CSC3631 : Cryptography
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 4 | 0:30 | 2:00 | Podcasts or ReCAPs of previous lecture materials |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | final exam |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Lectures present in person |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 18 | 0:30 | 9:00 | revision for final exam |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Coursework and coursework quizzes |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 9 | 1:00 | 9:00 | In-person practicals with Q&A and optional exercises |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 39 | 1:00 | 39:00 | Background reading |
| Guided Independent Study | Online Discussion | 9 | 1:00 | 9:00 | Lecture follow-up via online discussion board sessions (asynch) |
| Total | 100:00 |
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 Examination | 90 | 1 | A | 60 | Online |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | 40 | online 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
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CSC3631's Timetable