Our Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism short course will help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to understand trends in terrorist tactics, targets, and motivations, and counter-terrorism response methods.
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- Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism course aims
- All About the Course
- Who is this course for?
- Why study Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism?
- Assessment and learning
- Date, time and location
- Course fees
- How to apply
Mitigating terrorist threats is a top priority in security and policing organisations. As terrorists’ tactics, targets, and motivations have shifted and evolved, so have counter-terrorism response methods.
The Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism short course helps you develop the skills to understand these changes and meet the counter-terrorism response demands, as well as provide you with accredited knowledge that will help you earn promotion, specialisation, or gain deeper knowledge in your career.
This short course explores the complicated and interconnected nature of Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism. Looking both historically and globally, this module will analyse different types of terrorism and how terrorism trends such as tactics, targets and motivations have developed over time. It will also explore government responses to such violence, looking globally but with a deeper focus on the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST.
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Watch on YouTubeTerrorism & Counter-Terrorism course aims
- To introduce students to the challenging concepts and debates which exist around terrorism and counter-terrorism studies, taking both a historical overview, as well as a contemporaneous one.
- To encourage in-depth critical analysis of the topic, particularly looking at the problematisation of narratives around terrorism and counter-terrorism and their ongoing politicisation.
- To connect the developing knowledge-base of terrorist violence with practical counter-terrorism activities such as risk analysis, approaches to learning and improvement, event detection and prevention and event response.
- To explore the differences between such concepts as terrorism, extremism, hate crimes and radicalisation in order to better understand the responses of the criminal justice system to such crimes and activities.
About the Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism short course
This part-time, twelve-week short course is only open to working professionals from the policing and/or security-related sectors. It is flexibly delivered in compressed blocks to enable students to balance personal and professional demands.
The Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism short course provides a cost-effective, inter-professional, flexible, and employment-centred approach to professionals in the policing and security sectors. It enables professionals to build on their existing professional knowledge and earn a qualification from a reputable university in terrorism & counter-terrorism.
Who is this course for?
Professionals from the following sectors may be interested in this short course:
- Law Enforcement (Police, Borders, NCA, HMRC, Prisons, Probation, IOPC, CCRC, HMICFRS)
- Security Services (MI5, MI6)
- Military and Rescue Services
- Finance and Risk Management
- Airport and Airline Security
- Coastguards, Maritime and Shipping
- Private Security Companies and Contingency Planners
- Crisis and Emergency Managers
- Local Authorities.
The short course is pitched at Level 6. Remember: an undergraduate degree is composed three levels of learning (Levels 4, 5, and 6), whereby Level 4 is foundation learning and Level 6 is advanced learning.
Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism is delivered at Level 6, so even though there are no formal qualifications required to apply, it is important that you are capable of learning at Level 6. We assess your ability to learn at this level through your personal statement.
Why study the Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism short course?
Flexible and affordable
- Gain an accredited qualification in only 12 weeks, while still working full-time.
- Half the cost of other universities’ short courses.
- Balance work, life, and studies in your schedule – you will attend two study-weekends and four evening lectures.
- All learning is recorded and accessible online.
Focused on professional development
- Learn about cutting-edge practices across specialist areas based on case studies from real-world events, including critical risk analysis.
- Study strategic developments and current debates in understanding the threat landscape and counter-terrorism strategies.
- Develop skills in research, writing, public speaking, and analysis to stimulate professional development.
Expanding opportunities
- Participate in simulated decision-making exercises in CCCU’s immersive Hydra Suite.
- Widen your professional networks in the classroom and at events through the Canterbury Centre for Policing Research.
- Participate in simulation exercises using CCCU’s Criminal Justice Suite that hosts realistic prison cells as well as interview suites with downstream monitoring functionality.
- Choose areas to focus on in your assessments that address your and/or your employer’s needs.
- Provides a glimpse at university-level learning – you may decide you want to study for one of our undergraduate or postgraduate degrees for serving professionals, such as the BSc Policing & Applied Security Studies.
How will I be assessed?
- Portfolio (2,000 words) 50%
- Essay (2,000 words) 50%.
What will I earn from the course?
Upon successful completion students will earn a University Certificate in Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism (20 credits) at Level 6.
Students who pass the short course and want to continue their academic studies may, if eligible, consider enrolling on the BSc Policing & Applied Security Studies, or the MSc Policing and Security Transformation. Students who opt to enrol on the course without earning credit will earn a Certificate of Completion.
What is the teaching schedule?
| Course start date: | January 2025 |
| Course end date: | April 2025 |
| Duration: | 12 weeks |
| Location: | Canterbury and online |
Sessions: All sessions are recorded and accessible to students online. The degree is flexibly delivered in compressed blocks. Students attend sessions (30 hours total) as follows:
- 2x study-weekends in Canterbury
- 4x weekday evening lectures that students may attend via HyFlex (either in-person in Canterbury or online).
| Date | Start time | End time | Location |
| 24 January 2025 | 1pm | 6pm | Canterbury |
| 25 January 2025 | 9am | 3pm | Canterbury |
| 4 February 2025 | 6pm | 8pm | HyFlex (Online or Canterbury) |
| 11 February 2025 | 6pm | 8pm | HyFlex (Online or Canterbury) |
| 28 February 2025 | 1pm | 6pm | Canterbury |
| 1 March 2025 | 9am | 3pm | Canterbury |
| 11 March 2025 | 6pm | 8pm | HyFlex (Online or Canterbury) |
| 25 March 2025 | 6pm | 8pm | HyFlex (Online or Canterbury) |
Course fees
The 2024/25 tuition fee for this short-course are:
| UK | Overseas | |
| Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism - 20 credits | £1,130 | £1,775 |
How to apply
You do not need any formal academic qualifications to apply to join the Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism short course. Applicants must meet the requirements below:
- Have four years relevant professional experience in a policing or security-related sector.
- Submit a Personal Statement and Curriculum Vitae (CV).
For deadlines, guidance, and assistance, on how to write and prepare the following documents, please use the Portal:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): 1-2 pages
- Personal Statement of 750 words.
It may be daunting to complete a personal statement, particularly if your writing skills are out of practice – don’t worry, there is plenty of support to help you succeed on the Portal.
Use the button below to start your formal application.
