International Security and Terrorism MA

Program Overview

International Security and Terrorism MA

Overview

Concerns about security and insecurity infiltrate our everyday lives. This course covers issues such as the impact of war and terrorism on migration, resource shortages due to climate change, and the effects of weapon screening at airports.

Course Structure

• Duration: 12 months (full-time), 24 months (part-time)
• Start Date: September 2026
• UK Fees: To be confirmed
• International Fees: To be confirmed
• Entry Requirements: 2:1 undergraduate degree (or international equivalent)

Course Content

Core Modules

• Dissertation in Politics and International Relations: Research and write a substantive dissertation within the field of international relations/studies (12,000 words).
• Research Methods in International Relations: Covers methods and methodology, theory, metatheory, and methodology, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, mixed methodology, primary and secondary sources, research questions, design, and ethics, and academic skills.
• Theories and Concepts in International Relations: Explores the diversity of approaches to international theory, including key concepts such as power, the state, agency, structure, and world order.

Optional Modules

• Contemporary Warfare: Examines the dynamics of conflict in the modern world, focusing on the increased role of non-state actors in global security.
• Covert Action and Unacknowledged Interventions: Covers covert action, propaganda and influence operations, fake news and the digital revolution, political action, paramilitary action, assassination and targeted killing, secrecy in international relations, covert signalling and strategy, political management of covert action, democratic oversight of covert action, and measuring success.
• Global Asia: Examines major themes, debates, and issues related to the study of politics and international relations in the specific regional context of Asia.
• International Political Economy in the Era of Globalisation and Geopolitics: Introduces the main approaches to international political economy, provides a brief overview of the post-war international political economy, and focuses on globalisation and related structural changes in the global economy.
• International Relations in Practice: Offers a part-time placement (7 hours’ a week) in an external organisation or affiliated institute, designed to build practical experience and employability skills for politics students.
• The Politics of Celebrity, Sex and 'Alternative' Lifestyles in China: Introduces developments in Chinese society, media, and popular culture, examining the political, social, and economic contexts that have given rise to expanded opportunities and concomitant responses from the state for personal and political expression.
• The Theory and Practice of Diplomacy: Focuses on the changing nature of diplomatic practice, together with the range of conceptual tools that seek to explain this international activity.
• Terrorism and Insurgencies: Acquaints students with two of the most important aspects of contemporary international security: terrorism and insurgencies.

Learning and Assessment

• Teaching Methods: Lectures, seminars, and directed reading.
• Assessment Methods: Coursework, dissertation, examinations, and reports.

Entry Requirements

• Undergraduate Degree: 2:1 (or international equivalent)
• English Language Requirements: IELTS 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element)

Fees

• Qualification: MA
• Home / UK: To be confirmed
• International: To be confirmed

Careers

• Careers Advice: Individual careers support for all postgraduate students.
• Job Prospects: Ideal for careers in the armed services, civil service, international organisations, journalism, non-governmental organisations, and policy research.
• Graduate Destinations: 66.7% of postgraduates from the School of Politics and International Relations secured graduate-level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £23,444.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The International Security and Terrorism MA program at the University of Nottingham provides students with a comprehensive understanding of international security and terrorism. The program explores the role of international security within the broader field of international relations, and offers specialized insights into terrorism and counter-terrorism. Students will examine key issues in international security, such as international intervention, conventional and nuclear deterrence, insurgency and counterinsurgency, and peacemaking and peacekeeping. The program also offers a placement scheme that provides students with vital real-world experience.

Outline:

The program consists of 40 credits of core modules, 80 credits of optional modules, and a 60-credit dissertation.

Core Modules:

• Dissertation
• Research Methods in International Relations
• Theories and Concepts in International Relations

Optional Modules:

• Contemporary Warfare
• Covert Action and Unacknowledged Interventions
• Global Asia
• IPE in the Era of Globalisation and Regionalisation
• The Politics of Celebrity, Sex and 'Alternative' Lifestyles in China
• The Theory and Practice of Diplomacy
• Terrorism and Insurgencies

Assessment:

Students will be assessed through a variety of methods, including examinations, coursework essays, and a dissertation.

Teaching:

Students will learn through a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, and workshops. The program is taught by experts in the field of international security and terrorism, who have advised governments, spoken at the Pentagon, and have experience working in Afghanistan.

Careers:

Graduates of the program can pursue careers in the armed services, civil service, NGOs, and policy research.

Other:

The program offers a placement scheme that gives students vital real-world experience.

| Home / UK | International | |---|---| | £10,500 | £22,600 |