Program Overview

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MA International Law, Security and Diplomacy

Course Overview

This degree utilises the strengths of the School of Law and the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies (BUCSIS).

Course Highlights

• Develop professionals that are equipped to tackle the legal and security challenges of the modern world with confidence and expertise.
• Create a nuanced understanding of international legal principles alongside the critical security and intelligence frameworks.
• Leverage the expertise of both the Law School and BUCSIS, this course fosters academic rigour, practical insights, and a future-oriented professional outlook.
• Ensure close interaction between students and faculty with its intensive teaching model that combines lectures and small-group seminars.

Course Breakdown

Students will have the opportunity to engage with a rich blend of modules that reflect the breadth of this interdisciplinary field, including Cyber Security and Globalisation, Diplomacy, and Terrorism and National Security.

Jan 2025 (Full-time)

• Case Studies in Intelligence Success and Failure (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Cybersecurity & Globalisation (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Diplomacy (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Dissertation (Core, 45.00 credits, Level 7)
• Intelligence History, Tradecraft and Machinery (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• International and Comparative Human Rights Law (International Mechanisms) (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Law of War (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Public International Law: Issues and Contemporary Practices (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Research Design and Methods (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Terrorism and National Security (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)

Sep 2025 (Full-time)

• Case Studies in Intelligence Success and Failure (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Cybersecurity & Globalisation (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Diplomacy (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Dissertation (Core, 45.00 credits, Level 7)
• Intelligence History, Tradecraft and Machinery (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• International and Comparative Human Rights Law (International Mechanisms) (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Law of War (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Public International Law: Issues and Contemporary Practices (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Research Design and Methods (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Terrorism and National Security (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)

Jan 2026 (Full-time)

• Case Studies in Intelligence Success and Failure (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Cybersecurity & Globalisation (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Diplomacy (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Dissertation (Core, 45.00 credits, Level 7)
• Intelligence History, Tradecraft and Machinery (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• International and Comparative Human Rights Law (International Mechanisms) (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Law of War (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Public International Law: Issues and Contemporary Practices (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Research Design and Methods (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)
• Terrorism and National Security (Core, 15.00 credits, Level 7)

Teaching and Assessment

We keep class sizes small so you won’t get lost in the crowd. You will be assigned a personal tutor to support you every step of the way, and our academic and student support teams will ensure you have the tools to success in your studies. We value the quality of your learning experience.

Teaching Methods

The small size of Buckingham’s academic community guarantees a supportive learning environment. A key feature of the Buckingham intensive teaching method is the use of small seminar or tutorial groups which provide the most effective means of ensuring that the students benefit from the academic expertise at their disposal. The approach ensures close interaction between students and faculty staff at all levels. Seminars and tutorials encourage the development of clear analytical skills and create a forum where you can test your ideas against the arguments of your peers.

Course material is available on the University’s own Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Moodle. This allows students to download lecture notes, submit assignments and share resources in an electronic forum within the University’s computer network.

You are expected to read the cases and other materials relevant to the particular modules in advance of classes. You will be asked to support your opinions and discuss your analysis of the area with your fellow students. In some modules, you may be expected to deliver a presentation on a topic given to you by your tutor. Whilst these tasks may seem daunting at the beginning of the year, you will rapidly gain confidence as your debating skills develop. Entering any profession, you will find it is essential to have developed persuasive abilities.

Students will also benefit from foundational teaching such as Introduction to Postgraduate Legal Study and Research Design and Methods, which provide essential legal and interdisciplinary research skills.

Timetabled Activities

Throughout your studies, you can expect:

• Lectures: 2 hours per module
• Seminars: 1 hour per module

Assessment Methods

Students are assessed via a diverse and inclusive range of assessment methods across both faculties, which may include:

• Group projects
• Individual projects
• Presentations (individual and group)
• Report writing of different lengths
• Essays
• Dissertations

The programme includes dissertation options tailored to students’ specific interests in either law or security studies.

After Your Course

This exciting programme could prepare you for a career in one of the areas below, and will allow you to develop a number of key skills.

Career Opportunities

• Think tanks
• NGOs
• IOs
• Foreign Ministries
• Civil Service
• Academia
• Legal Practice (additional to any jurisdictional requirements and qualifications)

Career Skills

• A robust understanding of their chosen areas of law and security.
• Analytical skills for interpreting complex legal cases and statutes.
• Advanced oral and written argumentation skills.
• The ability to apply interdisciplinary approaches to global challenges.

Careers and Employability Support

As current students and alumni of Buckingham, you will have continued access to our fantastic Careers and Employability services in both Law and BUCSIS who will support your future career endeavours.

Many of our in-house expertise come from staff who are currently or have previously been practitioners and are leading scholars within their various subject matter specialisms.

Entry Requirements

For a list of course specific requirements, please see our typical offers below. To see our full list of general university requirements including information for flexible entry, mature students and alternative qualifications, see our Postgraduate Entry Requirements.

UK Offers

The standard entry requirements for this course are:

1. 2:2 LLB/BA (Hons) degree from a UK institution (or equivalent from a foreign institution).
2. Relevant professional experience.

International Offers

Find out about our requirements and see useful information for international applicants:

• International entry requirements by country
• English language levels

If you are uncertain whether you will be eligible to apply for this course, please contact our Admissions team.

Course Fees

The fees for this course are:

• Jan 2025 Full-time (1 Year): UK £10,300, INT £16,480
• Sep 2025 Full-time (1 Year): UK £10,300, INT £16,480
• Jan 2026 Full-time (1 Year): UK £10,300, INT £16,480

The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.

Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and other ancillary charges. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.

As this programme is delivered on campus it is advisable for students to live within easy travel distance.

Scholarships and Bursaries

We have bursaries and scholarships available for both home and international students at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and these are awarded based on location, merit or financial need.

Funded scholarships and bursaries may be awarded across all schools of study, and represent a partial remission from tuition fees. Bursaries are means-tested and are intended for those who need a contribution towards their fees in order to study at Buckingham.

Students applying for this course may be eligible for the following:

UK Students

• Postgraduate First-Class Scholarship: The scholarship will reduce tuition fees by 33% for new UK and international postgraduate students.

International Students

• Postgraduate First-Class Scholarship: The scholarship will reduce tuition fees by 33% for new UK and international postgraduate students.
• Sheikh / Mubarak Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah Scholarship (Postgraduate): A £20,000 scholarship for outstanding Arabic students pursuing a full-time Master’s degree in the UK.

View all scholarships and bursaries.