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Wider Aspects of Cybersecurity - COM00162M

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  • Department: Computer Science
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of advanced topics in cybersecurity and engage students in an in-depth study of the state of the art of an area of cybersecurity.
Topics covered in this module include a selection of recent and emerging advances in cybersecurity areas such as cryptography (e.g. zero-knowledge proofs, post-quantum cryptography, homomorphic encryption, and secure multiparty computation), network security (e.g. internet-of-things security, software defined networks security, and mobile networks security), distributed systems security (e.g. consensus mechanisms and distributed ledgers), human factors in cybersecurity (e.g. usable security), and privacy (e.g. privacy-preserving protocols and differential privacy).
The module also aims to develop critical analysis and academic writing skills. Students will carry out a group project in an advanced cybersecurity topic, experiencing and developing team working skills.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of the module the students will be able to:

  • demonstrate a competent technical understanding of a range of emerging advanced topics in cybersecurity.
  • critically analyse the latest research in an area of cybersecurity.
  • summarise the important technical aspects of the state of the art in an area of cybersecurity for a technically literate audience.
  • survey new and emerging methods from an advanced area of cybersecurity to identify their applications to important classes of systems from the CyBoK, as well as their underpinning assumptions and limitations.

Module content

Taught sessions on a selection of recent and emerging advances in cybersecurity.
Group project to survey new and emerging methods from an advanced area of cybersecurity.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 50
Groupwork 50

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 50
Groupwork 50

Module feedback

Students will receive oral feedback during the classroom sessions, and written feedback on their assessment submission. 

Indicative reading

Information currently unavailable.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.