MA International Law, Security and Diplomacy

Entry requirements

For a list of course specific requirements, please see our typical offers below. To see our full list of general university requirements including information for flexible entry, mature students and alternative qualifications, see our Postgraduate Entry Requirements.

UK Offers

The standard entry requirements for this course are:

1. 2:2 LLB/BA (Hons) degree from a UK institution (or equivalent from a foreign institution).
2. Relevant professional experience.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

The underlying philosophy of this collaborative degree is to afford students an interdisciplinary learning experience at the intersection of International Law, Security and Diplomacy. The University of Buckingham offers a distinctive opportunity to study these intersecting themes through a collaborative programme combining the strengths of the School of Law and the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies (BUCSIS).

This innovative degree fuses rigorous legal analysis with cutting-edge studies in security and intelligence, creating a bespoke interdisciplinary learning experience. Students will explore critical global challenges by engaging with modules such as International Law, the Law of War, and International and Comparative Human Rights Law from the Law School, alongside BUCSIS modules in Cyber Security and Globalization, Diplomacy, Terrorism, and National Security. By merging these dynamic fields, this programme equips students with a holistic understanding of international legal considerations and contemporary security issues, preparing them to thrive in careers that demand expertise in both domains. You will explore relevant and highly topical case studies from both legal and defence perspectives. These will include ongoing conflicts across the international community and continuing regional unrest in other parts of the world.

The final dissertation project allows students to take either an MA or LLM degree, depending on the research area on which they wish to focus.

Course Highlights

This programme is designed to:

• Develop professionals that are equipped to tackle the legal and security challenges of the modern world with confidence and expertise.
• Create a nuanced understanding of international legal principles alongside the critical security and intelligence frameworks.
• Leverage the expertise of both the Law School and BUCSIS, this course fosters academic rigour, practical insights, and a future-oriented professional outlook.
• Ensure close interaction between students and faculty with its intensive teaching model that combines lectures and small-group seminars.

Information for international students

Find out about our requirements and see useful information for international applicants:

• International entry requirements by country
• English language levels

If you are uncertain whether you will be eligible to apply for this course, please contact our Admissions team.

Fees and funding

We have bursaries and scholarships available for both home and international students at undergraduate and postgraduate level. These are awarded based on location, merit or financial need.