Blockchain Software Engineering



Overview

As blockchain moves beyond the hype and into business-critical systems, skills for blockchain-proficient software engineers are in serious demand. Enterprises world-wide and cross-industry are recognising the value that blockchain brings, and are looking for people who can make the next generation of transactional applications a reality.

This course will teach you everything you need to be a good blockchain software engineer. Starting from complete basics, and through a mixture of taught lecture, hands-on tutorial and group activity, you will learn:

  • what is a blockchain and why it is important
  • use-cases that can benefit (and have benefited) from blockchains
  • the technical concepts that underpin blockchains
  • how to design and implement blockchain applications
  • how to create and manage blockchain networks

Blockchain is a shared, replicated ledger that underpins technology such as Bitcoin. Blockchain's reach is wider than cryptocurrency however, as it sets out to provide the foundation for the next generation of business-to-business applications.

Take this course and gain the career-enhancing skills needed to help you move into this fast-developing area of technology!

Programme details

There are no formal pre-requisites for this course. However it is targeted at those with a technical background as it includes discussion of basic computer science concepts and contains simple, fully-guided programming in Javascript.

The course will focus on the use of distributed ledgers in business scenarios, and not on the use of (and investment in) cryptocurrencies.

It will look at a range of different blockchain frameworks, with a particular emphasis on technology from the Linux Foundation Hyperledger project. This is an open source collaborative effort created to advance cross-industry blockchain technologies. Tutorials will focus mainly on Hyperledger Fabric for the blockchain ledger implementation.

The course will consist of four modules:

Blockchain Concepts

  • Introduction to blockchain and why it is important
  • State of the community
  • Different blockchain implementations
  • Real-world blockchain examples

Blockchain Applications

  • Design Thinking for blockchain projects 
  • Identifying good blockchain use-cases 
  • Designing blockchain solutions 
  • Modelling blockchain applications 

Blockchain Technology

  • Blockchain technical concepts 
  • Hyperledger Fabric 
  • Blockchain development tools 
  • Smart contracts and applications 

Blockchain Practices

  • Using administration tools 
  • Blockchain platforms 
  • Good blockchain architectures 
  • Building blockchain applications 

Software Engineering Tutorials

In order to take advantage of the software engineering tutorials, we would request that you bring your own laptop.

These will require a minimum specification (See 'IT Requirements' section below), as the course will use an online development environment through a Firefox or Chrome browser.

Certification

Participants who attend the full course will receive a University of Oxford certificate of attendance. This will be presented to you prior to the end of the course wherever possible.

The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended.

Fees

Description Costs
Course fee £1895.00

Payment

Fees include course materials, tuition, refreshments and lunches. The price does not include accommodation.

All courses are VAT exempt.

Register immediately online 

Click the “book now” button on this webpage. Payment by credit or debit card is required.

Request an invoice

If you require an invoice for your company or personal records, please complete an online application form. The Course Administrator will then email you an invoice. Payment is accepted online, by credit/debit card, or by bank transfer. Please do not send card or bank details via email.

Tutor

Matthew Paul Lucas

Course Developer and Tutor

Global Blockchain Engagement, ‎IBM

Matthew Lucas, MSc BSc FBCS, leads IBM's enablement and education initiatives for blockchain.

He is responsible for ensuring that clients, business partners, students and IBMers understand blockchain technologies and apply them correctly.

Matt authors much of IBM's blockchain material, including presentations, tutorials and courses, and regularly lectures at a wide number of universities world-wide.

He is based in IBM’s Hursley development laboratory in the United Kingdom and has worked with IBM for over 20 years on a variety of integration middleware technologies.

Application

If you would like to discuss your application or any part of the application process before applying, please click Contact Us at the top of this page.

Level and demands

If you're uncertain whether this course is suitable for your requirements, please email us with any questions you may have.

Accommodation

Although not included in the course fee, accommodation may be available at our on-site Rewley House Residential Centre. All bedrooms are en suite and decorated to a high standard, and come with tea- and coffee-making facilities, free Wi-Fi access and Freeview TV. Guests can take advantage of the excellent dining facilities and common room bar, where they may relax and network with others on the programme.

To check prices, availability and to book rooms please visit the Rewley House Residential Centre website. 

IT requirements

These are the minimum computing requirements necessary to participate in this course:

Hardware
·         Any typical laptop computer produced within the last five years should be adequate.

Recommended web browsers:
·         Mozilla Firefox
·         Google Chrome
·         Apple Safari

For the best experience and optimum security, we recommend that you keep your browser up to date. If you encounter any problems whilst using a system we don’t support, we will ask you to try a supported browser.

Using a Mac

Most of our online courses only require a web browser and some commonly available plug-ins. You should not experience any problems as a Mac user.

If you are unable to bring your own laptop, please contact us.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support