MSc in Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
Course Description
The MSc in Blockchain and Cryptocurrency programme prepares students for the higher financial and information technology roles in the financial industry. It integrates a thorough grounding in advanced financial theory and practice with an understanding of the structure and operation of the financial systems.
This Master’s programme is designed and developed to prepare participants to become competent professionals in the field of Cryptocurrency. Graduates benefit from diverse experiences, combining courses in finance, management, and information technology to provide an overall analysis of cryptocurrency systems and applications.
Students will be exposed and given a curriculum covering topics on money and banking, international financial and digital currency markets, principles of disruptive innovation, regulatory systems, cryptographic systems security, and distributed systems structures, The degree includes an independent study approach in addition to providing the basis for acceptance to, and continued study and career development towards, a doctoral degree.
The overall course objectives are:
Knowledge:
Student will gain the knowledge of:
- The utility of finance theories in the development and functioning of financial systems.
- Financial systems in global and local context in relation to financial flows within systems.
- The importance of managing the modern financial firms.
- The functions and processes of fintech companies, and how financial services are organised, delivered, and evaluated.
- The value of financial functions in both private and public sector in relation to distributed ledger technologies.
- Understanding of the mining process and confirmation of digital transactions.
- Features of digital wallets and how transactions are all translated into codes within the artificial intelligence units.
- Cryptography security and the creation of coins to be used in digital transactions.
- The Ripple ledger, Bitcoin and Ethereum authorised transactions utilising P2P network.
Skills:
- Apply an in-depth knowledge and understanding of financial and blockchain theories informed by current scholarship and research.
- Critically assess current issues and developments in the subject of distributed ledger technologies in relation to financial theories.
- Critically interpret and apply methodologies for evaluating, analysing and appraising organisational practice.
- Analyse, interpret and assess the value of evidence in scholarship and research related to financial entities and operations in financial settings.
- Apply change theories to financial environment in relation to challenges in technological systems.
- Critcally analyse and apply financial theories to practice.
Competences:
- Develop and implement a blockchain technology to improve processes within financial institutes.
- Prepare and communicate information on complex contemporary issues in financial industry and use of cryptocurrencies.
- Develop a strategy which is in line with the current and future digital technology.
- Create a financial strategy related to improved financial delivery using cryptocurrencies.
- Critically evaluate how high quality digital services can best be designed, configured and delivered through the blockchain.
- Formulate financial related management reports in a timely manner.
- Synthesis data related to financial management to identify risks.
Entry Requirements
Candidates who apply for this course will possess:
• Level 6 Degree and 3 years’ work experience
Preference is given to applicants having:
• Level 6 Degree in a discipline related to the Study Programme; and
• A minimum of 3 years’ work experience in management within the sector covered by the Study Programme.
OR
• Level 5 Diploma or Higher Diploma and 5 years’ work experience in a supervisory or managerial role.
Target Audience
This course is targeted at fintech professionals with work experience, such as:
- Financial Managers
- Bank Staff
- Fintech Employees
- Accountants
- Accountant clerks
- Employees with a financial background
Career Paths
This programme aims to prepare you for senior posts such as that of:
- CEO
- Managing Director or Head of Department of any financial or information technology entity.
Modules
You are required to complete all 10 compulsory modules (60 ECTS), as well as the dissertation (30 ECTS) to fulfil the requirements of this master’s degree. Total credits: 90
If you stop here, you will get:
Postgraduate Certificate in Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
Don’t stop now! Go for that Master’s Degree 🚀
If you stop here, you will get:
Postgraduate Diploma in Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
Don’t stop now! Go for that Master’s Degree 🚀
🏁 Amazing! You’ve just achieved your Master of Science.
MSc in Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
How you’ll be assessed
This is a full-time programme and will typically take 30 months to complete. The programme comprises a total of 11 modules. The method of assessment is assignment-based.
The course comprises:
- 6 lectures per module;
- 3-hour lectures (evening);
- 12 hours of guided learning, presentations, comprising synchronous online discussions, tutorials and/or videos;
- Self-study hours comprising research, reading and assignment work.
The course also includes additional, specialised support to help you write your Dissertation, including classes on Qualitative/Quantitative data analysis tools, as well as Dissertation Workshops.
Assessment
Overall assessment of this programme consists of two main components: 1. Modular Assessment carries 60% of the final grade. 2. The Dissertation carries 40% of the final grade.
The formative and summative assessment tasks may include an in-class assignment and/or a home-based written assignment using diverse assessment tools which may take the form of online and in-class discussions, examinations, case studies, reports, proposals, essays, and presentations, etc., as applicable to the diverse modules.
- Modular Assessment
The modular score achieved at the end of the study programme modules is calculated by summing up and working an average of the overall grades obtained in all of the study modules. The final grade achieved by the modular component of the programme is calculated by working out 60% of the modular score obtained for the study modules.
Overall assessment weighting for each module consists of two assessment tasks, each carrying a weighting as below:
a) One Formative assignment carries 20% of total module mark achieved. b) One Summative assignment carries 80% of total module mark achieved.
2. Dissertation Assessment
Assessment of dissertations is primarily based on:
- Depth of critical understanding of the theoretical framework;
- Application of appropriate research tools;
- Critical approach to analysis, interpretation and evaluation of research findings;
- Depth and level of argumentation build-up;
- Original contribution to the generation of new knowledge/hypothesis/models;
- Scholarly presentation meeting academic standards.
Course Intake Dates
TBC 2024
Learning Outcomes
For Communication Skills:
The learner will be able to:
- Communicate with a large variety of people at different levels within own financial organisation as well as with external stakeholders.
- Prepare and communicate information on complex contemporary issues in financial management, strategy and leadership to specialist and non-specialist audiences
For Learning Skills:
The learner will 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.
- Critically analyse challenges, prospects, and risks of digital currencies and devise business proposals and/or develop systems and services that address them.
- Apply and advance practice or research on cryptography, distributed systems architectures, and information systems to design innovative systems and services that complement and extend the existing digital currencies ecosystem.
- Review, analyze, and compare different regulatory environments (banking, payments, commerce, legal, accounting, and so on), debate on likely implications introduced by digital currencies, and advise on alternative proposals.
- Analyse 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.
See what students have to say about our courses
After a long break from studying, I decided to leave my comfort zone and embark upon a new adventure. But I must say that as soon as the lectures started, I felt at home, and help was forthcoming both from the students – whom I now call my friends – as well as from my lecturers. I am proud to have made the right decision for both my personal goals and for my career.
This course served as a growth plan to new projects and to whatever the future has in store for me. Life is all about growing, and this course led me to new opportunities and to continue growing and learning new skills that I can employ in both my personal life and at the workplace.
Miriam Mifsud
Higher Diploma in HR Management
I chose IDEA Academy because every effort is made from staff and tutors to maintain a healthy study-work-life balance, differentiating them from other institutions. I am grateful that throughout my studies, I was nurtured by being given professional advice, the necessary support and enough time to work at my own pace. At IDEA Academy I did not just get a degree, but I’ve learned so many extra life experiences.
Lorraine Vella
M.Sc. in Governance