Course information
UK fee £9,300
International fee £18,950
Taught by Politics and International Relations
Postgraduate Office, Politics and International Relations
+44 (0)116 252 2714
hypirpg@le.ac.uk
Course description
Course description
This course provides a thorough grounding in international security studies, focusing on developments since the end of the Cold War. International security problems often stem from complex political, economic, religious, environmental, social and cultural causes, and involve a broad range of non-state actors. The study of security in the contemporary international system thus poses a series of challenging intellectual questions and policy dilemmas, which this course will help you address in an informed and creative manner.
This degree combines a study of the main theories and concepts in international security with empirical analysis of contemporary security issues such as terrorism, proliferation, failed states and security communities.
The MA in International Security Studies will equip you with the skills to think critically and analytically about international security and to consider the complex causes of many contemporary security problems. You will develop the ability to analyse international security problems using a mix of theoretical and empirical tools.
You will complete one core module on 'International Security' and you can then choose three option modules, which, along with your dissertation, allow you to develop your specialist knowledge in your key area of interest.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
2:1 degree or its equivalent in Politics, History, International Relations or other related subjects.
Equivalent relevant professional experience may be considered.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in September 2024
- MA: £9,300
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Did you know you can apply for a Government Postgraduate Loan? Find out if you're eligible.
International Students
Starting in September 2024
- MA: £18,950
You will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
From 2022 onwards, EU nationals will pay the International fee. If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Our postgraduate degrees are an excellent way to enhance your expertise and career prospects and provide a foundation for a wide range of career options. You may seek to use your knowledge to work in government service, international organisations or areas of political research and journalism. Or you may opt to look for employment in fields such as banking, business or teaching where your MA will be respected as a postgraduate qualification.
You may also want to consider further research after you graduate. Political Research graduates specialising in politics research find that the research skills the degree fosters are invaluable. They now occupy posts as lecturers, as research associates and as research assistants.
Students taking postgraduate degrees offered by Politics and International Relations at Leicester have gone into careers in the civil service, business, the law, the police, banking, journalism, management consultancy, librarianship and teaching. Others have gone on to doctoral research.
Our Career Development Service is here to support you, with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience, volunteering and more. From Freshers’ Week to Graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.
Course structure
Core modules
Core modules
Plus your MA Dissertation
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Option modules
Option modules
Choose three option modules from:
- The Holocaust - A Genocide: Mass Murder in Comparative Perspective
- The Politics of Human Rights
- International Relations After the Cold War
- Patients and Practitioners: Responding to Illness in Early Modern Europe 1450-1750
- After The Holocaust - History and Memory in Postwar Germany
- Global Cities: the View from Asia
- American Foreign Policy
- Global Ethics in Practice
- Astropolitics: Space Policy and International Relations
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
Our staff play leading roles in cutting-edge global research networks, actively advising and engaging with global policy communities, civil society, the media and public.
We conduct a range of specialist research, organised through three research clusters: Intelligence, Security and Strategic Studies; Parties, Participation and Public Opinion; and Global Ethics and Political Theory.
We host an exciting range of events, including research seminars with world-renowned speakers, ESRC sponsored seminar series and international conferences.
Teaching and learning
You will be taught by seminars. Throughout the programme, you will have access to a comprehensively resourced library and an established student support system. Each module lasts for one semester (11 weeks) and normally involves two hours of teaching per week. If you are studying full-time, you will complete four modules by the end of the second semester and, if you are progressing to the MA, you will submit your dissertation by the end of September.
You will be assessed through a combination of essays, seminar papers and (if you are completing the MA) your dissertation of 12,000 to 15,000 words.
Key dates
September 2024 start
- Application deadline: 9 September 2024 (Please note if you require a visa to study you will be required to submit your course application by 26 July 2024)
- Deposit payment deadline: 9 August 2024
- CAS request deadline: 6 September 2024
- 70% tuition payment deadline: 6 September 2024
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | Start Dates | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course International Security Studies | Qualification MA | Duration 1 year full-time | Start Dates September each year | Availability Apply Now |
| Course International Security Studies | Qualification MA | Duration 2 years part-time | Start Dates September each year | Availability Apply Now |
The course has provided me an opportunity to improve my academic capabilities and represent my beliefs in a professional manner. The passion for international relations and politics that the staff display has convinced me that all my future goals are attainable.