Programme structure

The programme is structured around a series of mobility periods across two years where you study at the three programme universities for 1 academic semester each. During year 1 you will undertake a series of core courses reflecting the main themes of the programme and research methods training.

In year 2 you will choose a specialist concentration containing a range of optional courses. Also included is a fourth flexible mobility period, during which independent study (dissertation) and a possible optional work-based learning placement with a relevant non-academic practitioner partner are undertaken.

The periods of mobility are designed to enable you to engage with a variety of perspectives on the three core themes of the programme and promote valuable knowledge and practical skills-based outcomes that will feed into future career opportunities.

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Year 1

University of Glasgow (September - December)

• European and International Security Strategies
• Intelligence Analysis & Policy Making
• International Security and Strategic Studies
• Language Option: possible language courses include Arabic, Chinese, Russian, German, French, or Spanish

If students are able to demonstrate that they have completed a similar module in International Relations or Security Studies at A grade, they may be exempt from the International Security & Strategic Studies course and may instead choose one module from a defined list of alternatives. 

Dublin City University (January - May) – Intelligence, Peace-Building & Terrorism pathway

You will take one core and two optional courses.

• Intelligence and Security Analysis: Theory and Practice (core)
• Conflict, Security and Peace-Building
• Contemporary Issues in Security
• Counter-Terrorism in Europe
• Emerging Issues in Security
• Gender, Sexuality and Migration
• International Security: Critical Approaches
• Political Terrorism
• A number of other options are available

University of Trento (February– May) – Causes of Conflicts pathway

You will take four core courses, one optional course and either Italian Language and Culture or Academic and Practitioner Writing Skills.

• Civil Societies and Contentious Politics
• Geographies of Security
• History and Politics of the Middle East: Conflicts, Ideologies and Democratisation
• Human Rights, Natural Resources and Conflicts OR International Law and Security
• Italian Language and Culture OR  Academic and Practitioner Writing Skills (for students already proficient in Italian)
• One optional course from a selection offered at UT

Various locations (June - August, optional)

• Research period to work on dissertation and engage with placement partner
• Summer School from a choice of four provided by partners and associate partners of the programme

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Year 2 

Charles University Prague (September - February)

You must choose one specialist themed concentration and complete a minimum of four courses (including the core). You may choose a fifth course from any of the options offered to make up the required number of credits. (Additional courses may be added to concentrations and all courses are subject to availability)

Concentration A - Strategic Studies

• Strategic Studies (core)
• Armed Forces and Society
• Arms Control and Disarmament
• Economic Warfare
• Health and Security
• Hybrid Warfare
• Insurgency and Counterinsurgency
• Technology and Warfare
• War Studies

Concentration B - Regional Security

• Security in Euroatlantic Area and Global Regions (core)
• Asian Security
• Grand Strategies
• Latin American Security
• Middle East Security
• NATO and EU Crisis Management
• Russian and Post-Soviet Security
• Security and Migration

Concentration C - Security & Technology

• Security and Technology (core)
• Artificial Intelligence and Security
• Cyber Security
• Human-Artificial Intelligence Nexus
• Intelligence
• Sociology of Technology
• Space Security
• Technoscientific Imaginaries and Futures

Concentration D - Conflict Studies

• Approaches to Conflict and Violence (core)
• Ethics and Violence
• Human Security
• Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
• Radicalisation and De-Radicalisation
• Territorial Violent Non-State Actors
• Terrorism and Counterterrorism

Independent study portfolio (March - August)

During this flexible mobility period you will return to the university location of your primary supervisor. This will be your official academic home for this period. During this period all students have to complete their independent study portfolio which includes a dissertation. Depending on your research topic you may be able to spend some time during this mobility period at one of our associate partners. Some students will also have the opportunity to undertake a 6-8 week work-based placement linked to their dissertation topic. These are offered by our associate non-academic partners and are available on a competitive basis.

• A range of formative and extra-curricular features are embedded within this programme. These include:
• Language learning opportunities (e.g. German, Czech, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, Urdu, Arabic),
• Policy development exercises, situational workshops and crisis management training events
• Opportunities to attend security focused conferences 
• Membership of the University of Glasgow's Global Security Network and the opportunity to work closely with staff from Charles University’s Deutsch Security Square. 

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Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.