Unit information: Cryptology (Teaching Unit) in 2028/29

Unit name	Cryptology (Teaching Unit)
Unit code	COMS30023
Credit points	0
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Dupressoir
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	COMS10018 Object Oriented Programming and Algorithms or equivalent COMS10014 Mathematics for Computer Science A and COMS10013 Mathematics for Computer Science B or equivalent COMS20017 Algorithms and Data or equivalent Or A working understanding of algorithms and complexity analysis An understanding of Big-Oh notation The ability to analyse the execution time of an algorithm in terms of elementary operations Exposure to abstract algebra or number theory Groups, cyclic groups and finite fields Polynomials A working understanding of (discrete) probability theory General manipulation of probability expressions To take as a MAJOR: basic programming skills in at least one language.
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	EITHER COMS30081 Topics in Computer Science (Examination assessment, 20 credits) it will contribute 50% to the topics in computer science exam OR COMS30085 Cryptology (Coursework & in-lab test or viva assessment, 20 credits). Please note: This unit is the Teaching only unit for the Cryptology option. Students taking this unit choose to be assessed by EITHER the MAJOR 20 credit unit COMS30085 OR as part of the Topics in Computer Science MINOR 20 credit examination unit. Students select the form of assessment to be taken by enrolling on the appropriate co-requisite assessment unit. Some programmes may place further restrictions on the assessment co-requisite
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	School of Computer Science
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?

Cryptography is the last line of defence in many information systems, designed to protect the confidentiality and integrity of data even when all else has failed. Getting cryptography right involves understanding threats to define security goals and assumptions, reasoning about security goals, and evaluating security assumptions using cryptanalysis. Cryptology—the modern discipline that combines construction and evaluation of cryptographic mechanisms—is a highly interdisciplinary field, deeply rooted in mathematics, but with branches in electronic engineering, computer science, and software and systems engineering.

The aim of this unit is to introduce fundamental aspects of cryptology from a modern perspective, focusing on design and security aspects of cryptographic schemes used for secure two-party communication, and of their underlying primitives.

How does this unit fit into your programme of study?

This is an optional unit that can be taken in Year 3. It is designed to interact positively with both COMS30049 Applied Cryptology and COMSM0040 Advanced Cryptology, but can also be taken standalone for students who want to work with cryptography, but not on cryptography.

Your learning on this unit

An overview of content

The syllabus will include a selection of topics from introductory modern cryptography. Typically, this will cover some of:

• Mathematical preliminaries: modular arithmetic; some group and field theory; fundamental algorithms (e.g., Euclid’s algorithm, double and add); cryptographic reductions.
• Symmetric cryptography: security models; block and stream ciphers; cryptographic hash functions and MACs; modes of operation; cryptanalysis.
• Asymmetric cryptography: security models and proofs; encryption schemes (e.g., RSA and ElGamal); digital signature schemes (e.g., RSA signatures, or DSA); modes of operation (i.e., padding schemes etc.); cryptanalysis.

How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit

Students engaging with this unit fully will have developed both abstract and critical reasoning skills enabling them to better evaluate security claims and assess supporting evidence.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, ALL students (both MAJOR and MINOR) will be able to:

1. Explain the principles of modern cryptology in the context of secure communication
2. Link the design and operation of standard, state-of-the-art symmetric and asymmetric cryptographic schemes to their mathematical underpinnings
3. Explain the functionality and desired security of standard cryptographic schemes used for confidentiality and authenticity
4. Use basic cryptanalytic techniques to evaluate the security level of simple cryptographic schemes

When the unit is taken as the MAJOR 20 credit variant, students will also be able to:

5. Implement the functionality of standard cryptographic schemes used for confidentiality and authenticity

6. Implement and apply appropriate cryptanalytic techniques to evaluate the security level of classes of cryptographic schemes

How you will learn

In the 7 weeks of teaching, students will engage with lecture notes, instructor-led lectures and interactive discussions in large and small groups around problem-based exercise sheets, which are used also for formative assessment and feedback.

Lecture notes and lectures are used to convey an understanding of mathematical concepts and definitions, and illustrate them interactively on simple examples. Tutorial-like problem classes enable the application of concepts learned and the practice of skills, and further enable peer learning between students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds (between Mathematics, Computer Science and Electronic Engineering). Regular formative submissions with rapid feedback form an integral part of the teaching activities, allowing students to test their understanding of the material and to develop further their ability to turn this understanding into explanations, applications and implementations of the concepts and techniques seen in lectures.

Summative assessment activities are designed as extensions of learning, often presenting students with opportunities to apply core principles to real but unseen settings in cryptography.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):

Teaching will take place over the first 8 weeks of the term (excluding the reading week), with coursework support sessions in weeks 9-11 and consolidation and revision sessions taking place in week 12. In addition to discussions in lecture and the publication of lecture notes, weekly problem sheets, discussed with peers and instructors in problem classes, can be submitted for deeper formative feedback. Past exams and coursework questions are also used as explicit opportunities for peer-learning and formative assessment and feedback, and to promote the development of understanding beyond simple recall.

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

For students taking this unit as a MINOR variant, it will contribute 50% to the 20cp Topics in Computer Science exam

(equivalent to 1 hour of exam time) that will be sat during the winter examination period. This closed-book exam will assess Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4 through a mix of questions exercising reflection over and application of concepts and techniques from the unit.

For students taking this unit as a MAJOR variant, there will be two elements of assessment:

• Mid-term in-lab paper-based test (or as a viva alternative - if this is more suited to individual students’ learning and assessment style) taking taken during TB1 (to assess all learning outcomes at a basic level) (worth 30% of the unit) through a mix of questions exercising reflection over and application of concepts and techniques from the unit.
• An end-of-term coursework (taking place during weeks 9-11) (to assess all learning outcomes to a more advanced level – including synthesis) (worth 70% of the unit) through a mix of tasks exercising reflection over, and application and implementation of concepts and techniques, and of more open-ended questions requiring advanced creative thinking informed by the unit’s contents.

ILOs to be mapped

The use of two elements of assessment for the MAJOR variant mitigates the risk of students failing the unit, should they perform poorly in either single element of assessment.

When assessment does not go to plan

Students will retake relevant assessments in a like-for-like fashion in accordance with the University rules and regulations.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. COMS30023).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.

The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.