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What facilities can I use?

You will have access to the university facilities as a student of BNU, which entitles you to some benefits, such as access to our 24/7 library with free study space and free laptop loans. Our AppsAnywhere service provides you with online access to the software you need to complete the course.

As a student of BNU you will have access to our student union, with free trips, societies and events for you to get involved in. We also have support services such as counselling, cost of living support, free laptop loans and CV writing. Our new restaurant serves food with a discounted rate and is only open to students and staff.

What will I study?

In this course, you'll delve into the foundational aspects of cryptology, including key principles of encryption and decryption. You will study a range of cryptographic techniques, such as cipher methods, including: Substitution, Transposition, and the Vernam Cipher, along with Symmetric and Asymmetric Encryption methods. The curriculum covers essential cryptographic tools like Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Digital Signatures, Digital Certificates, and Hybrid Cryptographic Systems. You'll also explore steganography, learning how encrypted messages and malicious code can be concealed within digital media, and address emerging application-based security threats.

Furthermore, you will examine secure communication protocols such as SET, S-HTTP, and SSL, and study secure email methods including S/MIME, PEM, and PGP. The course also covers encryption for wireless networks, including WEP, WPA, and Bluetooth, as well as TCP/IP encryption. Additionally, you'll learn about various attack strategies like Man-in-the-Middle, correlation, dictionary, and timing attacks, and evaluate methods to defend against these threats. This comprehensive approach equips you with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively protect and analyse cryptographic systems.

How will I be taught and assessed?

On this short course you will be studying this module as part of the MSc Cyber Resilience degree, which will help ensure a good learning environment. This short course is taught in ‘block mode’, over the course of five weeks. The first week is an intensive lab-based workshop comprising ten three-hour sessions, blending theoretical and practical elements. Over the next four weeks, we hold a weekly, evening, online surgery. In these surgeries, you will be invited to participate in online discussions. This will reinforce theoretical concepts and help put theory into practice, with the tutors. It will also allow you to seek further guidance on assessments as required.

Our supportive academics are experienced industry professionals and will guide you through problem-based learning via case studies and classroom-based exercises throughout the course.

You will also benefit from guest lecturers, helping you to understand current practices and prepare you for working life as a cyber security professional.

The majority of assessments come from coursework or team projects appropriate to the module. These often involve writing essays or reports, constructing artefacts, or taking practical examinations. They are designed to test your ability to apply and discuss key concepts.