A cyber attack targeting students and alumni with upsetting emails was designed to cause "hurt" and damage the school's reputation, a Sydney university has claimed.

Western Sydney University suffered a major data leak on Monday when mass emails were sent to current and former students, with some claiming degrees had been "revoked" retrospectively.

Other students who received the email were told their enrolments in all units would be immediately cancelled and their access to any student systems would be withdrawn.

Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor George Williams apologised in a statement to students and said the "fraudulent" emails upset and distressed those who received them.

Williams said no data was stolen in the cyberattack and it was perpetrated

See Full Page