Mathematical Cryptography

What's Our Research Expertise?

  • Digital communication of personal or sensitive data is an everyday occurrence: from online banking, online transactions and contactless payments, to passport, visa or driving license applications.
  • Commercial, financial and government organisations also send, receive and store huge volumes of personal and financial information.
  • Cryptography provides robust methods of keeping this information secure, validated and authenticated to prevent hackers from obtaining free access and using it for criminal gain.
  • Mathematics plays a pivotal role underpinning modern Cryptography.

Why Lancaster?

  • Lancaster University sits at the heart of the recently created National Cyber Force, a huge development in Cyber Security in the North-West of England.
  • This growing partnership allows academic experts and industrial organisations including the MoD and GCHQ, to join forces and tackle current challenges in Cyber Security.

What Are We Teaching?

Most modern methods for securing data use abstract Mathematical structures, and we are proud to announce the new third-year module MATH320 Mathematical Cryptography. The module builds on prerequisite knowledge of Number Theory from MATH111 and MATH328, and Abstract Algebra from MATH225. You will get hands-on experience, develop an up-to-date knowledge base and be introduced to Post Quantum Cryptography - a current topic of research that is rarely featured at other UK institutions.

The experience gained during this module will be highly valuable, preparing you for a Master's course in Cryptography or Cyber Security and leading to potential research careers in industry such as an Applied Cryptographer with GCHQ, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and in academia through researching in Theoretical Cryptography.

Mathematics Making a Difference