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Students
Tuition Fee
GBP 28,000
Per year
Start Date
2025-10-01
Medium of studying
On campus
Duration
36 months
Program Facts
Program Details
Degree
PhD
Major
Civil Security | Emergency Management | National Security
Area of study
Security Services
Education type
On campus
Timing
Full time
Course Language
English
Tuition Fee
Average International Tuition Fee
GBP 28,000
Intakes
Program start dateApplication deadline
2025-10-01-
2026-02-01-
About Program

Program Overview


Defence Studies Research MPhil/PhD

Key information

Award: MPhil, PhD Study mode: Distance Learning, Full time, Part time Campus: Strand Campus Duration: MPhil two years full-time (four years part-time); PhD expected three years full-time (six years part-time)


Overview

The Defence Studies Department’s unique position as an academic department based at the UK’s Defence Academy in Oxfordshire heavily influences its research. Sitting at the heart of security and defence education in the United Kingdom, it can draw on the experiences and knowledge of not only UK military officers and civil servants, but officers from a wide range of allied nations. The Department’s research is therefore able to benefit from and influence defence thinking and policymaking not just in the UK, but across the world.


Research in the Department is reflective of the diverse interests of our staff members and postgraduate community. It covers military, naval, diplomatic and imperial history, international relations, defence and regional security studies, strategic studies, and the ethics of conflict. This wide range of topics is united by their relation and relevance to contemporary security and defence issues. Researchers from the Department have played an important role in past UK security and defence reviews and continue to influence future reviews. Staff members are regularly consulted by national and international media on contemporary and past events, and they are actively engaged in public engagement with the heritage sector. Research projects in the Department have been supported by a variety of funding bodies, including the Leverhulme Trust, the British Academy, the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC), the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the MacArthur Foundation, the British Council, the European Commission, the US Army War College, the UK Ministry of Defence, and the US Department of Defense.


Since 2011, the Department has run its own postgraduate research programme. We attract studentships from a variety of sources, including the ESRC and the AHRC. Nearly 120 students are currently undertaking doctoral research in the Department. Every year, approximately 30 students join our MPhil/PhD programme.


The Department is especially interested in receiving applications from students planning research projects in fields that enhance the strength of the Department’s research groups and centres. Details of these can be found on the Defence Studies website, as well as a full list of staff and their research interests. The Department assumes that research students will normally be attached to one or more of these groups and centres, which in all cases will enhance research culture and be consistent with Defence Studies’ research strategy.


Course Detail

Defence Studies Research MPhil/PhD candidates join a thriving interdisciplinary research community, connecting with world-leading scholars and practitioners. Postgraduate students will work with at least one supervisor from within the Defence Studies Department and at least one other supervisor either from the Department or elsewhere in the College. The Department has a close relationship with the Department of War Studies, often working closely in MPhil/PhD supervision. For a full staff list and their research interests please access the Department of War Studies website.


During the first year of study, it is College policy that both full and part time students will have their progress reviewed within 3 months of initial registration and again after a period of nine months registration. Thereafter, the progress of all students will be reviewed at every six months.


Students receive support from their supervisors in the following areas relating to their research programme:


  • Structure & Planning
  • Research Design & Training
  • Progress Monitoring
  • Advice & Guidance
  • Pastoral Care
  • Career guidance

All MPhil/PhD candidates undertake a tailored programme of individual researcher training and development across all years of study. A comprehensive programme of individual research training ensures that students develop the skills necessary to complete their research programme and fulfil their career goals. In Year One, students will draw up a programme of research training and personal development in consultation with their supervisors. Throughout their programme, students have access to extensive research methods, skills, and career training via the King’s Doctoral College, London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (LISS-DTP), and the London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP)


Application Procedure

Applicants will need to find a potential supervisor before applying. Applications are subject to a formal interview (in person or online).


To apply for most of our postgraduate programmes at King's you will need to complete our postgraduate online application form. A minority of programmes have a different application procedure which will be outlined below. Applying online makes applying easier and quicker for you, and means we can receive your application faster and more securely.


