The MSc in Digital Currency is offered online to students worldwide and the language of instruction is English. The first course in the degree pathway, DFIN-511: Introduction to Digital Currencies, is available for free as an open enrollment MOOC course to anyone interested in learning more about the fundamental principles of digital currency. This course is co-taught by Andreas Antonopoulos, who is among the most known and well-respected figures in bitcoin and Blockchain.

Degree Objectives

The Master’s degree is designed to prepare participants to become competent professionals in the field of digital currency (Cryptocurrencies) 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 Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain technology like money and banking, international financial and currency markets, principles of disruptive innovation, regulatory frameworks, Blockchain applications, emerging topics in Blockchain, cryptography and cryptographic systems security, distributed systems architectures, 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 digital currencies or specialize in financial/management aspects and become highly literate consultants, entrepreneurs, or financial professionals. The degree constitutes an independent and terminal study in addition to providing the basis for acceptance to, and continued studies towards, a doctoral degree.

Learning Outcomes

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

Define concepts of money and money supply and associate present international financial markets and money transfer systems to digital currency alternatives. Explore theoretical principles on currencies, banking, the role of central banks, and monetary policy to determine the likely implications of digital currencies upon them. Identify and analyze challenges, prospects, and risks of Cryptocurrencies and devise business proposals and/or develop Blockchain systems and services that address them. 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. Review, analyze, and compare different regulatory environments (banking, payments, commerce, legal, accounting, etc.), debate on likely implications introduced by Cryptocurrencies, and advise on alternative proposals. 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.

Teaching Methodology

The program is offered through distance learning so as to be accessible to all interested students, irrespective of their geographic location. Within the distance-learning paradigm, the program deploys various teaching methods: while the majority of the courses consist of lectures delivered by the faculty course lecturer(s), in some cases it may be deemed appropriate and beneficial to host guest lecturers with academic and business background related to topics covered in courses.

Moreover, practical exercises, individual and group projects, simulations, and case study analyses, will form an integral part of the teaching methodology employed in the program.

Admission Requirements

The programme admits students throughout the academic year in periods coinciding with the start of distance learning courses (Spring and Fall).

Applications for admission to the programme will be considered only from candidates that fulfill the minimum entrance criteria as described below:

1. Bachelor’s degree

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.

2. Work Experience

Work Experience is a significant added qualification.

3. Proficiency in the English Language

Students satisfy the English requirements if their first degree was taught in English. Otherwise, they would need to present at least a TOEFL score of 550 paper-based or 213 computer-based, or GCSE “O” Level with “C” or IELTS with a score of 6.0 or score placement at the ENGL-100 level of the University of Nicosia Placement Test.

4. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

If you are unsure whether you meet the admissions requirements, please complete the registration form to start a discussion with an Admissions advisor.

Employment Opportunities

The program gives students the opportunity to acquire deeper knowledge and skills in the field of Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain. 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. In particular, elective courses are split into two main streams: one (consisting of courses COMP-530, COMP-531, COMP532, and COMP-533) is addressing the needs of students who want to delve into the details of computer-science related aspects of Blockchain technology and Cryptocurrencies, and one (consisting of courses FIN-534, DFIN-535, and MIS-536) is addressing the needs of students wishing to gain a more in-depth understanding of financial and information systems aspects of digital currencies (FinTech). Regardless of the stream chosen by students, each lecturer will strive to create an inspiring atmosphere for the students who want to know more than just the basic facts in each of these various fields of study.

Graduates of the program should be able to:

Hold managerial positions in FinTech, RegTech industries or related posts in finance, regulation, and government offices. Become senior technical developers or administrators in the ICT marketplace as it relates to Cryptocurrencies systems and Blockchain applications. Become entrepreneurs and establish their own enterprises in the field of Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain. Continue studying towards a doctoral degree.

Access to Further Studies

The program will provide the basis for acceptance to a doctoral degree in the emerging field of Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain, in areas that depend on each student’s background, chosen electives, and research interests: computer science (including cryptography, security, distributed and mobile IT systems), finance, management, innovation, and technology regulation.