School: School of Business

Digital Currency

Academic year

2022-2023
Taught Language: English

Course Summary

The MSc in Digital Currency is designed to help financial services and business professionals, entrepreneurs, government officials and public administrators better understand the technical underpinnings of digital currency, how it will likely interact with existing monetary and financial systems, and what opportunities exist for innovation in digital currency systems.

The programme seeks to fill an important gap that exists today between the supply of and demand for academic knowledge in the area of digital currency. More specifically, while the interest in digital currencies has skyrocketed in the past few years, academic institutions have been slow to implement academic programs that cover the need for educating specialists in the area, addressing it in its entirety (technical and financial aspects alike).

The programme fills this gap and positions the University of Nicosia at the forefront of academia in this area on a global scale.

The degree is offered online to students worldwide and 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.

Programme Fees

The first class in the degree pathway, Introduction to Digital Currency, is available for free as an open enrollment, MOOC-like course, to anyone interested in learning more about the fundamental principles of digital currency.

The remaining 8 courses are offered at €1,620 per course, bringing the total tuition fees for the programme to €12,960.

Target Audience

  • Businesspeople / entrepreneurs
  • Financial industry professionals – bankers, lawyers, accountants, auditors
  • Development professionals: Social workers, NGOs, non-profits, development experts
  • Regulatory officials/policy makers
  • Computer scientists who aspire to managerial roles

Career Prospects

This field offers very good career opportunities. Digital currencies is a field which is growing steadily around the world, and interest in such currencies is anticipated to continue strong. Thus, the global employment outlook is promising.

Modules

Section: A – Required Courses
Min. ECTS Credits: 60  Max. ECTS Credits: 60
Notes:
Course Code Course Title ECTS Credits
DFIN-511 Introduction to Digital Currency 10
DFIN-513 Open Financial Systems 10
DFIN-522 Regulation and Digital Currencies 10
FIN-512 Money and Banking 10
DFIN-524 Blockchain Technology and Applications 10
MGT-523 Principles of Disruptive Innovation 10
 
Section: B – Electives
Min. ECTS Credits: 30  Max. ECTS Credits: 30
Notes:
Course Code Course Title ECTS Credits
COMP-530 Cryptographic Systems Security 10
COMP-532 Distributed Systems 10
COMP-533 Digital Currencies in Motion 10
COMP-541 Digital Currency Programming 10
FIN-521 International Currency Markets 10
DFIN-535 Digital Currencies in the Developing World 10
DFIN-591 Thesis 20
DFIN-592 Project 20
FIN-534 Financial Markets and Alternative Investments 10
MIS-536 Emerging Topics and Practical Considerations in
Blockchains
10
MIS-545 Programming on the Blockchain 10

Assessment Method

The University of Nicosia general regulations for examinations, assessment and grading apply.Course assessment usually comprises of a comprehensive final exam. 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. For more information, please visit the Academic Rules and Regulations page on our website.

 

How to apply

Students come to UNIC from around the world, blending a diverse range of academic backgrounds, experiences, interests, talents and cultural heritage.

Admission to our University is granted under different categories, depending on the student’s qualifications and educational objectives.

Our general admissions policy relies on the student’s previous academic performance, including their high school grades. The Medical School has separate admissions policies and procedures outlined on the Medical School website.

Admission Requirements

The minimum admission requirement is a recognized High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC). Students with a lower HSLC grade than 7.5/10 or 15/20 or equivalent, depending on the grading system of the country issuing the HSLC, are provided with extra academic guidance and monitoring during the first year of their studies. Some programmes have higher entry requirements.

Application deadline

Students may begin their studies in September or February. Applications must reach the Office of Admissions together with all the required documents by:

Studies from Deadline
Fall Semester (September to January) Late June
Spring Semester (February to May) Late October
Summer Session (June to July) Late February
Application Deadlines for European and Local students Please call the Office of Admissions on +357 22841528

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements
  1. Completed Application Form
  2. A copy of your passport (page with your personal details and photo)
  3. Academic Records (True copy of the original)
    • For Bachelors Degree applicants: High School Leaving Certificate and mark sheet
    • For Masters Degree applicants: Bachelors Degree and transcripts
    • For Doctorate applicants: Bachelors and Masters Degree, including transcripts
  4. Two Letters of recommendation/reference from professors or employers (for Masters and Doctorate applicants only). Certain programmes have additional requirements
  5. Curriculum Vitae–CV (for Masters and Doctorate applicants only)
  6. Personal Statement (for Masters and Doctorate applicants only)
  7. Research proposal (for Doctorate applicants only)
  8. Evidence of work experience (where applicable)
  9. Portfolio (for selected programmes of study)
Additional entry requirements

-

English language requirements

The table below provides the minimum English Language Requirements (ELR) for enrollment on a programme of study offered in English. Students who do not possess any of the qualifications or stipulated grades listed below and hold IELTS with 4.5 and above, are required to take UNIC’s NEPTON English Placement Test (with no charge) and will receive English Language support classes, if and as needed, from UNIC’s International Gateway Centre (IGC).

