Programme Catalogue
Every Cortex University programme at every credential tier — open a card for its deadline, length, syllabus, and enrolment prerequisites.
Level 0 · Prerequisite
BSc-level background knowledge. Informational and recommended only — it is never enforced and there is nothing to enrol in.
Level 1 · Enrolled
The active-student level — held by every enrolled student who has not yet finished a first programme. A standing, not a programme: there is nothing to enrol in at this level.
Level 2 · M.Sc
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Applied AI Systems
Artificial Intelligence
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Applied AI systems end to end — mathematical foundations, model architectures, training, and production deployment.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Computer Security
Security
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Computer security fundamentals — threat modelling, systems hardening, applied cryptography, and defensive engineering.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Networking
Networking
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Networking from first principles to research depth — protocols, routing, transport, and network-systems design.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Cryptography
Cryptography
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Cryptography foundations — symmetric and public-key primitives, protocols, and correct implementation practice.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Advanced Cryptography
Cryptography
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Doctoral cryptography — security proofs, advanced protocols, and an original verified contribution to the field.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Python Programming
Software
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Professional Python — the language core, data structures, tooling, testing, and idiomatic software design.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Advanced Python Programming
Software
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Doctoral Python engineering — interpreter internals, performance, typing systems, and large-scale architecture.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Theory & Applied Hardware
Hardware
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Theory and applied hardware — digital logic, computer organisation, memory hierarchies, and the hardware/software interface.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Automation
Automation
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Automation engineering — scripting, orchestration, CI/CD pipelines, and reliable infrastructure workflows.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Whitehat Defensive Security
Security
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Defensive security operations — detection engineering, hardening, incident response, and blue-team practice.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Blackhat Offensive Security
Security
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Offensive security foundations, taught CTF-style — reconnaissance, exploitation theory, and detection-first analysis.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Advanced AI
Artificial Intelligence
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Doctoral AI — advanced architectures, training at scale, evaluation science, and an original verified contribution.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Advanced Computer Security
Security
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Doctoral security research — formal threat modelling, systems security at depth, and frontier defensive research.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Advanced Networking
Networking
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Doctoral networking — transport and routing research, datacentre and Internet-scale systems, and network measurement.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Advanced Automation
Automation
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Doctoral automation — orchestration at scale, self-healing systems, and research-grade reliability engineering.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Advanced Computer Architecture
Hardware
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Doctoral computer architecture — microarchitecture, accelerators, memory systems, and performance research.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Advanced Whitehat Defensive Security
Security
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Doctoral defensive security — detection science, large-scale telemetry, and original blue-team research.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Advanced Offensive Security & Adversary Research
Security
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Doctoral adversary research, CTF-style and detection-first — exploitation science and countermeasure design.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Algorithms & Data Structures
Software
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Algorithms and data structures from scratch — analysis, core structures, design paradigms, and measured complexity claims.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Advanced Algorithms & Data Structures
Software
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Doctoral algorithms research — full proofs, algorithm engineering, and original, reproducible experimental contributions.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Software Craftsmanship & Engineering Practice
Software
