International Security MA / PGDip

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Campus
Birmingham (Edgbaston)
Delivery format
In person
Start date
September
Duration
MA 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time
Award
Master of Arts / Postgraduate Diploma
Entry requirements
A good honours degree (UK 2:1) or equivalent
Full requirements
Fees
MA £10,900 (full-time) / MA £5,450 (part-time) / PGDip £7,267 (full-time) / PGDip £3,633 (part-time)
Fee details

Course overview

Deepen your understanding of contemporary global security issues by exploring theoretical, empirical, and ethical dimensions with leading experts. Tailor your studies to your academic interests and engage in active research to address the evolving challenges of our world today.

MA International Security | Postgraduate Study

Our Masters degree provides you with 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 considers the nature of contemporary security threats and the nature and management of security threats, including security cooperation in the absence of an overarching world government. It promotes the study of those problems through theoretical, empirical and ethical inquiry, drawing on the expertise of a team of 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, The range of the security issues of the post-Cold War and post-9/11 periods. You will take two core modules in Security Studies and Contemporary Security Challenges which will provide you with a foundation for thinking about the subject. You will then design the rest of the course around your own interests by selecting four modules from a wide range of options. The flexibility of this degree 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. As a postgraduate student in Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) you will also have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of events. You will also be welcomed as a member of the International Relations and Security Theory research group. This group includes members of academic staff and postgraduate research students who meet regularly to discuss their own research, recent publications and to organise research events including inviting visiting speakers. 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 degree 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 those who seek to develop a deeper understanding of these very important aspects of international relations and of the world we live in.

Transcript

0:00I’m Dr. Adam Quinn and I'm an associate professor0:03at the Political Science and International Studies Department.0:05And I teach on the MA0:06in International Security.0:09On the MA International Security, students get to think about what security is.0:14They learn about a whole range0:15of different conceptual and theoretical approaches to it.0:18They learn about a lot of concrete security issues in the world,0:21and they do that by interacting with scholars who are active0:25in writing and publishing and thinking about those issues all the time.0:30So, on the MA International Security, you first of all, do a couple of core modules.0:35Those give you your foundation.0:37After that, you then get to kind of build your own programme0:40in a way by picking from a whole range of different optional modules0:43to build an a la carte way through for yourself, as it were.0:47And then at the end of it all, you get to do a research dissertation0:50project, which is where you pick a subject that's of particular interest to you.0:54And then with the supervision and guidance of a scholar on staff,0:58you get to carry out your own deeper research project into that.1:01This subject is important because it helps students understand1:05the risks, the threats and the opportunities that are thrown up1:09by the kind of complex world that we live in today.1:12So, the goal of the programme is to help students understand those things1:16and to think smartly about how we as a world might deal with them.1:20One of the big advantages1:21here is that you get a really wide range of things that you can potentially do.1:25You get to put together your own programme based on what you're most interested in.1:30You get to do that in a really supportive environment.1:32So you're working with scholars who are full time researchers,1:37writing, publishing, learning all the time themselves about this stuff.1:41You get to be part of a living research environment in that way.1:45So, this programme is suitable for and it appeals to students1:48from a wide range of backgrounds.1:50You might be coming straight out of undergraduate study1:53and you want to look more deeply at some of the things that you were studying then.1:56You might have spent some time working in another field2:00after you've graduated.2:01It’s often a wonderful opportunity to change the pace or change the direction of your career.2:07Well, the good thing about a programme like this is that it opens2:10a lot of pathways for you and doesn't close many down.2:14So, you can take the knowledge and the skills that you get studying2:17on the MA International Security.2:18So, it really does open a lot of possibilities for you to choose2:21from when you get to the end.

Our MA International Security empowers you to tackle global security challenges, shaping you into a strategic thinker equipped with practical skills to influence positive outcomes on a global scale.

Course Structure

This course will run over 12 months in a full-time-mode. There is also scope to undertake the programme on a part-time basis for Home students.

You'll study one 20-credit core module focusing on examining post-Cold War security theories, traditional military concepts, and emerging global issues, developing research skills and strategic foresight. The remaining 100 credits are gathered across 4 modules out of our list of Political Science and International Studies optional modules. Assessment will take place throughout the term as courseworks, written exams and/or presentations.

Course highlights

What makes this course different?

Our MA International Security offers you the opportunity to learn from specialists in their field who actively engage in shaping the global discourse on ethical governance and global perspectives. Delve into critical topics to gain a balanced understanding of theoretical frameworks, a robust skill set for practical applications and global network of peers and mentors, preparing you for impactful careers.