If you have already applied to King's through our online application form you can check the status of your application by logging into myApplication. If you are interested in pursuing postgraduate research in the Defence Studies Department, you should look at the staff profiles in the ‘DSD People’ section of our website to identify a potential supervisor with research interests in a similar area. Ideally, you should contact them to discuss your proposal before making an official application through the King’s online application system.


Once the application material is received, your application will be considered by a panel of academic tutors. Some applicants may be interviewed, either in person, or by telephone/Skype.


Personal Statement and Supporting Information

Please include the name of your proposed supervisor at King's. To identify a supervisor please see our Research Portal.


You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:


  • Personal Statement: A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages).
  • Research Proposal: The proposal should explain in some detail precisely the field of study that you want to contribute to and current research gaps, what you want to do and how you propose to do it. For advice on how to write a winning application, please visit the research courses page. It is compulsory that all applications include a research proposal. Applications that are received without one will be rejected. The potential student should produce the proposal with the help of their potential supervisor. The proposal should be no longer than 6 pages of A4 and size 12 font. The proposal should include an introduction to the research topic, the research question the student wants to answer, brief details on what methods/theories the research will used to answer the question, and a short literature review.
  • Previous Academic Study: A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
  • References: One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago.
  • Writing Sample: A sample of your previous writing (this would usually be an extended piece of writing such as a dissertation/thesis from masters or undergraduate study, or perhaps a research paper if you have been involved in more recent research and you are the sole author. The writing sample should be in English.
  • Other: You may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application.

Course Intake

Twice a year, October and February


Application Closing Date

We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that there is sufficient time for your application to be assessed. We may need to request further information from you during the application process.


We have two intakes per year, one in February and one in October. The final application deadlines are detailed below; on these dates, the programme will close at 23:59 (UK time) and we will open for the corresponding intake in 2026 soon after the same intake has passed in 2025.


  • October 2025 entry – 25 July 2025 for Overseas fee status and 25 August 2025 for Home fee status
  • February 2026 entry – 20 October 2025 for Overseas fee status and 20 November 2025 for Home fee status

Please note that funding deadlines may be earlier than the application deadlines listed above.


Fees or Funding

UK Tuition Fees 2024/25

  • Full time tuition fees: £6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies)
  • Full time tuition fees: £6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning)
  • Part time tuition fees: £3,468 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies)
  • Part time tuition fees: £3,468 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning)

International Tuition Fees 2024/25

  • Full time tuition fees: £26,070 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies)
  • Full time tuition fees: £26,070 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning)
  • Part time tuition fees: £13,035 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies)
  • Part time tuition fees: £13,035 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning)

UK Tuition Fees 2025/26

  • Full time tuition fees: £7,500 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies)
  • Full time tuition fees: £7,500 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning)
  • Part time tuition fees: £3,750 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies)
  • Part time tuition fees: £3,750 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning)

International Tuition Fees 2025/26

  • Full time tuition fees: £28,000 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies)
  • Full time tuition fees: £28,000 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning)
  • Part time tuition fees: £14,000 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies)
  • Part time tuition fees: £14,000 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.


Study Environment

MPhil/PhD students are allocated a primary and secondary supervisor. Students have access to workspaces with computers and printers, either located in the Department of War Studies on the Strand Campus or at the Library at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, subject to security clearance. Students are encouraged to take part in the lively research culture of the Defence Studies Department, attending research seminars, student-organised research workshops, or the regular seminars, visiting lectures, and conferences that are held either in London or at the JSCSC in Shrivenham. They are also expected to participate in one or more of the School of Security Studies’ research themes and groups which organise their own programmes of events.


Postgraduate Training

Students will have their training and development needs assessed and will, with their supervisor, draw up a personalised programme of training that will both allow them to complete their research project and also provide the skills they will need in their subsequent career. Ongoing research training needs are assessed throughout the programme. This training will include courses provided by the Department, the School of Security Studies, the King's Doctoral College, or the LISS-DTP.


