Course summary

Investigate the threats and challenges that define the world we live in. From conflicts and the climate crisis to transnational organised crime and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, study how security problems emerge, evolve and interact in a rapidly changing international landscape. Core teaching equips you with both theoretical and empirical tools. Examine classic and cutting-edge approaches to security studies, trace the origins of conflict and peace, and analyse the actors involved in security-related questions – from states and international organisations to NGOs and private actors. Interrogate key texts, question prevailing assumptions, and develop your own evidence-based positions on pressing security issues. To deepen or broaden your expertise, choose from optional modules that address the climate crisis, capitalist transformation, vulnerability and disaster, and advanced research design. Each unit links conceptual debates to contemporary case studies, ensuring that analytical insights remain firmly connected to real-world events. Be challenged and inspired by internationally recognised scholars who work on some of the most urgent security problems of our time. Their research and experience create an intellectually rigorous yet supportive environment where students from diverse backgrounds collaborate, debate and innovate. Guest lectures and workshops further enrich the learning community and help you build professional networks. Guided by a dedicated supervisor, produce a dissertation that demonstrates your ability to design and manage a research project, carry out detailed academic analysis and present your data to the highest standard. Gain an a nuanced appreciation of why security matters and how to analyse it. Graduate with the ability to apply theoretical concepts to contemporary security affairs with clarity and confidence – skills valued in government, international organisations, the security sector, non-governmental advocacy, and academia.