National Security Studies

Our unique National Security Studies MA is designed to bring together UK security policy practitioners, representatives from the private sector and policy-interested postgraduate students.

Students will gain an in-depth understanding of national security issues and the increasing focus on cross-governmental responses to security challenges. The course will also deal with conceptual and theoretical questions relating to national security.

The course will provide a mixture of UK national security analysis, with analysis of national security approaches in the international context.

The course will be delivered by a team of academics from the Centre for Defence Studies (CDS) led by John Gearson, Professor of National Security Studies and Director of CDS and Dr. Nina Musgrave (course tutor and Assistant Director of CDS) with guest lectures from practitioners, that may include Sir David Omand and Lord Peter Ricketts amongst others.

Key benefits

Transferable skills such as the development of practical, policy-oriented insights.

High level presentation skills/effective writing development.

Development of strategic analysis and policy development.

Development of in-depth and critical analysis of national security, and familiarisation with the latest research in the discipline.

A chance to network and connect with visiting academics, government ministers, diplomats and other experts in the field of national security.