MSc International Security 12 months Postgraduate Programme By University of Bristol |TopUniversities
Programme Duration

12 monthsProgramme duration

Tuitionfee

29,300 GBPTuition Fee/year

Application Deadline

27 Aug, 2026Application Deadline

Main Subject Area

International Relations/Studies/AffairsMain Subject Area

Programme overview

Main Subject

International Relations/Studies/Affairs

Degree

MSc

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

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.

Programme overview

Main Subject

International Relations/Studies/Affairs

Degree

MSc

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

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.

Admission Requirements

67+
88+
3.3+
6.5+
176+
You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in any discipline.
If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date.
We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific module requirements would still apply.
We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement.
If your achieved grade is lower than our entry requirements, your application may be more likely to receive an offer if you have additional relevant work experience or qualifications. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing:
  • evidence of significant, relevant work experience in one of the following sectors: NGOs, Government Departments, Think Tanks (minimum of six months in a paid role);
  • a postgraduate qualification in any discipline.




English language requirements


If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level C.

27 Aug 2026
1 Year
Sep

  • Candidates are required to submit references or letter(s) of recommendation for acceptance
  • Candidates are required to submit an essay(s) for acceptance

Tuition fees

Domestic
18,800 GBP
International
29,300 GBP

Scholarships

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