Skip to main content
Module Search
A street in Durham, with old buildings and people walking down the street
 

COMP3477: ALGORITHMIC GAME THEORY

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Open
Level 3
Credits 10
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Computer Science

Prerequisites

  • COMP2181 Theory of Computation

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • The aim of the module is to introduce the student to the notion of a game, relevant concepts, and other basic notions and tools of game theory, as well as the main applications where such concepts are used and applied.

Content

  • Introduction to Game Theory: what is a game? Strategy, preferences, payoffs.
  • Bimatrix games: strategies and payoffs; Nash equilibria.
  • Extensive games with Perfect Information.
  • Mathematical and algorithmic foundations of market equilibria.
  • Routing Games on Networks; Congestion Games.
  • Mechanism design and Combinatorial Auctions.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • On completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate:
  • An understanding of key game theoretic notions and ideas, and their connections to computer science and economics.
  • An understanding of the impact of game theory and mechanism design on contemporary applications.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • On completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate:
  • The ability to apply techniques and methods from algorithmic game theory to tackle fundamental game theoretic problems.
  • The ability to identify key strategic aspects of real-world scenarios and model those scenarios as strategic games.
  • The ability to conduct review and self-study to further their knowledge beyond the taught material.

Key Skills:

  • On completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate:
  • The ability to think critically.
  • The ability to work with abstract problems.
  • The ability to undertake general problem solving.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lectures provide the material required to be learned and the application of the theory to practical examples.
  • Formative exercises are given to the students to assess their understanding of the taught material.
  • A piece of summative assessment tests the knowledge acquired and the students' ability to use this knowledge to solve game theoretic problems.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
lectures202 per week1 hour20 
preparation and reading80 
total100 

Summative Assessment

Component: CourseworkComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Summative Assignment100No

Formative Assessment

Example formative exercises are given during the course.

More information

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our FAQ webpages, Help page or our glossary of terms. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the FAQ, or a query about the on-line Undergraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.