Blockchain and Digital Currency

Profile of the Programme

The Master’s degree is designed to prepare participants to become competent professionals in the field of digital currency and Blockchain technology. Graduates benefit from a broad background, combining courses in Finance, Management, Computer Science, and Information Systems to provide a holistic analysis of Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain systems, applications, and services.

Students get exposed to an enriching and stimulating curriculum that covers important areas of Blockchain technology like Blockchain and Digital Currency, Blockchain Systems and Architectures, Blockchain and Entrepreneurship Management, Emerging Topics in Blockchain and Digital Currency, Digital Currency Programming, Smart contract programming, Permissioned Blockchain Programming, Cryptographic Systems Security, Emerging Topics in Fintech, Token Economics, Law and Regulation in Blockchain, Emerging Topics in Law and Regulation, Principles of Money, Banking and Finance, Open and Decentralized Financial Systems and others.

Theoretical principles, state-of-the-art research, and case studies of digital currency systems and tools are mastered by students who may also select to advance their Blockchain programming skills and become highly skilled developers in blockchain and digital currencies or specialize in financial/management aspects and become highly literate consultants, entrepreneurs, or financial professionals. Upon completion, students can continue their studies to a doctoral degree or to other areas of study.

Career Prospects

The program gives students the opportunity to acquire deeper knowledge and skills in the field of Blockchain and Digital Currencies. This is a relatively new area of practice and research that is expected to provide ample employment opportunities for program graduates in various and inter-disciplinary positions at the intersection between management, computer science, and finance.

The program is both theoretical and practical and has been designed to allow the students to choose those elective courses that will meet their future career goals. Regardless of the stream chosen by students, each instructor strives to create an inspiring atmosphere for the students and enhances the learning experience.

Access to Further Studies

Graduates of the programme can be accepted into Third Cycle degrees (Doctoral Degree)

The minimum general requirement for admission to the post-graduate degree programme is a Bachelor Degree from an accredited university.

English Language Proficiency

Applicants satisfy the English requirements if their first degree was taught in English. Otherwise, the minimum English-language qualifications for admission are:

• IELTS, 6.5 and above
• Anglia Examinations, Proficiency or Mastery
• Cambridge GCE AS Level English Language, C and above
• Cambridge GCE English A Levels, C and above
• Cambridge IGCSE or GCSE English as a First language, C and above
• Cambridge IGCSE or GCSE English as a Second language, B and above
• IB English A: Literature SL & HL, 4 and above
• IB English Standard Level (SL), 5 and above
• IB English High Level (HL), 4 and above
• Michigan Language Assessment (also known as Proficiency of Michigan), 750 and above
• Password Test, 6.5 and above
• TOEFL (IBT), 79 and above
• Cambridge Exams (First Certificate), 176 and above or Pass
• Cambridge Exams (Proficiency Certificate), 180 and above or Pass

Applicants who do not hold one of the listed qualifications, are required to take UNIC’s NEPTON English Placement Test and achieve a score at the ENGL-100 level, which can substitute for the standardized tests typically required for admission to postgraduate programs. The test is offered free of charge.

The University offers English courses at different levels to assist students in meeting the required standard for admission to a graduate programme.

Course assessment usually comprises of a comprehensive final exam and continuous assessment. Continuous assessment can include amongst others, weekly interactive activities, projects, positive online forum participation etc.

Letter grades are calculated based on the weight of the final exam and the continuous assessment and the actual numerical marks obtained in these two assessment components. Based on the course grades the student’s semester grade point average (GPA) and cumulative point average (CPA) are calculated.

The student must complete 90 ECTS and all programme requirements.

A minimum cumulative grade point average (CPA) of 2.0 is required. Thus, although a ‘D-‘ is a PASS grade, in order to achieve a CPA of 2.0 an average grade of ‘C’ is required.

Upon successful completion of this program, the students should be able to:

1. Define concepts of money and money supply and associate present international financial markets and money transfer systems to digital currency alternatives.
2. Explore theoretical principles on currencies, banking, the role of central banks, and monetary policy to determine the likely implications of digital currencies upon them.
3. Identify and analyse challenges, prospects, and risks of Cryptocurrencies and devise business proposals and/or develop Blockchain systems and services that address them.
4. Apply and advance practice or research on Blockchain technology, cryptography, decentralized systems architectures, and information systems to design innovative systems and services that complement and extend the existing Cryptocurrencies ecosystem.
5. Review, analyse, and compare different regulatory environments (banking, payments, commerce, legal, accounting, etc.), debate on likely implications introduced by Cryptocurrencies, and advise on alternative proposals.
6. Analyze best practices related to digital currencies, specify business opportunities, and apply digital currency based innovative solutions to address problems in business, finance, or the society at large.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

The above semester breakdown is an indicative one. A few of the courses are electives and can be substituted by others. Students may contact their academic advisor and consult their academic pathway found on this website under “Schools & Programmes”.

Industry Experts / Guest Lecturers supporting the programme