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Security Studies MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Deepen your understanding of the world's most pressing security challenges and build the analytical skills to help address them. Security studies focus on the causes and consequences of international and civil conflict. You’ll learn to use empirical methods to understand why conflicts escalate to international and civil wars, explore the logic of wartime strategies and technologies, and learn about what’s needed to end and prevent violent conflicts.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£20,500
£10,250
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£33,000
£16,500
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

As a minimum, an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard; Applicants should ideally have a background in political science, international relations, law, European studies, history, philosophy, economics, or a related subject. Relevant practical or work experience in a related field may also be taken into account.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


Students develop an understanding of theoretical approaches and debates in security studies, and the ability to analyse how different forms of violent and non-violent political conflict emerge, diffuse, are managed and resolved. They are also equipped with the qualitative and quantitative research skills required to collect and analyse empirical evidence in a systematic way.

Who this course is for

The programme is suitable for students who wish to specialise in security studies for a career and/or further research in the fields of international relations, public policy and political analysis. 

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

UCL Political Science is recognised as a centre of excellence in the field of peace and conflict studies and offers a  stimulating environment for the study of international security.

Students benefit from a world-class diverse faculty that actively influences contemporary debates in this field, as well as seminars featuring distinguished external speakers, and regular high-profile events with academics and policymakers.

Thanks to faculty members' outstanding expertise in all relevant topics, the methodological and substantive training students receive in this programme is one of the finest available globally. Students also benefit from the multidisciplinary nature of the programme. Beyond the recognised quality of its core research faculty, the MSc in Security Studies is embedded in a first-rate political science department in one of the world's top universities, ranked 9th in the QS World University Rankings 2024.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Graduates of the programme are ideally placed to develop careers in the fields of international relations, public policy and political analysis. Many graduates go on to study their PhD at UCL or other universities in the UK or overseas. (Graduate Outcomes survey 2017-2022)

Employability

The Security Studies MSc is designed to endow students with an advanced set of analytical and methodological skills that enable them to collect and analyse data to test theoretically-informed hypotheses relating to the causes and consequences of conflict and related security issues. 

These analytical skills have made our students attractive for employers across many sectors, including the civil service, the private sector; (e.g. in political risk analysis), NGOs and international organisations.

Networking

The Department host an eclectic and impressive offer of events, these range from our 'Policy and Practice' seminars which include talks by high-profile policy makers, practitioners and academics, to our Departmental Research Seminars (DRS).

  • The International Public Policy Review is a student-led forum for debate, discussion, and networking for those passionate about politics, governance and international affairs
  • The International and Public Affairs Society is a student-run society for all students in the Department of Political Science. They organise social and fundraising events and endeavour to develop a strong and friendly community within the School of Public Policy (SPP).
  • UCL Social Data Institute is led by the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences (SHS), and the Institute amplifies UCL’s advanced research and teaching in social data and methods.

The department also organises an annual Careers Week which brings together alumni, industry speakers and skills workshops.

Teaching and learning

Taught courses include substantial independent study, lectures, seminars and other group activities. These may be examined through sit down examinations, essays and other assignments.

During your studies, you will find that there is significant variation in the types and style of assessment you are required to undertake. Alongside the traditional written essay or coursework and written examinations, you will find Multiple Choice Questionnaires (MCQs), online tests, oral presentations, book reviews, group projects and many other styles.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 12 hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

Example of time spent if a Full-time Student versus Part-time Student

  • Full-time: Students study for 40 hours per week. Additionally students retaking a year will be deemed Full-time, when retaking more than half of the activity of the year.
  • Part-time: Students study at a structured rate per week, normally half the rate of Full-time study. Additionally students retaking a year will be deemed Part-time when retaking half or less of the activity of the year.

To learn more, please take a look at the Academic Manual.

Modules

You will undertake a series of compulsory modules covering key substantive knowledge and methodological skills. Please note that all students must take one qualitative and one quantitative methods module in order to conduct further independent research. You will further attend optional module(s) which will allow you to personalise your degree in order to fit your own academic and/or professional interests. Finally, you will write a dissertation featuring your original take on a debate within the field.

  • In term one, you will take a compulsory module on “International Peace and Security”, which introduces you to major themes and debates in the contemporary study of international security, peace and conflict. You may also attend compulsory modules on quantitative and qualitative methods (introductory or advanced , depending on prior training) and on “Violent and Non-Violent Conflict”.
  • In term two, you may take a compulsory module on qualitative or quanitative methods (depending on prior training and advanced level of study). It is recommended your module selection on the second term already aligns with what you will need for your dissertation research.
  • In terms one and two, you will also choose at least one of six option modules, plus two elective modules in the fields of comparative politics, international relations, public policy and political theory. Our course offer is vast and allows you to tailor your degree to the area you want to specialise in. Please consult the department’s website for an overview of modules.
  • In term three, you may sit exams and work on your MSc dissertation project, in one-to-one meetings with your dissertation supervisor and by conducting independent research.

The programme structure for part-time students follows the same structure as our full-time students. We do encourage our part-time students to distribute their workload evenly between the two years of study.

Many part-time students opt for one of the following patterns:

  • 75 credits in year one and 105 credits in year two;
    or
  • 90 credits in year one and 90 credits in year two.

Upon completion you will have undertaken modules to the value of 180 credits, comprising of compulsory modules covering key substantive and methodological concepts and a dissertation. You will have further attended elective module(s) so you can personalise your programme of study to your own academic or professional interests.

Compulsory modules





Optional modules













Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Security Studies.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Security Studies MSc

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Don’t miss our virtual Masters event series! Hear first-hand insights from a current student, speak with the programme director, and chat with our admissions team. Discover everything you need to know about your programme and take the next step in your academic journey.

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Climate Change Policy and Politics MSc

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Don’t miss our virtual Masters event series! Hear first-hand insights from a current student, speak with the programme director, and chat with our admissions team. Discover everything you need to know about your programme and take the next step in your academic journey.

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Human Rights MA

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Don’t miss our virtual Masters event series! Hear first-hand insights from a current student, speak with the programme director, and chat with our admissions team. Discover everything you need to know about your programme and take the next step in your academic journey.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £20,500 £10,250
Tuition fees (2025/26) £33,000 £16,500

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no additional costs for this programme.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Security Studies at graduate level
  • why you want to study Security Studies at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of a challenging and truly international academic environment
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

When it is necessary to calculate a final average mark, the department will calculate all years of undergraduate study.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Political Science
Political Science

polsci.admissions@ucl.ac.uk

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