Peace and Security Studies

Entry requirements

Before submitting an application, you are advised to discuss your proposal with a member of the academic staff who has interests in your proposed field of study. You can find our academic staff's contact details and areas of expertise in the Supervisors section.

Before agreeing to accept you, the School will require you to submit a research proposal, so it is worthwhile to have drafted this before formally applying. See the Guidelines on drafting your research proposal.

Candidates will normally receive an initial response to their application within 28 working days. Those who have been formally interviewed will normally be informed within one week as to whether they are to be offered a place.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

APPLICATIONS FOR THE PhD PEACE AND SECURITY STUDIES WILL BE LAUNCHING SOON.

To receive regular updates, you can register your interest here.

This collaborative doctoral degree, awarded by the University of London, brings together world-leading expertise from King's College London's Department of Political Economy in the School of Political Economy, and the Department of War Studies in the School of Security Studies – the largest community of conflict scholars globally – with the School of Advanced Study (SAS). SAS boasts a 94 percent satisfaction score in the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey.

The programme is designed for professionals working in security, peace, and conflict resolution careers who seek flexible, research-led doctoral training. Preference is given to applicants whose projects have applied dimensions, deliver knowledge transfer, or contribute to peacebuilding in conflict-affected regions or those facing global challenges like climate change.

The programme welcomes applications across a broad range of themes at the intersection of peace, security, and conflict studies. Our supervisory expertise covers the dynamics of armed conflict and peacebuilding processes, the role of international organisations and global governance mechanisms. We also have expertise in the political economy of conflict and reconstruction, defence and strategic studies approaches to conflict resolution in divided societies, and the intersection of science, technology and security including environmental and health dimensions of conflict. We especially encourage projects that engage directly with real-world policy challenges and contribute to building more peaceful and secure societies.

Regionally, the programme has particular strengths in Africa (including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and West Africa), with research strengths in state-building, peacebuilding, youth and security, and African regionalism. Additional regional expertise includes Russia and Eurasia (Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Western Balkans, and the former Soviet Union), East and South Asia (including China and India), the Middle East, and Latin America (including Brazil).

For any further enquiries, please visit our enquiries portal.

Information for international students

Find out more about everything you need to know from visas to qualifications and language requirements here.

Fees and funding

For more information about funding and scholarships, see here.