MA International Security
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Course Overview
The contemporary landscape of international security is incredibly dynamic, reflecting the complexities of global politics. From traditional concerns like conflicts and arms trade to pressing non-traditional issues such as environmental crises and human security, the field of international security is constantly evolving.
This is a particularly exciting moment to be studying this fast-changing subject. Our MA in International Security is designed to equip you with a thorough and in-depth understanding of contemporary global security challenges.
You’ll gain a comprehensive grounding in international security studies, focusing on developments since the end of the Cold War. International security issues arise within complex political, geopolitical, environmental, and social contexts, involving a broad range of state and non-state actors. Our MA helps you get to grips with classic topics in International Security, such as inter-state problems relating to the military, strategy, nuclear proliferation, and foreign policy. You’ll also explore broader contemporary issues, questions, and approaches, from the climate crisis to gender in world politics, international crime, and migrations.
Our teaching aims to prepare you for a future in international security, providing you with the analytical, theoretical and methodological tools you need to further your understanding and advance your career. This MA combines the study of the main international relations and international security theories with empirical analysis of contemporary security issues. Our teaching approach is both grounded and innovative: you'll find solutions to real-world challenges through practical individual and group projects as well as simulated exercises.
You’ll have the flexibility to tailor your learning by selecting optional modules, completing your degree with a dissertation that you’ll research and write independently on a subject of your choosing, with dedicated expert academic supervision.
You’ll be able to apply for internships in your School of study, notably to act as a research assistant for academics on relevant projects. Our many links with thinktanks and policymakers give our students exciting opportunities. For example, our postgraduate students recently visited the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) in Brussels to work with their research assistants and UEA academics to produce policy briefs and op-eds for international publications.
Study and Modules
Structure
From the start, this one-year International Security Master’s programme will be a rich and exciting experience. Face to face teaching will take place through lectures, seminars, and workshops over the course of the year.
In the first semester, you’ll gain an essential grounding in the theory of International Relations and an up-to-date interdisciplinary understanding of international politics. Your studies require no previous knowledge of these subject areas. You’ll also study methods of social enquiry to prepare you for the dissertation and acquire key research skills in conducting interviews or running surveys. Finally, you’ll tackle a simulation-based introduction to diplomacy and military strategy in international relations. The simulations will help you learn about the theoretical and practical challenges posed by the strategic relations between states, so you develop a more nuanced understanding of war and peace in international politics.
In semester two, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the discipline of security studies. You’ll trace security studies, from its roots in Cold War strategic studies to the development of the broader field of security studies today. You’ll critically analyse contemporary security issues and gain a sound theoretical base for considering practical issues of security, including new wars, humanitarian interventions, poverty, famine, disease pandemics, transnational crime and terrorism.
Over the summer, you’ll work on your dissertation. Your dissertation is an integral element of your MA and an excellent opportunity to conduct independent research into a subject area that you find stimulating. You’ll select your own topic and will be allocated an individual supervisor to advise you on all aspects of writing and research.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 40)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Our teaching is designed to encourage you to critically analyse all sources and develop your ability to engage in informed debates. We place significant emphasis on enabling you to advance your opinions in an academically grounded manner.
The department comprises expert academic staff who actively engage with research in the field. This means that you’ll be taught by experts in international relations theory and international security studies. Our teaching is research-led, asking the same questions of our students as we do in our research. This means you can be sure your learning is at the cutting-edge of the discipline.
We take an interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approach to our work, linking theory to practice, to create a distinctive programme of research. This has given us a strong international reputation for research in a wide variety of areas, including international relations, international security, human rights, Britain, the EU, Japan and the Asia-Pacific, the US, public administration and public policy, political theory, and political rhetoric.
Independent study
Learning how to study and research independently, and how to present your work, are important skills that you’ll gain during this postgraduate degree. You’ll develop and hone these abilities from your first week with us, and you’ll build on them as you progress through the degree to your final dissertation.
How you'll spend your time during semester one and two:
- Teaching: 25%
- Independent Learning: 75%
Whilst writing your dissertation, you’ll meet regularly with your dissertation supervisor.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed through a range of methods, including essays, project work, presentations and your dissertation. Many of our modules include real world assessments, such as reports, policy briefs and more.
Most of our modules include opportunities for formative assessments, which will provide you with the expert feedback you need before you submit your final work.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area
- Additional Entry Requirements
If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above then please contact university directly for further information.
Relevant work experience can be taken into account for those with a non-relevant humanities or social science degree, such as experience in diplomacy, international organisations, the military and careers in development.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Any subject area
- Additional Entry Requirements
If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above then please contact university directly for further information.
Relevant work experience can be taken into account for those with a non-relevant humanities or social science degree, such as experience in diplomacy, international organisations, the military and careers in development.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 6.0 in Writing & Speaking and 5.5 in Listening & Reading)
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
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- INTO UEA
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by our partner INTO UEA. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here:
International Pre-Masters in Business, Economics and Social Sciences
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
-
UK Students: £10,675
-
International Students: £22,700
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
An MA is an excellent way to set yourself apart from other graduates when it comes to securing a good job and can also lead to rewarding doctoral research. An understanding of international affairs is increasingly important in all kinds of careers, while our International Security programme will provide you with vital employability skills and many networking opportunities.
Recent graduates from our School have taken jobs in business, teaching, research, journalism, and many international organisations, including the UN, EU and NATO.
UEA Careers Services can provide employment advice, as well as helping you to arrange internships and work placements. The school has a dedicated employability director and career adviser who will help you think about what you want to do next and how to get there.
Careers
Example of careers that you could enter include:
- political/policy analyst
- programme/development officer
- risk analyst
- advocacy/outreach officer
- journalist
- management positions in international organisations, NGOs, government, media, and academia
Discover more on our Careers webpages.