Choose from an extensive range of optional modules to tailor your studies
Study in a supportive environment with research-active international political economists
Be a part of the International Relations and Security Theory research group
Participate in a range of intellectual and social events alongside your programme to enhance your employability

#9
in the UK for research power in Politics and International Studies (REF 2021)
41%
of our research rated world-leading (REF 2021)

Course delivery

Teaching will utilise a range of learning methods, including lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops.

Lectures: Academics give organised talks to large groups of students who take notes, less interactive.
Tutorials: Small group discussions with a tutor which are informal.
Seminars: Small group sessions designed to complement lectures and are generally more informal in nature. They give you the chance to discuss issues with fellow students and allow for more interaction than a traditional lecture.
Workshops: Workshops are for smaller groups, but instead of discussion, students might learn about a tool or a technique that they will be required to know about for their course. They are usually more hands-on learning that allow discussion regarding the given topic.

Module information

The programme is composed of two 20-credit core modules completed by four 20-credit modules from our list of optional modules. To complete this and graduate with the 180 credits that will award you the MA, you will have to undertake a 60-credit dissertation.

The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Any optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.

Year: 1
2025/26 Session

The following must be taken:

Module Title	Code	Credits	Semester
LM Contemporary Security Challenges	08 37485	20	Semester 2
LM Dissertation	08 07949	60	Full Term
LM Security Studies	08 33051	20	Semester 1

Choose 80 credits from the following:

Module Title	Code	Credits	Semester
LM China and the World	08 37829	20	Semester 1
LM Conflict, Statehood and Sovereignty in World Politics	08 37830	20	Semester 1
LM Dilemmas in International Relations	08 33015	20	Semester 2
LM Doing Political Research	08 35201	20	Semester 2
LM Ethnic Conflict and its management: theories and case	08 31376	20	Semester 2
LM Fear, Cooperation and Trust in World Politics	08 27329	20	Semester 1
LM Gender, Peace & (In)security	08 37831	20	Semester 2
LM Global Cooperation on Global Problems	08 37486	20	Semester 2
LM Global Environmental Governance	08 26173	20	Semester 2
LM Globalisation & Governance	08 33041	20	Semester 2
LM Grand Strategy	08 40173	20	Semester 1
LM International Political Economy	08 33046	20	Semester 1
LM International Relations Theory	08 33048	20	Semester 1
LM Nuclear Weapons in International Relations	08 37832	20	Semester 2
LM Political Psychology of Conflict and Cooperation	08 28842	20	Semester 2
LM Politics and the State	08 23202	20	Semester 1
LM Post-conflict Peacebuilding and International Order	08 23404	20	Semester 2
LM The Politics of NATO	08 35207	20	Semester 2
LM The Politics of the Arab-Israeli Conflict	08 23052	20	Semester 2
LM US Foreign and Defence Policy	08 33053	20	Semester 1
LM Varieties of Politics: The Comparative Politics of Parties, Institutions and Regimes	08 33016	20	Semester 1

Entry requirements

To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.

Additional requirements for

2:1 Honours Degree
or an equivalent qualification

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.

For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:

TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill

English Presessional Programmes

Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.

Presessional English course

Fees and scholarships

Fees information for:

£10,900
MA (full-time)
£5,450
MA (part-time)

£7,267
PGDip (full-time)
£3,633
PGDip (part-time)

Scholarship information for:

Postgraduate Masters Loan

To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.

Learn more about loans

Scholarships

To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.

Explore scholarships and funding

Birmingham Masters Scholarships

We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.

Birmingham Masters Scholarship

Application process

To apply for a postgraduate programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.

Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.

Standard requirements for

31 August 2025
Application deadline for UK and non-tier 4 applicants We will close applications as soon as the programme is full. Early applications are encouraged.

30 June 2025 is the application deadline for international students applying through the student route who wish to study in the United Kingdom. We are not able to consider applications for 2024 made after this date. The deadline for Home students is 30 August 2025.

Application Fee

For international applicants this programme is subject to a £50 non-refundable application fee. At the end of the application form, before you can submit it to us, you will be required to pay, or indicate how you will pay the required fee in order for us to process your application. Please complete and submit your application before paying your application fee.

Personal Statement

Entry to this programme is highly competitive and as a result your application and personal statement will be closely scrutinised by our Admissions Tutors. Please ensure that you spend some time familiarising yourself with the programme modules and outcomes. Personal Statements should be relevant to the programme and how you believe it will enable you to achieve your career goals.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Postgraduate applicant information

Career opportunities

Our MA in International Security prepares a new generation of professionals eager to influence global security landscapes. Ideal for graduates interested in security issues, practices, and international relations, our course offers diverse career pathways. Recent graduates have secured roles with prestigious organisations such as the United Nations, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, or the Department for International Development, enabling them to shape international policies and address global, strategic security challenges.

Careers Network

Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.

Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.

Careers and employability