Program Overview

Counter Terrorism

MSc/PGDip/PGCert

Attendance

• Full-time
• Part-time

Location

• Online learning
• Preston Campus

Start

• September 2025

Duration

• 1 year

Delivery

• In-person

Our master’s degree in Counter Terrorism offers an in-depth understanding of legislation and policy. It's taught by expert practitioners with extensive experience.

Why study with us

• This course is available full-time, part-time or online.
• The course team maintain strong links with counter terrorism agencies and the police service, especially within the North West of England.

Important information

• You can also study this course online.

What you'll do

• You’ll build an interdisciplinary understanding of individual and organisational involvement in terrorism, together with an understanding of national and international approaches to counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism (CVE).
• You’ll benefit from our specialist facilities, laboratories and equipment.
• The course is delivered by around 12 serving or retired practitioners who are experts in their respective fields.

Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Research Methods
  • Module code: FZ4701
• MSc Dissertation
  • Module code: FZ4707
• Policing Terrorism
  • Module code: FZ4708
• Religion and Radicalisation
  • Module code: FZ4710
• International Terrorism
  • Module code: FZ4711
• Investigating Terrorism
  • Module code: FZ4712
• Research in Practice
  • Module code: FZ4729

Entry requirements

• Applicants should hold at least 2:2 degree
• Applications from all candidates will be considered on their merits in the light of the nature and scope of the programme
• IELTS: Score of at least 6.0 or equivalent

Fees and funding

2025/26

• UK:
  • Full-time: £9,450 per year
  • Online full-time: £9,450 per year
  • Part-time: £1,050 per 20 credits
  • Online part-time: £1,050 per 20 credits
• International:
  • Full-time: £17,900 per year
  • Online full-time: £9,450 per year
  • Online part-time: £1,050 per 20 credits

Additional costs

• As part of your course there may be additional costs to consider that are not included in your tuition fees. Most of these will be optional, but some courses have essential additional costs.

Scholarships and bursaries

• We offer many scholarships, bursaries and funds to support you during your studies.

Learning and assessment

• All modules are assessed by coursework. Each assignment is based upon work covered on the course. To ensure there is not an excessive amount of assessment at any one time, coursework is spread throughout the course.
• The course can be taken full or part-time and also as an attended or online option. The full-time attended option has face-to-face teaching of six hours each week at Preston. However, you can also complete the course part-time, over two years. There is also a full-time and part-time option of completing the degree online which means you do not need to attend classes at Preston, but meet other students and tutors in an online environment.

Industry links

• The entire course delivery team are serving or former practitioners in the various fields of counter terrorism. The full-time academic tutors are engaged in subject-relevant research while associate tutors keep relevant in their specialist area by working with national and international organisations and various North West police services.