Module Catalogue

CSC3631 : Cryptography

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
  • Module Leader(s): Professor Thomas Gross
  • Lecturer: Dr Essam Ghadafi
  • Owning School: Computing
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

To introduce students to the theory and practice of block ciphers, cryptographic hash functions,
public key cryptography and cryptographic protocols.

Outline Of Syllabus

Algorithms – cryptographic algorithms
- Historical overview of cryptography
- Private-key cryptography and the key-exchange problem
- Public-key cryptography
- Digital signatures
- Security protocols
- Applications (zero-knowledge proofs, authentication, and so on)
Net-Centric Computing – network security
- Fundamentals of cryptography
- Secret-key algorithms
- Public-key algorithms
- Authentication protocols
- Digital signatures

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion111:0011:00Coursework and coursework quizzes
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials40:302:00Podcasts or ReCAPs of previous lecture materials
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion11:001:00final exam
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture121:0012:00Lectures present in person
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion180:309:00revision for final exam
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical91:009:00In-person practicals with Q&A and optional exercises
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study471:0047:00Background reading
Guided Independent StudyOnline Discussion91:009:00Lecture follow-up via online discussion board sessions (asynch)
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lecture materials will be largely taught present-in-person and may include short podcasts or modified ReCAPs. They are to introduce the learning material, delivering content and for demonstrating the key concepts by example. Students are expected to follow-up lectures within a few days by re-reading and annotating lecture notes to aid deep learning. This will be aided by (1) scheduled in-person Q&A time in practicals and (2) non-synchronized online discussion via Canvas.

Students aiming for 1st class marks are expected to widen their knowledge beyond the content of lecture notes through background reading (recommended textbooks).

Students are expected to spend time on preparing and completing the coursework and associated quizzes.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Digital Examination901A60Online
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Computer assessment1M40online quizzes relating to the lectures
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The examination tests the students' possession of knowledge as well as their understanding of the concepts and techniques that are relevant to cryptographic systems. The quizzes allows them to assess their knowledge and understanding as the module progresses.
Study abroad students may request to take their exam before the semester 1 exam period, in which case the length of the exam may differ from that shown in the MOF.

Reading Lists

Timetable