English Qualification ELR Equivalent to IELTS 6
TOEFL 525 and above
Computer-based TOEFL 193 and above
Internet-based TOEFL 80 and above
IELTS 6 and above
Cambridge Exams (First Certificate) B and above
Cambridge Exams (Proficiency Certificate) C and above
GCSE English Language ‘O’ Level or IGCSE C and above
Michigan Examination of Proficiency in English (CaMLA) Pass
Pearson PTE General Level 3 and above
KPG
(The Greek Foreign Language Examinations
for the State Certificate of Language Proficiency)
Level B2 and above
Anglia Level B2 and above
IEB Advanced Programme English Pass
Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE)
Michigan Language Assessment
by: Cambridge Assessment English & University of Michigan
650 average score for ALL skills and above
 
 
 

English Language Proficiency

Master students satisfy the English requirements if their first degree was taught in English. Otherwise, they would need to present a minimum TOEFL score of 550 paper-based or 213 computer-based, GCSE “O” Level or IGCSE with minimum “C”, IELTS with a score of 6.5, or a score placement at the ENGL- 100 level of UNIC’s NEPTON. The University offers English courses at various levels to help students reach the required standard for admission to a graduate programme.

The purpose of the NEPTON Test

1. The purpose of this test is to place students in the appropriate level of English in order to support their academic studies at the University. The NEPTON is not a University entrance examination; previous academic performance (e.g. School Leaving Certificate) is taken into consideration with regard to University entrance requirements.

2. The number of additional courses and corresponding course loads are given in the table below:

 
 
 
Level of English Hour of tuition/work Credits Additional course load permitted
ENGL-101 English Composition 3 6 Normal
ENGL-100 Basic Writing 3 6 Normal
BENG-100 College English 6 6 Normal
BENG-070 English Language Skills 12 4 6 credit hours
BENG-060 English for Beginners 20 2 No other credits
 
 
 

3.Students who have the following qualifications can take the test, but will not be placed below the level shown:

English Qualification ENGL-101 ENGL-100
TOEFL 550+ 513-547
Computer-based TOEFL 213+ 183-210
Internet-based TOEFL 79+ 65-78
IELTS 6.5+ 5.5-6.0
Cambridge Exams (First Certificate) Grade A or B Grade C
Cambridge Exams (Proficiency Certificate) A or B or C A or B
GCSE English Language ‘O’ Level or IGCSE A or B C
Michigan Examination of Proficiency in English (CaMLA) Pass N/A
Pearson PTE General Level 4 Level 3
KPG
(The Greek Foreign Language Examinations
for the State Certificate of Language Proficiency)
Level C1 Level B2
Anglia Proficiency or Masters Advanced
IEB Advanced Programme English Pass N/A
Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE)
Michigan Language Assessment
by: Cambridge Assessment English & University of Michigan
840-1000 average score for ALL skills 650-835 average score for ALL skills
 
 
 

4.Students can take the NEPTON after they officially enroll and pay the Euro 55 application fee.

Fees and funding

Application Fees

Yearly tuition fees:

 

 Local / EU Students
12.960 Euro 12.960 Euro

 

Additional Fee information

OTHER FEES

ON-CAMPUS PROGRAMMES

ONLINE/DL PROGRAMMES

Application fee (one-off/nonrefundable payment)

55

55

Visa application (one-off/nonrefundable payment)

86

0

Registration fee (per semester)

26

0

Health & accident insurance (per year)

175

0

Student activities fee (per semester)

20

0

Technology fee – Internet use etc. (per semester)

15

0

International student guarantee (one-off / refundable payment)

400

0

Transcript fee (per copy)

5

5

Evaluation fee (transfer credits / ECTS)

52

52

Second exam fee (per course)

65

65

Graduation application fee

60

60

Total 

959

273

Provider information

Main Contact

46 Makedonitissas Avenue, CY-2417

Contact Person: UNIC

Phone: +35722778744