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Software craftsmanship across eight languages — clean code, refactoring, patterns, testing, and engineering process.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Advanced Software Craftsmanship & Engineering Research
Software
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Doctoral software-engineering research — empirical methods, program analysis and tooling, testing science, and language engineering.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Databases & Data Systems
Databases
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Databases and data systems — a from-scratch engine (storage, SQL, transactions) checked against every major real system.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 2 · M.Sc
MSc Advanced Databases & Data Systems
Databases
Cortex Credits: 126 CC
Doctoral database systems research — query optimisation, vectorised execution, distributed consensus, and formal specification.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 3 · Ph.D
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Level 3 · Ph.D
Ph.D Networking
Networking
Cortex Credits: 280 CC
Networking from first principles to research depth — protocols, routing, transport, and network-systems design.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 3 · Ph.D
Ph.D Advanced Cryptography
Cryptography
Cortex Credits: 280 CC
Doctoral cryptography — security proofs, advanced protocols, and an original verified contribution to the field.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 3 · Ph.D
Ph.D Advanced Python Programming
Software
Cortex Credits: 280 CC
Doctoral Python engineering — interpreter internals, performance, typing systems, and large-scale architecture.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 3 · Ph.D
Ph.D Advanced AI
Artificial Intelligence
Cortex Credits: 280 CC
Doctoral AI — advanced architectures, training at scale, evaluation science, and an original verified contribution.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 3 · Ph.D
Ph.D Advanced Computer Security
Security
Cortex Credits: 280 CC
Doctoral security research — formal threat modelling, systems security at depth, and frontier defensive research.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 3 · Ph.D
Ph.D Advanced Networking
Networking
Cortex Credits: 280 CC
Doctoral networking — transport and routing research, datacentre and Internet-scale systems, and network measurement.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 3 · Ph.D
Ph.D Advanced Automation
Automation
Cortex Credits: 280 CC
Doctoral automation — orchestration at scale, self-healing systems, and research-grade reliability engineering.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 3 · Ph.D
Ph.D Advanced Computer Architecture
Hardware
Cortex Credits: 280 CC
Doctoral computer architecture — microarchitecture, accelerators, memory systems, and performance research.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 3 · Ph.D
Ph.D Advanced Whitehat Defensive Security
Security
Cortex Credits: 280 CC
Doctoral defensive security — detection science, large-scale telemetry, and original blue-team research.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 3 · Ph.D
Ph.D Advanced Offensive Security & Adversary Research
Security
Cortex Credits: 280 CC
Doctoral adversary research, CTF-style and detection-first — exploitation science and countermeasure design.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 3 · Ph.D
Ph.D Advanced Algorithms & Data Structures
Software
Cortex Credits: 280 CC
Doctoral algorithms research — full proofs, algorithm engineering, and original, reproducible experimental contributions.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 3 · Ph.D
Ph.D Advanced Software Craftsmanship & Engineering Research
Software
Cortex Credits: 280 CC
Doctoral software-engineering research — empirical methods, program analysis and tooling, testing science, and language engineering.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 3 · Ph.D
Ph.D Advanced Databases & Data Systems
Databases
Cortex Credits: 280 CC
Doctoral database systems research — query optimisation, vectorised execution, distributed consensus, and formal specification.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 4 · PD·Fellow
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Level 4 · PD·Fellow
PD·Fellow Networking
Networking
Cortex Credits: 60 CC
Networking from first principles to research depth — protocols, routing, transport, and network-systems design.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 4 · PD·Fellow
PD·Fellow Advanced Cryptography
Cryptography
Cortex Credits: 42 CC
Doctoral cryptography — security proofs, advanced protocols, and an original verified contribution to the field.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 4 · PD·Fellow
PD·Fellow Advanced Python Programming
Software
Cortex Credits: 42 CC
Doctoral Python engineering — interpreter internals, performance, typing systems, and large-scale architecture.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 4 · PD·Fellow
PD·Fellow Advanced AI
Artificial Intelligence
Cortex Credits: 42 CC
Doctoral AI — advanced architectures, training at scale, evaluation science, and an original verified contribution.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 4 · PD·Fellow
PD·Fellow Advanced Computer Security
Security
Cortex Credits: 42 CC
Doctoral security research — formal threat modelling, systems security at depth, and frontier defensive research.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 4 · PD·Fellow
PD·Fellow Advanced Whitehat Defensive Security
Security
Cortex Credits: 42 CC
Doctoral defensive security — detection science, large-scale telemetry, and original blue-team research.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 4 · PD·Fellow
