Home

Security Studies MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Deepen your understanding of the world's most pressing security challenges and build the analytical skills to help address them. Our MSc in Security Studies focuses on the causes and consequences of international and civil conflict. You will learn to use empirical methods to understand why conflicts escalate to international and civil wars, explore the logic of wartime strategies and technologies, and learn about what’s needed to end and prevent violent conflicts.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£21,500
£10,750
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£35,400
£17,700
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

As a minimum, an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard; Applicants should ideally have a background in political science, international relations, law, European studies, history, philosophy, economics, or a related subject. Relevant practical or work experience in a related field may also be taken into account.

The English language level for this course is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


Students develop an understanding of theoretical approaches and debates in security studies, and the ability to analyse how different forms of violent and non-violent political conflict emerge, diffuse, are managed and resolved. They are also equipped with the qualitative and quantitative research skills required to collect and analyse empirical evidence in a systematic way.

Who this course is for

The programme is suitable for students who wish to specialise in security studies for a career and/or further research in political science. 

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

On this MSc, you are part of UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy which is recognised as a centre of excellence in the field of peace and conflict studies and offers a stimulating environment for the study of international security. 

You will benefit from a diverse faculty that actively influences contemporary debates in this field, as well as seminars featuring distinguished external speakers, and regular high-profile events with academics and policymakers. Thanks to the expertise of our Faculty members, the methodological and substantive training you will receive in this programme is one of the finest available globally. You will also benefit from the multidisciplinary nature of the programme. 

The MSc in Security Studies is embedded in a first-rate political science department in one of the world's top universities, ranked 9th in the QS World University Rankings 2026. As a UCL student, you also reap the benefits of studying in London, named the best student city in the world (QS Best Student Cities 2025) and the heart of the UK’s political decision-making, where political think tanks, non-governmental organisations and policy makers and practitioners all come together to shape policy on climate change and beyond. 

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Graduates of the programme are ideally placed to develop careers in the fields of international relations, public policy and political analysis. Many graduates go on to study their PhD at UCL or other universities in the UK or overseas. (Graduate Outcomes survey 2017–2022)

Employability

The Security Studies MSc is designed to equip students with an advanced set of analytical and methodological skills that enable them to collect and analyse data to test theoretically-informed hypotheses relating to the causes and consequences of conflict and related security issues. 

These analytical skills have made our students attractive for employers across many sectors, including the civil service, the private sector; (e.g. in political risk analysis), NGOs and international organisations.

Networking

The Department hosts an eclectic array of events, ranging from our 'Policy and Practice' seminars which include talks by high-profile policy makers, practitioners and academics, to our Departmental Research Seminars (DRS). We also organise an annual Careers Week, bringing students together with alumni and industry speakers and offering skills workshops 

  • The International and Public Affairs Society - a student-run society for all students in the Department of Political Science. The society organises social and fundraising events and endeavour to develop a strong and friendly community within the School of Public Policy (SPP). 
  • UCL Social Data Institute an institute, led by the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences (SHS), which works to amplify UCL’s advanced research and teaching in social data and methods. 

The department also organises an annual Careers Week which brings together alumni, industry speakers and skills workshops. 

Teaching and learning

Taught courses include substantial independent study, lectures, seminars and other group activities. These may be examined through in-person examinations, essays and other assignments.

During your studies, you will find that there is significant variation in the types and style of assessment you are required to undertake. Alongside the traditional written essay or coursework and written examinations, you will find Multiple Choice Questionnaires (MCQs), online tests, oral presentations, book reviews, group projects and many other styles.

As a full-time student, typical contact hours amount to around 12 hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials, full-time students use their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments (approximately 20-25 hours).

As a part-time student study at a structured rate per week, normally half the rate of full-time study.

To learn more, please take a look at the Academic Manual.

Modules

You will undertake a series of compulsory modules covering key substantive knowledge and methodological skills. Please note that all students must take one qualitative and one quantitative methods module in order to conduct further independent research. You will further attend optional module(s) which will allow you to personalise your degree to fit your own academic and/or professional interests. Finally, you will write a dissertation featuring your original take on a debate within the field.

  • In Term 1, you will take a compulsory module on “International Peace and Security”, which introduces you to major themes and debates in the contemporary study of international security, peace and conflict. You may also select compulsory modules on quantitative and qualitative methods (introductory or advanced, depending on prior training) and on “Violent and Non-Violent Conflict”.
  • In Term 2, you may select  a compulsory module on qualitative or quantitative methods (depending on prior training and advanced level of study). It is recommended your module selection on the second term aligns with what you will need for your dissertation research.
  • During both terms you will also choose at least one of six optional modules, plus two elective modules in the fields of comparative politics, international relations, public policy and political theory. Our course offers an array of modules that allows you to tailor your degree to the area you want to specialise in. Please consult the department’s website for an overview of modules.
  • Term 3 will be devoted to your MSc dissertation project, for which you will be working closely  with your dissertation supervisor while  conducting independent research.

The programme structure for part-time students follows the same structure as our full-time students. We do encourage our part-time students to distribute their workload evenly between the two years of study.

Many part-time students opt for one of the following patterns:

  • 75 credits in year one and 105 credits in year two;
    or
  • 90 credits in year one and 90 credits in year two.

Upon completion you will have undertaken modules to the value of 180 credits, comprising of compulsory modules covering key substantive and methodological concepts and a dissertation. You will have further attended elective module(s) so you can personalise your programme of study to your own academic or professional interests.

Compulsory modules





Optional modules













Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Security Studies.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £21,500 £10,750
Tuition fees (2026/27) £35,400 £17,700

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no additional costs for this programme.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

GREAT Scholarship

NOW CLOSED FOR 2026/27 ENTRY
Value: £10,000 towards tuition fees (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application, we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Security Studies at graduate level
  • why you want to study Security Studies at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of a challenging and truly international academic environment
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

When it is necessary to calculate a final average mark, the department will calculate all years of undergraduate study.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Political Science
Political Science

polsci.admissions@ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.