International Security and Policy MA
Overview
Cyber threats, geopolitical tensions, climate risk and the rapid evolution of technology all contribute to a complex and volatile security landscape. As these issues multiply and diversify, there’s a growing demand for professionals who can identify risks and deliver effective, evidence-based solutions across government and industry.
The International Security and Policy MA (online) is designed to meet this urgent need, equipping students with the leadership and analytical skills needed to shape security policy at the highest levels. You'll explore both traditional and emerging security threats in areas like military strategy, intelligence, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, climate risk and transnational migration.
Our international security master’s is the first online programme from Security & Defence PLuS, a strategic partnership combining the expertise of King's College London, Arizona State University and the University of New South Wales. It brings together cutting-edge research, global perspectives and practical policy experience to help you navigate the complexities of modern security threats and advance in your career.
Why study an international security master’s?
Security and policy careers
Global demand for security expertise is rising rapidly. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, security management specialists are among the top five fastest-growing job roles worldwide, driven not only by technological change but also by increasing geopolitical fragmentation and complex global risks. Information security analysts also appear among the top 15.
In the UK, government research highlights continued demand for security and analytical expertise across public and private sectors (Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market 2025, UK Government). Data from Lightcast also shows a 17.7% average increase year on year in advertised salaries for roles requiring key security skills (July 2024 to August 2025).
For mid-career professionals looking to advance in their field, these market signals demonstrate opportunities to progress into specialist roles such as:
- Security management specialist
- International security analyst
- Defence or foreign policy advisor
- Intelligence or strategic risk officer
- Geopolitical risk consultant
- Policy specialist in international organisations or NGOs
Why choose this security programme?
This online international security MA is built for professionals who want a practical, policy-focused education that reflects the realities of modern security work. Here's what sets it apart:
- Interdisciplinary and skills-driven curriculum
You'll gain a comprehensive education that bridges security studies, policy analysis, systems thinking and strategic leadership. This prepares you to address the complex, interconnected challenges that define the field. - Three global perspectives
You'll study with King's College London, Arizona State University and the University of New South Wales, gaining insights from three continents and three strategic contexts. This global outlook is essential for understanding how security challenges play out across different regions and political systems. - Real-world relevance
The programme is informed by cutting-edge research and direct policy engagement. You'll work with real-world case studies, simulations and collaborative projects, and benefit from the expertise of faculty who advise governments, international organisations and industry leaders. - Career-focused outcomes
The programme develops the blend of conceptual understanding, critical thinking and practical policy expertise that employers value. You'll graduate with the skills required to step into leadership roles, influence strategic decisions and shape the future of security policy. - Designed for busy professionals
The programme is designed to fit around your existing commitments. You'll study online and part-time, with control over when and where you engage with course materials. This flexibility means you can apply what you're learning directly to your current role and build on the experience you already have.
What will you learn?
Modules
This module provides an in-depth exploration of the evolving international security landscape and its implications for contemporary defence policy. It examines the complex interplay between traditional security concerns — such as inter-state conflict, nuclear deterrence, military alliances, and power projection — and emerging, non-traditional challenges including cyber threats, disinformation campaigns, climate related insecurity, pandemics, artificial intelligence, and hybrid warfare. Emphasising the contested nature of security, the module critically engages with a range of theoretical perspectives and conceptual approaches to understanding how security is constructed, operationalised, and contested in different political and strategic contexts.
Students will analyse the responses of state and non-state actors to a rapidly shifting security landscape and evaluate how defence institutions adapt to technological innovation, regional instability, and the diffusion of power. The module encourages a strategic and policy-oriented approach to international security, equipping students with the analytical tools necessary to assess risk, formulate policy options, and understand the implications of defence decisions in a globalised and uncertain environment.
Through critical engagement with case studies and applied policy analysis, students will develop the ability to link theoretical insight with practical decision-making. The module supports the development of key skills in strategic thinking, policy evaluation, and contextual analysis — essential for professionals working in defence, government, international organisations, and related sectors. By the end of the module, students will be equipped to engage critically and constructively with contemporary security challenges and to contribute effectively to the development of informed and adaptive defence and security policies.
(30 credits)
This module is designed to provide students with an advanced understanding of the processes, institutions, and analytical tools involved in the formulation and implementation of various facets of security policy in a national and international context. With an applied, practice-oriented focus, the module explores how policy is shaped in response to complex security threats, political pressures, and technological developments. Students will engage critically with key concepts in policy analysis, including agenda-setting, stakeholder engagement, risk assessment, and evidence-based decision-making.
Through case studies and real-world scenarios, students will analyse how governments, international organisations, and private actors develop and deliver security policies in areas such as counterterrorism, cybersecurity, defence procurement, and resilience planning. The module will also examine the challenges of translating strategic objectives into operational policy under conditions of uncertainty, resource constraint, and political negotiation.
