2Dec
PostgraduateCourse summary
This programme is aimed at students who wish to get an interdisciplinary understanding of individual and organisational involvement in terrorism, coupled with an understanding of national and international approaches to counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism (CVE). This programme is ideal for students wishing to develop a research career in terrorism and counter-terrorism studies, or who are working in, or wish to work in, the security or policy sectors. Alongside the formal lectures and seminars, you will hear from guest speakers from the research community, as well as the private and public sector. The interdisciplinary nature of this programme draws on the interlinks between criminology, law, psychology, international relations, and sociology.
- Focus on the theory and practice of terrorism and counter-terrorism and hear from practitioners working in the field.
- Develop a critical understanding of counter-terrorism in England and Wales.
- Examine counter-terrorism work in context of the wider criminal justice system and consider the role of human rights.
Modules
Core Modules Debates in Terrorism Studies Debates in Counter-Terrorism Studies Advanced and Applied Research Techniques Dissertation Optional Modules History of Terrorism Terrorist Use of the Internet Transnational Organised Crime Statistics for Research
Assessment method
You will take six taught units worth 20 credits each and complete a dissertation worth 60 credits. You will be assessed through a mixture of reports, presentations, portfolios, peer assessment and a thesis.
How to apply
International applicants
With almost a third of our students joining us from outside the UK, Royal Holloway is a diverse community with a strong international spirit. Ranked highly in the UK and the world for international outlook in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Royal Holloway’s position recognises our global research impact and partnerships as well as student and staff diversity. Our alumni are found in 160 countries, working in industry, the arts, public sector and other areas, Royal Holloway is truly international both in ethos and impact. Within the 9,850 students enrolled at Royal Holloway, over 130 nationalities are represented, making our campus truly cosmopolitan. In addition, of the 104 societies and associations which enrich the post-study social life of our students, a quarter have an international flavour. We know a diverse community makes for a more creative and harder-working environment which benefits all our students, wherever they are from. Students from overseas can apply for all of our undergraduate degrees. We offer a range of additional support specifically for international students, including through our Centre for the Development of Academic Skills. For example, ‘Academic English’ for international students is provided for non-native speakers of English. The courses are designed to help you meet the challenges of academic work, including writing essays, following lectures, taking part in academic discussion and giving presentations. We also offer additional degree preparation courses for international students. See our website for full details. We have a number of scholarships that are dedicated to international students to help with tuition fees for undergraduate degrees. You can find a list of our current scholarship opportunities on our website.
Entry requirements
2:1 Criminology, Psychology, Politics, or another subject from the social sciences. Normally we require a UK 2:1 (Honours) or equivalent in relevant subjects but we will consider high 2:2 or relevant work experience. Candidates with professional qualifications in an associated area may be considered. Where a ‘good 2:2’ is considered, we would normally define this as reflecting a profile of 57% or above.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Republic of Ireland | £11600 | Year 1 |
| EU | £22300 | Year 1 |
| England | £11600 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £11600 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £11600 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £11600 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £11600 | Year 1 |
| International | £22300 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
These tuition fees apply to students enrolled on a full-time basis in the academic year 2025/26. Students studying on the standard part-time course structure over two years are charged 50% of the full-time applicable fee for each study year.
Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase all postgraduate tuition fees annually, based on the UK’s Retail Price Index (RPI). Please therefore be aware that tuition fees can rise during your degree (if longer than one year’s duration), and that this also means that the overall cost of studying the course part-time will be slightly higher than studying it full-time in one year.
This figure is the fee for EU and international students starting a degree in the academic year 2025/26. For further information, please visit: https://royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/fees-and-funding/postgraduate/tuition-fees/
These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2025/26 academic year, and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.
Provider information
Royal Holloway, University of London
Egham
TW20 0EX