Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

An Introduction to Cryptography

Seize the savings! Get 40% off 3 months of Coursera Plus and full access to thousands of courses.

An Introduction to Cryptography

Instructors: Sam Wilson

3,179 already enrolled

Included with

Learn more

2 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

16 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

2 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

16 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Describe the fundamental concepts and principles of cryptography.
Explore historical cyphers and their significance in the evolution of cryptography.
Investigate modern cryptographic algorithms and protocols.
Gain digital skills as part of Click Start! Follow the link in the instructor bio to see if you're eligible for FREE access to this course and more..

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

4 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

There are 2 modules in this course

Cryptography is an essential part of secure but accessible communication that's critical for our everyday life and organisations use it to protect their privacy and keep their conversations and data confidential. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fascinating world of cryptography, covering both historical cyphers and modern-day cryptographic techniques.

In this course, you will explore the foundations of encryption, decryption, and cryptographic protocols. Through a combination of theoretical concepts, practical examples, and hands-on exercises, you will gain a solid understanding of the principles and applications of cryptography. Join this fascinating course to explore the world of cryptography and learn how secrets have been kept in the past and the modern world. This course is one of many, offered by Click Start, a UK training programme designed to help young people develop digital skills. Click Start offers a limited number of scholarships giving free access to young people in the UK. Check the FAQs to see more detail and follow the link to check if you are eligible for free access today.

Welcome to the first week of the course! We will start the week with an exploration of what cryptography is and what it is used for and then move on to look at some cryptographic techniques, via some ancient cryptography. Although these ancient cryptographic techniques are not very useful in modern life, they are good at demonstrating some of the concepts that are still used in modern day cryptography. Week 1 lays the foundation for Week 2, when we will turn our attention to modern cryptography.

What's included

2 videos15 readings1 assignment4 discussion prompts

2 videos Total 9 minutes

The course and its creator 2 minutes
Solutions: Simple ciphers exercise 7 minutes

15 readings Total 165 minutes

Welcome to An Introduction to Cryptography 10 minutes
Lesson 1: Overview 5 minutes
An introduction to simple cryptography 10 minutes
The three roles of cryptography 10 minutes
Lesson 1: Summary and next steps 5 minutes
Lesson 2: Overview 10 minutes
What is a 'simple cipher'? 15 minutes
Your turn: Try out a simple cipher 10 minutes
Simple ciphers: Substitution ciphers 10 minutes
Simple ciphers: Transposition ciphers 10 minutes
Simple ciphers: Permutation ciphers 10 minutes
Simple ciphers: Polygraphic ciphers 15 minutes
Your turn: Simple ciphers exercise 30 minutes
Vulnerabilities of simple ciphers 10 minutes
Lesson 2: Summary and next steps 5 minutes

1 assignment Total 10 minutes

Check your understanding: Simple ciphers 10 minutes

4 discussion prompts Total 40 minutes

What are you looking forward to? 10 minutes
Researching ciphers 10 minutes
What type of cipher did you find? 10 minutes
End of Week 1: Reflections 10 minutes

Welcome to Week 2. In this week you will bring your knowledge about cryptography up to date in the modern day. This is where we start to look at more complex methods for more complex contemporary requirements. To start off, you will be introduced to a concept called 'public key cryptography' which is extensively used on the internet. You will then learn about hash functions and how some cryptographic techniques can be used to produce a digital signature.

What's included

1 video15 readings3 assignments2 discussion prompts

1 video Total 1 minute

Course summary 1 minute

15 readings Total 160 minutes

Lesson 3: Overview 5 minutes
What do we use cryptography for now? 5 minutes
Modern day cryptography 15 minutes
Rivest–Shamir–Adleman (RSA) encryption 20 minutes
Part 1: RSA - Key generation 10 minutes
Part 2: RSA - Encryption 10 minutes
Part 3: RSA - Decryption 10 minutes
Lesson 3: Summary and next steps 10 minutes
Lesson 4: Overview 5 minutes
Modern cryptography: End-to-end encryption 10 minutes
Hash functions 20 minutes
Optional exercise: Hash functions 10 minutes
Digital signatures 10 minutes
Lesson 4: Summary and next steps 10 minutes
Further exploration 10 minutes

3 assignments Total 65 minutes

RSA encryption/decryption 15 minutes
Check your understanding: Modern cryptography 30 minutes
Test your learning and get your certificate 20 minutes

2 discussion prompts Total 30 minutes

End-to-end encryption in the news 20 minutes
Reflection 10 minutes

Instructors

Sam Wilson

University of Leeds

4 Courses 10,993 learners

Offered by

University of Leeds

Explore more from Algorithms

Status: Preview
University of London
Introduction to Applied Cryptography
Course
Status: Preview
Stanford University
Cryptography I
Course
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado System
Mathematical Foundations for Cryptography
Course
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado System
Introduction to Applied Cryptography
Specialization

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Learn more

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Explore degrees

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

This course is part of Click Start, a UK training programme designed to help young people develop digital skills. Click Start is offering a limited number of scholarships giving free access to young people in the UK.

Check if you are eligible for free access today.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.