The module is particularly relevant for those working in or aspiring to roles in defence, intelligence, security consultancy, or public administration (including civil or public service), and supports the development of professional competencies in policy writing, communication, and ethical judgement. Students will learn to critically evaluate policy frameworks, design policy interventions, and reflect on the interplay between politics, strategy, and implementation.
By the end of the module, students will be equipped to make informed, responsible contributions to security policymaking processes, and to apply analytical tools and conceptual insight in addressing contemporary and emerging policy challenges.
(30 credits)
This module will introduce students to the methodological questions which underpin research at the postgraduate level. It will challenge them to think critically about how the questions we pose affect the course of our analytical work, the epistemological frameworks available to approach analyses, the types of available sources, how to engage with, evaluate and use them systematically and critically for analytical purposes. This will form the basis for the production of a research plan for the final International Security & Policy Research Project and underpin students’ work in other modules across the MA.
(15 credits)
Delivered by the School of Humanities & Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales (UNSW)
This module examines the key elements shaping the Asia-Pacific security environment in the early 21st century. It blends an understanding of the principal themes and trends that are influencing the progress of the region as a whole with detailed insights into particular nations and the strategic issues most likely to impact on its future direction and stability.
Students will be encouraged to explore the main issues in depth and to identify the relationships between them and their practical implications for policy makers. Particular attention is given to analysing security flashpoints and to the new security challenges.
(15 credits)
Delivered by the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University (ASU)
This module provides an introduction to the implications of accelerating changes in military and security technologies, fuelled by rapid developments in technologies in three areas: software, hardware, and wetware. The relationship between human agency and the often unpredictable and uncontrollable spread of technology across society, to include the military, serves as the focal point for the examination of the security implications of emerging technology.
(15 credits)
Delivered by the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University (ASU)
The Leading in a Dynamic International Environment module presents students with the concepts, principles, methodologies, and processes essential to organisational planning and decision-making in all leadership settings. Students will develop an understanding and initial ability to utilise planning principles and processes, including in the development of plans and policy. Students will be exposed to the differences between planning and decision-making as well as the essential elements of effective implementation of plans, plan assessments, and plan adjustments in order to achieve desired outcomes and objectives.
Students will discuss and analyse the importance of framing the problem; the concept of mission analysis; the concept of operational design and design visualisation; the method to develop courses of action; the techniques to analyse and assess the aspects of a COA and then compare proposed COA’s to achieve intended outcomes; and the importance of the dimension of time in planning and decision making.
This course is specifically designed for students of all experience levels. The course is designed to guide students through a step-by-step learning process incrementally introducing students to each step in the course. Many successful students comment they were concerned since they had little or no previous experience in this type of course and how the course guided them through a successful learning experience.
(15 credits)
Delivered by the School of Systems & Computing at the University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Future systems engineers and project managers have to deal with increasingly complex problems that extend beyond technical engineering knowledge. A crucial part of this is acquiring the skills and knowledge required for understanding the complexities arising from the interactions between social, technological, and decision-making factors.
Systems thinking, a complex problem-solving approach, is recognised as a critical and essential competency for systems engineers and project managers by many Australian and international professional bodies (e.g. INCOSE Systems Engineers Competency Framework).
This module aims to build your fundamental understanding of the systems thinking/system dynamics approach, as well as your capacity to use this approach to critically analyse problematic issues.
The module is relevant and critical to all areas and applications related to systems engineering and project management. This is achieved by offering students a fundamental understanding of systems thinking/system dynamics concepts and principles, a practice-oriented focus (i.e. problem-solving exercises, showcases), and a practical systems inquiry into complex problems (i.e. case study-based assignments).
(15 credits)
This module provides students with the opportunity to undertake an independent, in-depth research project on a topic of relevance to international security and policy. As the capstone of the MA programme, the project enables students to consolidate and apply the theoretical knowledge, analytical skills, and policy understanding acquired during the course of study.
The research project must demonstrate a sustained and critical engagement with a clearly defined research question or policy problem, using appropriate academic methods and evidence-based reasoning.
Students will receive structured supervision and guidance in the development of a research proposal, the refinement of research questions, the selection of suitable methodologies, and the analysis and presentation of findings. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, independent judgement, academic integrity, and the capacity to develop well-founded and clearly communicated conclusions with relevance to academic, policy, or professional audiences.
The research project may adopt a range of methodological approaches, including qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods, and may be theoretical, empirical, or practice-oriented in scope. The project encourages originality, intellectual rigour, and the integration of cross-disciplinary perspectives where appropriate.
On successful completion, students will have demonstrated the capacity to manage a significant piece of independent work to a high academic standard, reflecting advanced understanding of international security and policy issues in a global context.
(45 credits)
Students will be enrolled at King’s College London and then receive local enrolments at UNSW and ASU for those specific modules. Please note that module regulations will vary depending on the delivering institution.
Learning outcomes
Enrol on our international security master’s to develop sought-after knowledge and skills in five key areas.
Security knowledge and global context
Understand global and regional security concepts, institutions and policies. Assess emerging challenges like cyber threats, AI, climate change and hybrid warfare, applying geopolitical insights to policy debates.
