National Security Studies

Program Overview

National Security Studies

Course Overview

This module has been constructed to provide students with an introduction to the conceptual and practical policy aspects of the recent UK and other national efforts to deliver a comprehensive national security approach. The course provides a contemporary, comparative and historically informed perspective on national security strategy. Students will actively learn about comparative national security approaches, exploring several case studies from the perspective of both larger and smaller states in different regions. Over the course of the 20 weeks, participants will hear a range of perspectives on the strategic, theoretical, and operational aspects of national security policymaking.

Course Features

• The MA-level module in National Security Studies (NSS) is a 20-week and 45 credit module which is also the compulsory module for the MA programme in National Security Studies.
• The course builds on a long heritage of courses delivered by the Centre for Defence Studies (CDS) in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London.
• It has been designed for students and practitioners – those who work in government or the private sector – who wish to develop knowledge of national security policymaking processes and practices.
• The module will take place weekly over two semesters.

Course Content

The programme incorporates a mix of teaching approaches including lectures, presentations, and seminars, enabling students to interact with colleagues and policymakers. Participants will benefit from the insights and experiences of individuals possessing extensive practical experience within the UK and wider international policy environment with the intention of providing a holistic grounding in key issues in the field of national security. Examples of key issues that are addressed are (but not limited to):

• UK National Security Strategy and international comparators
• Defence and National Security
• Comparative national security approaches
• Cyber Security
• Leadership and cross-governmental responses to security challenges
• Inter-agency perspectives on delivering a National Security approach
• Counter Terrorism and National Security Strategies
• The ethics and oversight of national security Intelligence and national security
• Air and Space Power in National Security
• National Security Strategy for Small States
• Countering Serious and Organised Crime
• Public-private partnerships in National Security

Learning Outcomes

Students will be provided with an intellectual framework for understanding the contested ‘national security’ concept and develop knowledge on key areas of security policy making such as cyber security and counter-terrorism. The module also addresses other key areas of national security policy including the effectiveness of political oversight arrangements in this area and the state’s growing tendency to engage with private companies to implement its objectives in this sensitive field.

Entry Requirements

Subject to the Course Director's discretion and internal approval mechanisms, the entry requirements are based on academic background and/or a proven ability to conduct analytical work at Masters level.

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.

Key Information

• Credit level: 7
• Credit value: 45
• Duration: 20 weeks
• Fees & Discounts: Full Price: £3,050.00

Who Will I Be Taught By

• Dr Hillary Briffa, Senior Lecturer in National Security Studies
• Dr Joseph Devanny, Senior Lecturer in the Department of War Studies

Reading List

A full bibliography and course outline will be provided to participants during the first week of the course. However, for those interested in applying for this course, the following two government documents and three volumes of essays on the Integrated Review are recommended:

• The Integrated Review 2021
• Defence Command Paper 2021
• The Integrated Review in Context: A Strategy Fit for the 2020s?
• The Integrated Review in Context: Defence and Security in Focus
• The Integrated Review in context: One year on