Entry requirements

For the MA programme you require a good Honours degree or its equivalent. For those whose first language is not English, an IELTS Certificate is required.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Our MA in International Security provides an advanced understanding of issues in international security since the end of the Cold War. It focuses on security in relation to issues of force and power in international relations.

The MA in International Security explores issues of political violence, terrorism, conflict, the use of force, the nature and management of security threats including security cooperation in the absence of an overarching wold government. It promotes the study of those problems through theoretical, empirical and ethical inquiry, drawing on the expertise of a team of two internationally renowned research-active Security Studies specialists.

You will develop an understanding of the core concepts that inform the study and practice of security, including:

  • The changing meaning of security and what issues are considered to be security issues
  • The different concepts that inform the study and practice of security, such as explanations of war, deterrence, balance of power theories, alliance formation and management, and collective security
  • The concepts that inform the use and control of military force, such as arms races and arms control, coercion, military intervention, and peacekeeping
  • Classical strategic thought
  • The range of the security issues of the post-Cold War and post-9/11 periods, including terrorism and local and global insurgency and the challenges these pose

Our students follow a flexible programme with a wide choice of modules. The flexibility of this programme is ideal for those with a broad range of interests in security studies and terrorism or for those who want to construct a curriculum around a particular area of interest.

One of the real strengths of our masters programmes is the wide range of available modules, giving students the ability to tailor their course of study to their own academic interests. Please view our course page for a list of current modules

Why study this course
  • Choose from an extensive range of optional modules
  • Study in a supportive environment with research-active Security Studies scholars
  • Be a part of the International Relations and Security Theory research group
  • Participate in a range of intellectual and social events alongside your programme
Who is the programme for

This programme will appeal to a wide range of students who have an interest in security issues and practices, including civilian and military officials (most probably junior or mid-level officials), who want to deepen their understanding and upgrade their qualifications. It will also be of interest to students who seek to develop a deeper understanding of these very important aspects of international relations and of the world we live in.

Information for international students

  • IELTS 6.5 with no less that 6.0 in any band
  • TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component

Fees and funding

UK students
£10,530 FT/£5,265 PT
International students
£24,120

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

  • MA
    part time
    24 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
    full time
    12 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification

Course contact details