MSc Security and International Relations

Program Overview

The MSc Security and International Relations program at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), United Kingdom, is a contemporary and multifaceted postgraduate degree designed for individuals passionate about understanding and addressing the complex challenges of global security and international affairs. The program goes beyond traditional military security, exploring diverse facets such as gender, race, food, health, environmental, and cyber security. It aims to equip students with the confidence and curiosity to tackle "big issues" on the international stage, providing essential graduate skills for progression into academia or a range of professions specializing in global security and international relations. Taught by research-active lecturers with specialist expertise, the course emphasizes small group discussions, interactive learning, and engaging with the origins, evolution, and multifaceted character of the international system.

Curriculum: The curriculum of the MSc Security and International Relations is structured around a combination of core and specialist modules designed to provide a comprehensive and critical understanding of the global political system. Core modules typically include "Advanced Principles of International Relations," introducing key schools of thought and their practical application; "Contemporary Security," delving into new security issues and theoretical approaches like Securitization, Feminist Approaches, and Post-Colonial Ideas; and "Critical Issues in Politics and International Relations: Shifting Perspectives," engaging with contemporary political topics through diverse methodological approaches. Learning incorporates formal lectures on key themes, interactive seminars, simulation games reflecting international institutions, negotiation-based group work, and the analysis of international policy. Students are encouraged to produce work in forms such as briefing notes, blogs, and advocacy pieces, all focusing on contemporary challenges to the international structure. The program culminates in a Master's thesis, allowing students to specialize in a chosen area of interest.

Research Focus: Canterbury Christ Church University, particularly through its School of Law, Policing, and Social Sciences, maintains a vibrant research environment that directly informs the MSc Security and International Relations program. The teaching team comprises lecturers with PhDs and active research profiles, providing specialist insights on power, influence, and governance within key national, regional, and international structures. 1 Research within the school encompasses a broad range of areas, including critical security studies, European security, international relations theory, the role of new technologies in security policies (especially cybersecurity), hybrid warfare, and the complexities of radicalization and conflict resolution. This research-active environment ensures that students are exposed to cutting-edge scholarship and are supported in developing their own in-depth research for their Master's thesis, contributing to the evolving knowledge base in the field.  

Industry Engagement: The MSc Security and International Relations program at CCCU has a strong focus on career development and industry relevance. The innovative teaching methods are designed to bring the "outside world" into the degree, through political role plays, simulations, policy brief writing, blogging, and case study analysis. Students have opportunities to build experience and develop transferable skills in collaboration with partners from the political arena, including journalists, diplomats, parliamentarians, civil servants, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), who are actively involved with the curriculum. While direct mandatory placements are not explicitly outlined, the program's practical and interactive learning styles, combined with engagement from experienced professionals, prepare graduates to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world cases and contribute effectively in various professional settings.

Global Perspective: The MSc Security and International Relations program inherently adopts a strong global perspective, central to its core mandate of understanding the international system and global security challenges. The curriculum systematically explores the origins, evolution, and multifaceted character of the international system, examining ideologies, power structures, and systems of governance on a global scale. Modules directly address contemporary global issues such as climate change, populism, migration, minority rights, war, conflict, and peace-building, through the lens of international relations theories. The program's focus on gender security, race security, food and health security, environmental security, and cyber security explicitly highlights the interconnectedness of global challenges. This comprehensive global outlook, combined with a diverse student body, fosters a nuanced understanding of international dynamics and prepares graduates to operate effectively in a globalized world.