Program Overview

International Affairs MA, PG Dip, PG Cert (online)

Key information

Course type: Single honours Delivery mode: Online Study mode: Distance Learning by eLearning Duration: MA: Two years | PG Dip: 16 months | PG Cert: Eight months Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent): 60/120/180 Application status: Open Application deadlines: 10 June 2025, 12 August 2025, 7 October 2025, 25 November 2025, 10 February 2026, 14 April 2026

Course essentials

International Affairs is a ground-breaking course that combines international relations, military history, strategic studies, and regional security studies to educate students in the fundamental issues surrounding international security and conflict politics. With modules covering international relations, strategy and conflict history, modern implementation of deterrence strategy, cyber security, intelligence, and future conflict, the course’s multidisciplinary approach enables you to gain a holistic understanding of the global security industry and the challenges it faces. As well as its core subject areas, the course seeks to transform your research capabilities, with skills modules focussed on critical thinking and evidence evaluation. You will need to complete a self-directed research dissertation that will inaugurate you into the academic conversation surrounding international affairs.

Specialist Pathways

King’s Defence Studies Department is dedicated to nurturing the security and defence leaders of the future, and our curriculum content is structured with this goal in mind. Our course modules have been described as “transformative” and “sector-leading”; fundamentally changing the way that you will understand the global security and defence landscape. Armed with these top-tier study and research outcomes, we anticipate that our graduates will undertake critical leadership positions in security-related fields. The MA in International Affairs provides a comprehensive study pathway with options to explore your own subjects of interest. However, students with specific career goals in mind may wish to specialise within a subset of the field.

• Cyber Security is a complex and increasingly pressing issue in today’s digitised world. The definition of the term itself is broad, covering both an understanding of what constitutes a cyber ‘attack’ as well as defence apparatus, surveillance architectures, data management, and information campaigns. The advent of artificial intelligence adds even greater levels of risk to an already intricate digital landscape. The Cyber Security specialism helps students to grasp the theory behind this complex world, investigating different aspects of the industry with the goal of offering a practical understanding of security strategies and approaches.
• The Espionage & Surveillance pathway explores the history of intelligence organisation over the past 60 years as a foundation for understanding the theory and strategies involved in intelligence gathering and analysis. This fascinating field takes on a new aspect in the 21st century when digital technologies and artificial intelligence are redefining our understanding of the nature of information. ES is at once practical, historical, and theoretical, laying the groundwork for flourishing intelligence-related careers.
• The Strategic Studies pathway builds on the Introduction to Strategy core module of the course. This pathway encourages students to look at the modern-day implementation of deterrence before studying in-depth the topics of sanctions, strategy, and statecraft. Students get to grips with the complexity of strategy in the modern world, which has implications not only for international affairs but also for business and organisational development.

Entry requirements

UK applicants

• Standard requirements:
  • A 2:1 honours degree (or above) in any subject area or international equivalent
  • Degree certificates or transcripts will be required when submitting the application
• Non-standard requirements:
  • Applications for candidates who fall outside of the standard entry requirements may still be considered and are assessed on a case-by-case basis – this includes candidates applying based on professional experience/qualifications. If you fall under the non-standard criteria, speak to an Enrolment Advisor before proceeding with your application
  • Non-standard applications will need to be supported by degree certificates or transcripts (where relevant), as well as a CV and a 500-word written statement addressing the following question: “What is the single biggest security challenge facing the world today, and why?”. Reference letters are not required but may help strengthen applications.

International applicants

• Equivalent International qualifications:
  • Select a country to view the 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.

Teaching & structure

• Teaching methods - what to expect:
  • This programme has been designed specifically for an online audience. It uses a range of interactive activities to support learning including discussion forums, online readings, interactive lectures, videos, and online tutorials.
  • Time commitment: Whilst your academic background and familiarity with the topic of each module will have a bearing on your total study time, you should expect to commit roughly 21-25 hours a week to your studies.
• Assessment:
  • Students on this programme are assessed through a combination of written coursework and online presentations. The assessment methods may vary between modules, but each module will include one or more of these methods.
• Structure:
  • Required modules:
    • Carousel One (PG Cert):
      • International Security Studies: The Development of the Discipline (15 credits)
      • Introduction to Strategy (15 credits)
      • Conflict in International History (15 credits)
      • Global & Regional Security (15 credits)
    • Carousel Two (PG Dip):
      • Introduction to Critical Research Methodologies (15 credits)
      • Intelligence, Espionage & Surveillance (15 credits)
      • Cyber Security in the Information Age (15 credits)
      • International Relations: Theory and Practice (15 credits)
      • Proxy Warfare and Hybrid Warfare (15 credits)
      • Sea Power and National Strategy in Britain, (15 credits)
      • Understanding Deterrence in Theory and Practice (15 credits)
    • Carousel Three (MA):
      • Critical Engagement with Literature (15 credits)
      • Strategy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (15 credits)
      • International Political Economy (15 credits)
      • Intelligence in Conflict (15 credits)
      • Women, Peace & Security (15 credits)
      • Sanctions, Strategy & Statecraft (15 credits)
      • Dissertation (30 credits)

Careers

• Employability:
  • King’s is ranked sixth in the UK for graduate employability (Times Higher Education’s Global Employability Ranking 2022).
  • The course is ideal for anyone seeking to pursue a career in any industries addressing concerns over international affairs. This may include roles in Civil Service, NGOs, local or national government, armed forces, the Home Office, policy think tanks, or private intelligence and security companies. It may also be suitable for journalists or parliamentary advisers reporting on international issues.
• Our professional network:
  • Where can a degree like this take you? Hear from 2023 graduate Mohammed Amasha:
    • Role: Communications Advisor at UAE Government
    • My current role is advocacy and raising awareness about the UAE Nuclear Energy Programme. Despite the MA programme involving my extensive time and efforts, it was an eye opener for me to add more skills to my expertise. My Dissertation was an enriching journey where I employed King College London’s methodology to explore the use of open source information in an international organisation context and use Iran Nuclear Deal as a case study.
    • Mohammed's top career tip: Studying at King’s College London is rewarding and beneficial for the future. I advise you to always do further research to learn about your topic. Patience, focus, and perseverance are perquisites to achieve your future goals.

Fees & Funding

• Tuition Fees:
  • Your fees will be charged per module as you progress through the course. In the 2024/25 Academic Year modules will be charged at £1,622 per module. In the 2025/26 Academic Year modules will be charged at £1,702.
  • The number of modules you take will be determined by your chosen award as outlined below:
    • Postgraduate Certificate: 4 modules
    • Postgraduate Diploma: 8 modules
    • Master of Arts: 12 modules
• Additional Fees Information:
  • When you receive an offer for this course, you will be required to pay for your first module upfront, as a non-refundable deposit, to secure your place. This payment will be credited towards your total fee payment. Please note that a standard 14 day cooling off period will apply from the point of initial payment for your first module. Any subsequent payments are not subject to additional cooling off periods.
  • The deposit cost for this course is the cost of one module (£1,622) plus a non-refundable application fee of £75. From September 2025, the deposit cost will be £1,702.
• Additional Requirements & Costs:
  • Students will need access to a computer or tablet in order to complete the programme. Although KEATS is optimised for mobile, a desktop computer may be necessary for some parts of the course.
  • We recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari or Microsoft Edge; full functionality cannot be guaranteed in older or less commonly used browsers.
  • Students will require access to a high-speed internet connection (4Mbps minimum).
  • We will endeavour to make as much study material as possible available online, but you may also need to purchase some books during your studies.