Overview
Deepen your knowledge of security on an international scale with our MSc Security and International Relations. As globalisation continues to expand, the need for global security is imminently necessary to ensure the safety of humankind.
This course combines theory, practice, and contemporary global issues such as cyber security, gender and race security, and environmental security. With an emphasis on understanding and critically analysing the global political system, you will gain a thorough understanding of the core theories and modern concepts that make up the canon of international relations.
What’s more, you will learn from a range of experts who are research-active and specialists in their area. With this, you will gain the confidence to discuss and interrogate current issues surrounding security and international relations on a local, national, and international scale.
Through a combination of contemporary, multifaceted modules, this MSc will enable you to utilise the graduate skills that are essential for you to progress into academia or continue in a range of professions that specialise in global security and international relations.
Why study MSc Security and International Relations at CCCU?
- Delve into a dynamic course that covers international current affairs and interrogates systems of governance, power structures, and socio-economic philosophies.
- Choose a degree that benefits your learning style – a range of assessments are set that incorporates progressive pedagogic styles to ensure that you thrive during your studies.
- Become a valued member of the Graduate College as a postgraduate student.
The engaging, open and intellectually stimulating teaching constantly pushes you to better your understanding of the world, and you are allowed a degree of independence through all aspects of learning.
William, Security and International Relations graduate
Entry requirements
Our standard offer is a 2:2 or above, preferably in directly relatable subjects within the social and political sciences. This can include previous study in the area of international relations, although cognate subjects including history, law, comparative studies, or the broader range of sociology and psychology will also be considered providing undergraduate marks obtained are robust enough. This is in addition to two letters of recommendation, and a brief personal statement outlining interest and areas of specialism being considered, as well as a complete CV.
The University has a well-established Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) and Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) structure in operation. Students without previous qualifications may be accepted as part of this process.
If English is not your first language you require an IELTS overall score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5 for most standard undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
2:2
Honours degree in related subject
Module information
You will follow five core modules, which provide a comprehensive foundation for the pathway as a whole. The modules are taught to all graduate students within the Politics/International Relations programme, introducing them to basic concepts, working approaches, research methodologies and current political dilemmas that help link the scholarly subject matter of International Relations, Politics and European Politics to real-world issues.
Core/optional modules
*Modules subject to approval
How you’ll learn
The MSc Security & International Relations is based around six taught modules and one long piece of work – your own personal dissertation. You will take 3 modules in the first trimester, between September and December, including one specialist security module, one International Relations module and one Research Methods module. In the second trimester – between January and May, you will undertake another three modules, again, one specialist security module, one International Relations module, and a taught module on Human Rights.
These six taught modules will provide you with all the tools you need to understand and analyse the world of security and International Relations. You will discover that Security Studies is not just about war, conflict and military strategy, it is about societal divisions, race, gender, poverty, food and environmental issues.
You will learn about the theories and assumptions we have regarding state security and our own personal human security which will guide you through your analysis and critical evaluation of the international political system.
Finally in trimester three – from May through to August, you have the opportunity to write a dissertation on a topic close to your own heart. You will be invited to choose and research a topic on which to spend a trimester of work. This is a fantastic opportunity to shine, and to produce a true calling-card.
Students leave us with a genuine understanding of the world at large, and an ability to analyse anything on the international stage. Our pedagogic strategies and small class sizes ensure that everyone can focus on their own interests, allowing for a truly interactive and innovative experience.
You will be taught by a team of experts, all of whom are research active and regularly engage in practical consultancy on a variety of issues linked to politics, international relations, and security studies, including advising in peace processes and working with the European Space Agency. Staff are also active within the media, allowing students an insight into TV and Radio analysis and broadcasting.
Soeren KeilCourse Director
How you’ll be assessed
Students of the MSc Security & International Relations will be assessed through a range of methods, including essays, book reviews, portfolios, oral presentations, political role play, simulations, as well as a sustained piece of academic work in the form of a thesis, all of which take account of two key interdependent aspects:
- The acquisition of relevant knowledge and understanding in the areas of Security and International Relations; and
- The development of academic style and practical skills that form the basis of graduate employability.
Accordingly, assessment procedures are designed to test the acquisition and needs of graduate students in terms of their newly attainment and management of broad areas of knowledge and understanding in their chosen subject area, as well as the various transferrable skills by which that knowledge is acquired.
Your future career
An MSc in International Relations will provide you with an exceptionally wide knowledge base, allowing you to command both the organising principles and nuanced specifics of the contemporary regional, international and global structure.
This innovative, relevant and marketable degree will ensure you have a refined understanding of international relations as a whole, as well as the role and application of your Security Studies specialism.
In order to complete this demanding degree, you will be able to thoroughly and expertly use a wide range of sources and forms of information to critically assess the contemporary international structure, its various distributions of power and influence, and ensuing forms of authority and governance within national, regional and international modes.
You will also be able to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the numerous forms of security, from the canon of securitisation studies to myriad practical examples of political, economic, social and even cultural security implicit in the concept of a world that is increasingly interdependent and yet predisposed to enduring state structures. As such, you will emerge with an enduring understanding of both the contemporary international structure, in terms of its various distributions of power, wealth and interactive mechanisms of governance, from traditional sovereign units to international level structures.
Throughout the year, you will be provided with curriculum based expertise informed by the International Relations oriented research activities and policy specialisms of the staff. This promotes a depth of intellectual inquiry and a practical quality to the debate amongst other students within and beyond the classroom, which you will subsequently convert into concise and clearheaded thinking in future roles. You will also emerge with the tools to operate in a culturally and socially sensitive learning and working environment.
Further transversal graduate skills obtained include comparative, analytical, research and writing based tools facilitated by the curriculum requirements, as well as the opportunities to fine tune skills in oral presentation, group work and sustained individual research.
Students graduating from our MSc degrees in Politics and International Relations have gone on to work in the diplomatic service, for non-governmental organisations, in the civil service, and in the private sector.
After completion of bachelor's degree in English and French language, I pursued further studies in the Master's degree programme 'European Politics with Diplomacy Specialism' at the CCCU (year of graduation, 2017). It was an opportunity to develop myself beyond my engineering skills as well as to study, interact and share knowledge with world renowned experts in politics. One of the many benefits of studying in the UK was the language itself. Currently, I am developing a career in the field of diplomacy as an officer at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic.
Lucia BačováMSc in European Politics, 2016/17, Officer, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
Fees
Government loans are available for some postgraduate Master’s courses. Loans are subject to both personal and course eligibility criteria.
The rules around course eligibility mean that in some cases it may depend on how you are studying (full-time or part-time) as to whether you can apply for a postgraduate loan. To check whether your course is eligible, you can email the Student Fees Team or call 01227 923 456.
Tuition fees for this course
| UK | Overseas | |
| Full-time | £9,545 | £15,500 |
20% Alumni Discount
We offer alumni discounts on CCCU Postgraduate Taught, PGCE Primary and Secondary, and Master's by Research courses for eligible students.
Find out if you're eligible for the discount.
Important Information on Tuition Fees
Tuition fees for all courses which last more than one academic year are payable on an annual basis, except where stated.
There will be an annual inflationary increase in tuition fees for this course where the course lasts more than one academic year. For further information read the Tuition fee statements and continuing fee information.
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