PD·Fellow Advanced Offensive Security & Adversary Research
Security
Cortex Credits: 42 CC
Doctoral adversary research, CTF-style and detection-first — exploitation science and countermeasure design.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 5 · PD·Habilitation
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Level 5 · PD·Habilitation
PD·Habilitation Advanced Cryptography
Cryptography
Cortex Credits: 42 CC
Doctoral cryptography — security proofs, advanced protocols, and an original verified contribution to the field.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 5 · PD·Habilitation
PD·Habilitation Advanced Python Programming
Software
Cortex Credits: 42 CC
Doctoral Python engineering — interpreter internals, performance, typing systems, and large-scale architecture.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 5 · PD·Habilitation
PD·Habilitation Advanced AI
Artificial Intelligence
Cortex Credits: 42 CC
Doctoral AI — advanced architectures, training at scale, evaluation science, and an original verified contribution.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 5 · PD·Habilitation
PD·Habilitation Advanced Computer Security
Security
Cortex Credits: 42 CC
Doctoral security research — formal threat modelling, systems security at depth, and frontier defensive research.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 5 · PD·Habilitation
PD·Habilitation Advanced Whitehat Defensive Security
Security
Cortex Credits: 42 CC
Doctoral defensive security — detection science, large-scale telemetry, and original blue-team research.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 5 · PD·Habilitation
PD·Habilitation Advanced Offensive Security & Adversary Research
Security
Cortex Credits: 42 CC
Doctoral adversary research, CTF-style and detection-first — exploitation science and countermeasure design.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 6 · PD·Chair
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Level 6 · PD·Chair
PD·Chair Advanced AI
Artificial Intelligence
Cortex Credits: 48 CC
Doctoral AI — advanced architectures, training at scale, evaluation science, and an original verified contribution.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 6 · PD·Chair
PD·Chair Advanced Computer Security
Security
Cortex Credits: 48 CC
Doctoral security research — formal threat modelling, systems security at depth, and frontier defensive research.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 6 · PD·Chair
PD·Chair Advanced Whitehat Defensive Security
Security
Cortex Credits: 48 CC
Doctoral defensive security — detection science, large-scale telemetry, and original blue-team research.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 6 · PD·Chair
PD·Chair Advanced Offensive Security & Adversary Research
Security
Cortex Credits: 48 CC
Doctoral adversary research, CTF-style and detection-first — exploitation science and countermeasure design.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 7 · Apex · Ω
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Level 7 · Apex · Ω
Apex (Ω) Advanced AI
Artificial Intelligence
Cortex Credits: 9 CC
Doctoral AI — advanced architectures, training at scale, evaluation science, and an original verified contribution.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 7 · Apex · Ω
Apex (Ω) Advanced Computer Security
Security
Cortex Credits: 9 CC
Doctoral security research — formal threat modelling, systems security at depth, and frontier defensive research.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 7 · Apex · Ω
Apex (Ω) Advanced Whitehat Defensive Security
Security
Cortex Credits: 9 CC
Doctoral defensive security — detection science, large-scale telemetry, and original blue-team research.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 7 · Apex · Ω
Apex (Ω) Advanced Offensive Security & Adversary Research
Security
Cortex Credits: 9 CC
Doctoral adversary research, CTF-style and detection-first — exploitation science and countermeasure design.
Professor: Borja Tarraso — Founder & Chief
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Level 8 · Top Laureate
Top Laureate — the Supreme-Honorary level above the Apex, conferred by recognition and marked with the Δ sign. Not a programme; nothing to enrol in.
This standing is conferred, not enrolled: it is earned through a sustained body of verified original work — publications, mentorship and field impact — reviewed and proposed by the academic committee. Reach the Apex (Ω) first through a discipline's post-doctoral ladder; the honorary crown then recognises continued excellence beyond it.
Level 9 · Delta · Δ
Future and upcoming technologies — the yearly keep-current iteration over the Apex (variable, 4 weeks to 3 months), published from the second year onward; the year count shows as N1–N9. Black-diamond gem; not offered by any programme yet.
This standing is conferred, not enrolled: it is earned through a sustained body of verified original work — publications, mentorship and field impact — reviewed and proposed by the academic committee. Reach the Apex (Ω) first through a discipline's post-doctoral ladder; the honorary crown then recognises continued excellence beyond it.
Level 10 · Special
Special — the ultimate level: the Delta update completed ten years in a row. Permanent and held for life; not a programme.
This standing is conferred, not enrolled: it is earned through a sustained body of verified original work — publications, mentorship and field impact — reviewed and proposed by the academic committee. Reach the Apex (Ω) first through a discipline's post-doctoral ladder; the honorary crown then recognises continued excellence beyond it.