will study topics such as:
Foundations of AI: key definitions and history.
Machine learning and deep learning: how to use pre-trained models.
Natural Language Processing: how to use high-level interfaces to create conversational AI applications.
Computer Vision: basic concepts behind image recognition and object detection
AI in practice: case studies from business, healthcare, and education.
Ethics, privacy, and regulation: responsible AI use, data protection, governance frameworks.
Future trends in AI: emerging technologies, human-AI collaboration, societal impact.
This module develops a critical understanding and application of appropriate information security management methodologies and principles to reduce organisational risk, and to protect networks from security threats.
You’ll study topics such as:
- Confidentiality, integrity and availability of information and network assets
- Authentication, authorization and access control
- Cryptography
- Cloud security
- Malware detection and analysis
- Network security countermeasures (Security information and event Management, Security orchestration, automation and response, Intrusion Detection Systems, etc.)
- Developing and monitoring secure network infrastructures
- Business continuity planning
- Information security principles, standards and guidelines
- Developing an Information Security Management System (ISMS)
- Information security risk management
- Incident management and response
This module covers research and effective presentation skills. It will develop a robust foundation for critically identifying and evaluating research materials and publications and an understanding of the methods, techniques, and tools used in conducting impactful research projects in cybersecurity, digital forensic, computer networks and network security based on their degree.
You’ll study topics such as:
- Research Definitions and Types
- The Research Process - Stages of a Research Study
- The Research Question, Aims and Goals
- Planning Your Research
- Searching and Evaluating Literature
- Research Methods
- Research Tools and Techniques
- Research Analysis, Validity and Evaluation
- Writing and Presenting Your Research
Future careers
This course prepares you for careers in:
- penetration testing
- information security analysis
- security consultancy
- security operations centre (SOC) analysis
- security systems administration
- network security engineering
Equipment and facilities
You’ll learn through teaching in lectures, tutorials and practical laboratory sessions – using specialist facilities in computing and digital technologies.
You’ll have access to industry-standard resources such as:
- state-of-the-art-machine learning software
- application development environments
- Cloud computing and Edge computing platforms, such as Azure and Colab
- virtual learning cyber security platforms like Hack The Box
- dedicated cyber security labs
- a red-blue team cyber security suite
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
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Explore the libraryEntry requirements
All students
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, see RPL
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent.
Additional information for EU/International students
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.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2027/28 is £11,490 for 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 International/EU students starting full-time study in 2027/28 is £19,530 for the course.
Scholarships and financial support
Find information on scholarships, bursaries and postgraduate student loans.
International scholarships up to £3000 ›
Alumni scholarships up to £2000 ›
Postgraduate loans for UK students ›
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, 242.1KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
