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Now, a course just to understand Bitcoins

University of Nicosia launches free, ‘Massive Open Online Course’ by Bitcoin experts.

Starting today, individuals worldwide interested in gaining a greater understanding of the fundamentals of digital currency Bitcoin can now enroll in ?Introduction to Digital Currencies,? a free, open enrollment MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) offered by the University of Nicosia. The course is taught by Bitcoin experts and University of Nicosia professors in the related areas of Computer Science and Finance.

Last November, the university became the first accredited university in the world to accept Bitcoins for tuition payments – it also announced the development of a Master of Science Degree in Digital Currency. The MOOC is the first course in the master?s degree program and students who successfully complete the MOOC will be able to apply credit for the course towards the full degree program.

Andreas Antonopoulos, University of Nicosia Teaching Fellow and a leading Bitcoin and digital currency expert and entrepreneur said: ?It is an excellent opportunity for anyone to develop a good understanding of the technical and non-technical aspects of decentralized currencies in general and, more specifically, explore both bitcoin (the network) and Bitcoin (the currency).?

The MOOC will cover technical, legal, economic and regulatory matters relating to Bitcoin and digital currencies over a six week period and will be offered free of charge to students worldwide. The MOOC start date is May 15, 2014. Future sessions will be offered throughout the year, including in accelerated formats.

For students interested in continuing their studies, the University of Nicosia also offers the first Master of Science Degree in Digital Currency, which will be available for students worldwide, both online and on-campus, in the English language. This interdisciplinary program bridges computer science and finance and is designed to help financial services and business professionals, entrepreneurs, government officials and public administrators 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 University of Nicosia is now accepting registrations for the graduate-level program, which also begins May 15 ? students will first complete the free ?Introduction to Digital Currencies? MOOC and then progress to more advanced coursework.

?This is a truly unique program, linking computer science, finance and banking, to understand emerging electronic payment systems and their impact on business and financial markets,? said Antonis Polemitis, an adjunct faculty member and University of Nicosia board member. ?It will allow students from around the world to contextualize developments in digital currency within computer science, money and banking, regulatory regimes and financial institutions infrastructure.? Polemitis was a member of the industry advisory panel that assisted faculty in the development of the University?s Master of Science Degree in Digital Currency.

The total cost of the master?s program will be ?11,760 (approximately $16,250 USD). The University will be offering up to ?5 mn of scholarships to students from 139 ?low and middle income countries? (as classified by the World Bank).

Of course, students paying in bitcoins will receive a five percent discount.

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First published on: 02-04-2014 at 15:01 IST
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