Theoretical and systems-based analysis
Master international relations and strategic studies, using systems thinking to analyse complex security environments and apply theory to real-world challenges.
Technology, ethics and policy trade-offs
Explore the intersection of security, technology and policy, addressing ethical, legal and strategic trade-offs to balance innovation, governance and national interests.
Strategic and applied policy skills
Build strategic thinking and policy analysis skills to assess risks, synthesise information and deliver evidence-based recommendations through practical exercises and simulations.
Leadership, communication and professional practice
Enhance leadership, collaboration, and communication skills to convey complex ideas and operate effectively in diverse, multidisciplinary contexts.
How will you be assessed?
While these may vary between modules, they are likely to include one or more of the following:
- essays
- reflective assignments
- case studies
- presentations
- reports
- applied projects
- or other real-world tasks that support critical thinking and practical application.
The MA programme culminates in a substantial independent research project, such as a dissertation, completed under supervision.
This is a collaborative programme delivered by King’s College London with partner institutions. King’s is the degree-awarding institution; however, for modules delivered and assessed by a partner institution, the relevant partner’s academic regulations apply and may differ in material ways (including reassessment opportunities). Students are responsible for familiarising themselves with the relevant regulations. Please see below.
UNSW Rules, Policies and Guidelines
ASU Academic Policies and Procedures
Why study international security at King’s?
When you study this online international security degree at King's, you benefit from:
- World-leading expertise in security studies
The Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy is one of the most diverse and highly regarded international communities for social research and education in Europe. It’s also home to the Department of War Studies, the largest community of scholars in the world dedicated to producing world-leading research on all aspects of security and international relations. - Research that influences policy
King's is ranked 6th in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021). Through the Policy Institute, academic research is connected directly with decision-makers, ensuring your education reflects current global security challenges and emerging trends. - Global network and collaboration
This programme is the first online security course from Security & Defence PLuS, the flagship initiative of the PLuS Alliance. This partnership brings together Arizona State University, King's College London and the University of New South Wales to advance research, education and policy in support of statecraft, non-state actors, and the 2021 AUKUS trilateral agreement. - Comprehensive student support
You'll have access to 'high-quality' teaching and dedicated support from anywhere across the globe. King's is committed to helping you succeed, with academic guidance and one-on-one pastoral support from a student success advisor.
Our rankings
5th best university in the UK (31st in the world)
3rd for Sociology and Social Policy in the UK
4th for International Relations in the UK
5th for Politics in the UK
7th for Social Sciences in the UK
Who is this international security course for?
This course is designed for mid-career professionals who want to deepen their expertise, broaden their strategic perspective and progress into senior roles across security, defence and policy.
Whether you work in government, international organisations, international non-governmental organisations, the private sector or adjacent fields such as law and risk analysis, this programme will help you strengthen your analytical and policy capabilities in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
If you’re looking to advance your career, upskill in response to shifting security challenges, and engage in rigorous, research-led learning that connects directly to real-world policy and practice, this programme will equip you with the expertise and confidence to do it.
Online learning
How it works
You will study through each university’s online learning environment for the modules you take with them.
The programme offers flexible, asynchronous learning, allowing you to study at times that suit you. You will engage with interactive materials such as readings, case studies, simulations and discussion forums. With access to faculty throughout the programme, you’ll receive guidance on assessments and regular feedback. Depending on the institution, recorded lectures and live sessions may also be available.
Combining the expertise of three leading universities, this programme delivers diverse perspectives and a flexible learning experience tailored to working professionals. Please note that module regulations and assessment methods vary by institution. Find further information in the 'assessment’ section on this page.
Interested in this programme?
Meet the programme director
Dr Ozge Soylemez
Entry requirements
You should have a 2:1 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject area. This is typically a social sciences or humanities discipline, such as political science and international relations, international security studies, international political economy, or sociology. Similar subjects will also be considered.
We also welcome applicants with relevant professional experience who can demonstrate postgraduate-level study skills.
If you have a 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject, or a 2:1 honours degree in a non-social sciences or humanities subject, you should highlight any relevant professional experience in your application.
Applicants without a relevant degree, or who do not meet the stated academic requirements, may still be considered if they can demonstrate significant professional experience.
As part of your application, you will need to answer personal statement questions and provide two references.
Depending on your previous qualifications, you may also need to submit a CV. You must provide a copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
English language requirements
English language band: B
For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English language requirements page.
Fees
The total cost of our International Security and Policy MA programme is £23,500.
Students must pay a deposit of £2,500 upfront to secure their place on the course.
These tuition fees may be subject to increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.
Depending on your country of residence, you may also have to pay Goods and Services Tax (GST) in addition to your tuition fees. You can find further information on the King's Goods and Services tax page.
Application deadlines
The application deadline for the next intake (September) is 1 September 2026.
There are 3 intakes per year: September, January and May.
For all application deadlines, click the ‘Get programme details’ button on this page, complete the form and an Enrolment Advisor will be in touch to provide more information.