Our Professional Network

Hear from 2020 graduate, John A. Mauk (Adjunct Faculty and Program Manager at U.S. Army War College)

What my career is like: In this role I manage a contract to provide adjunct faculty to expand the scope of resident faculty expertise, impacting the continuing education and professional development of military leaders serving at the most senior levels of the Department of Defense and impacting national security policy and strategy formulation.


How King's helped me: KCL's research faculty was exactly the right avenue to study the US national security policy making apparatus from a perspective largely eschewed by US academic institutions. The result of my research opened doors to supporting national security policy making and influence senior military leader's perspective on policy and strategy issues.


My top career tip: Like any other endeavor, the goal you envision at the start may very likely change by the time you complete the degree. Enter with an open mind and broaden your aperture. Keep your eye on the prize but, change is constant, embrace it.


Hear from 2021 graduate, P. Michael Phillips (Independent Researcher)

What my career is like: I pursued my PhD towards the end of a 30-year career in the military, which I concluded by teaching strategy and policy at the U.S. Army War College. My top achievements included engaging for almost a decade in policy activities with U.S. embassies in remote or austere locations.


How King's helped me: My King's experiences encouraged me to explore my interests more deeply; to refine my analysis and arguments more precisely; to write more accurately and concisely; and to place my observations and conclusions more succinctly within a broader academic field of discovery.


My top career tip: First, I encourage prospective students to play to their interests and talents. Second, practice self-reflection and humility, and seek out the company of those who do likewise. We all are in need of constant improvement, so surround yourself with good people. Third, be charitable in deed and spirit.


Hear from 2022 graduate, Whitney Grespin (Africa Regional Program Lead at the Institute for Security Governance, US Department of Defense, Defense Security Agency)

What my career is like: As a US citizen, completing my PhD at the Defence Studies Department at the Joint Services Command and Staff College gave me unique insight into professional military education and invaluable experience working with a foreign military and government.


How King's helped me: I didn't realise the opportunities I would have outside of academia with a PhD but my program/supervisor helped me explore broader career paths.


My top career tip: Network and publish


Entry Requirements

UK Requirements

  • Master's degree with high merit, and a 2:1 honours degree at the bachelor's level. It is highly desirable (but not essential) to have taken courses in this field at postgraduate level before undertaking research work in the Defence Studies Department.
  • Extensive practical experience in a relevant field (eg military, diplomatic, humanitarian or developmental) may be taken into account when evaluating an application.

Equivalent International Qualifications

Select a country to view equivalent international qualifications.


English Language Requirements

English language band: B


To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.


Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.


For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.


Program Outline


Degree Overview:

  • Award: MPhil/PhD
  • Study Mode: Distance learning, Full-time, Part-time
  • Duration:
  • MPhil: Two years full-time (four years part-time)
  • PhD: Three years full-time (six years part-time), with an additional writing-up year possible if necessary.
  • The department benefits from the expertise and experiences of UK military officers and officers from allied nations. This allows its research to influence and benefit defence thinking and policymaking not only in the UK but across the world. The department's research reflects the diverse interests of its faculty and postgraduate students. It covers military, naval, diplomatic and imperial history, international relations, defence and regional security policy studies, strategic studies, and the ethics of conflict. This wide range of topics is united by their relation and relevance to contemporary security and defence issues. Researchers from the Department have played an important role in past UK security and defence reviews and continue to influence future reviews. Staff members are regularly consulted by national and international media on contemporary and past events, and they are actively engaged in public engagement with the heritage sector. Research projects in the Department have been supported by a variety of funding bodies.
  • Objectives: To develop critical thinking, research, and analytical skills; to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field of defence studies; to prepare students for a variety of careers in the public, private, or academic sectors.

