You need to be acquainted with basic algebra: The structures monoïd, group, ring and field For example

• Q, the rational numbers
• R, the real numbers
• C, the complex numbers
• Q[X]/(f), the polynomials over Q modulo the irreducible polynomial f in Q[X]. Special cases are Q(2) and Q(i).
• Z/(p), the integers modulo the prime p.
• Z/(p)[X]/(f), the polynomials over Z/(p) modulo the irreducible polynomial f in Z/(p)[X]. This comprises all finite fields (one up to isomorphism for each prime power).

Also, you need to be acquainted with basic linear algebra. Notions such as the following need to be familiar. vector space, linear combination, subspace, basis, standard basis, dimension, linear map, kernel, image, linear subspace, rank, isomorphic, determinant, sum, direct sum, quotient space, dual vector space.

The content of the following courses is considered part of the prerequisites.