Outline:

  • The program focuses on research in the field of defence studies.
  • The course covers a wide range of topics, including military, naval, diplomatic and imperial history, international relations, defence and regional security policy studies, strategic studies, and the ethics of conflict.
  • Students are expected to develop a strong understanding of the theoretical and methodological approaches to research in defence studies.
  • The program is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct independent research and to contribute to the field of defence studies.
  • Students are required to complete a research proposal and a dissertation.
  • The research proposal must be no longer than 6 pages of A4 and size 12 font.
  • It should include an introduction to the research topic, the research question the student wants to answer, brief details on what methods/theories will be used to answer the question, and a short literature review.
  • The dissertation is a substantial piece of original research that must be of publishable quality.

Assessment:

  • Assessment methods include a combination of coursework, examinations, and a dissertation.
  • The dissertation is the most significant piece of assessment, accounting for 50% of the final grade.
  • The remaining 50% of the final grade is based on coursework and examinations.
  • Coursework typically includes essays, presentations, and research projects.
  • Examinations are typically written exams that test students' knowledge and understanding of the course material.

Teaching:

  • The program is taught by a team of experienced and internationally renowned researchers.
  • The teaching methods used in the program are designed to engage students in active learning and to develop their critical thinking and research skills.
  • These methods include lectures, seminars, workshops, and individual supervision.
  • Students are also encouraged to participate in research seminars, conferences, and workshops.

Careers:

  • Graduates of the Defence Studies Research MPhil/PhD program are well-prepared for a variety of careers in the public, private, or academic sectors.
  • Some graduates pursue careers in government, defence and security agencies, international organizations, or the private sector.
  • Others pursue careers in academia, as researchers or lecturers.

Other:

  • The Department has a close relationship with War Studies, often working closely in MPhil/PhD supervision.
  • For a full staff list and their research interests please access the War Studies website.
  • Students receive support from their supervisors in the following areas relating to their research program:
  • Structure & Planning
  • Direction & Training
  • Monitoring
  • Advice & Guidance
  • Support & Encouragement
  • Pastoral Responsibility
  • Future career guidance
  • The program is highly competitive, with approximately 12 students admitted each year.
  • The final application deadline for the program is February 2025.

UK Tuition Fees 2023/24 Full time tuition fees: £6,540 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies) £6,540 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning) Part time tuition fees: £3,270 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies) £3,270 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning) International Tuition Fees 2023/24 Full time tuition fees: £24,360 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies) £24,360 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning) Part time tuition fees: £12,180 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies) £12,180 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning) UK Tuition Fees 2024/25 Full time tuition fees: £6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies) £6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning) Part time tuition fees: £3,468 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies) £3,468 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning) International Tuition Fees 2024/25 Full time tuition fees: £26,070 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies) £26,070 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning) Part time tuition fees: £13,035 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies) £13,035 per year (MPhil/PhD, Defence Studies via Distance Learning) These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.

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Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements


UK Entry Requirements

  • Master's degree with high merit
  • 2:1 Honours degree at the bachelor's level
  • Highly desirable (but not essential) to have taken courses in this field at postgraduate level before undertaking research work in the Defence Studies Department.
  • Extensive practical experience in a relevant field (e.g., military, diplomatic, humanitarian, or developmental) may be taken into account when evaluating an application.

International Entry Requirements

  • Equivalent international qualifications to those stated for UK applicants.
  • Master's degree with high merit equivalent to a UK Masters degree.
  • 2:1 Honours degree at the bachelor's level equivalent to a UK Bachelor's degree.
  • Highly desirable (but not essential) to have taken courses in this field at postgraduate level before undertaking research work in the Defence Studies Department.
  • Extensive practical experience in a relevant field (e.g., military, diplomatic, humanitarian, or developmental) may be taken into account when evaluating an application.

Language Proficiency Requirements

To study at King's College London, applicants must be able to communicate effectively in English within an academic environment.


English Language band: B


Exemptions to English Language tests:

  • Nationals of majority English-speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country.
  • Applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English-speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.
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