MA War in the Modern World (WiMW)
Print versionA masters degree you can study wherever you are
War in the Modern World is a masters degree from the highly respected Department of War Studies that is delivered to your computer, any computer, wherever you happen to be. One of the world’s top 25 universities, a masters degree from King’s College London opens doors. The Department of War Studies was rated fourth among United Kingdom Politics Departments in the 2010 Guardian University Guide.
Programme description
War in the Modern World gives students an understanding of military campaigns, operations and security issues from 1945 to the present day, in the light of wide-ranging economic, social, technical, and political changes in the world. Equipping them to engage critically with scholarly debate about the conduct and nature of contemporary warfare, it develops students’ understanding of the contexts in which military operations have taken place since the second world war up to and including Iraq and Afghanistan.
Current student Alex Gatopoulos (Qatar) says: (War in the Modern World is) "... a heady blend of history, strategic studies and defence analysis, it is a constant source of pleasure for me to correspond with a pool of experienced, motivated students many of whom have had personal first-hand experience of the events described. Debates are adroitly steered by the tutors into examining areas of the topic previously unexplored. I knew the degree would be useful and worthy, I just didn't expect the process to be quite this enjoyable."
Current student Alex Gatopoulos (Qatar) says: (War in the Modern World is) "... a heady blend of history, strategic studies and defence analysis, it is a constant source of pleasure for me to correspond with a pool of experienced, motivated students many of whom have had personal first-hand experience of the events described. Debates are adroitly steered by the tutors into examining areas of the topic previously unexplored. I knew the degree would be useful and worthy, I just didn't expect the process to be quite this enjoyable."
High standards
War in the Modern World is a rigorous, academically testing degree now in its fifth year. Demanding though it is, our students have risen to the challenge. Standards are high and the degree you receive is a valuable qualification. Many have expressed interest in the PhD: we encourage students to progress to this stage if suitable.
Engagement
War in the Modern World students are invited to attend the frequent extracurricular Departmental seminars and lectures in London if commitments allow. We encourage involvement with the Department and our students are always welcome to visit us in London: many do.
War in the Modern World is taught by the Department of War Studies as one of its 14 postgraduate masters degrees. You will be invited to attend the graduation ceremony if you can be in London for it. See some photos of the July 2009 and January 2010 graduations. Recent graduate, James Sohn (USA) says: “The engagement was very close, focused and even a bit competitive. My fellow students were not wall flowers - they were engaged, professional and definitely motivated. This is not a course for the faint.”
War in the Modern World is taught by the Department of War Studies as one of its 14 postgraduate masters degrees. You will be invited to attend the graduation ceremony if you can be in London for it. See some photos of the July 2009 and January 2010 graduations. Recent graduate, James Sohn (USA) says: “The engagement was very close, focused and even a bit competitive. My fellow students were not wall flowers - they were engaged, professional and definitely motivated. This is not a course for the faint.”
Expert teaching
The programme gives you a unique educational experience and access to a global information network. As a student of War in the Modern World you will be taught expertly by Department of War Studies lecturers, with individual feedback and guidance throughout your course. Recent graduate, Sean Atkins (USA) says: “The faculty and staff are dedicated are dedicated to their individual students. They worked extremely hard to solve any issues I had.”
Student body
Designed for students who want a first-class academic experience, but who need the flexibility that e-learning provides, War in the Modern World attracts a diverse range of high-calibre, motivated students from around the world, from the office to the home to the front line.
Who they are
Our students are currently employed as lawyers, consultants, journalists, bankers, serving military officers: they work in business, non-governmental organizations, and for governments. They are an international group based in, for example, Hong Kong, Kenya, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, as well as the UK. With wide-ranging interests and backgrounds, this rich mix is one of the special features of War in the Modern World. Our students bring to the study of modern war a unique blend of experience and insight.
Flexibility
The busy nature of our students’ lives, often involving travel, is the reason we have designed built-in flexibility for those studying War in the Modern World. If you have to, you can interrupt for up to a maximum of two years and then come back to study. As a part-time MA student, you have up to six years to complete the degree according to King’s College London regulations.
The programme design and assessment pattern have both been created with flexibility in mind: this means you can choose and complete your online seminar presentation working around particularly busy times at work, or in your personal life.
Current student Alex Gatopoulous (Qatar) says: “The War in the Modern World MA is a postgraduate degree for the 21st century. Its flexible structure is perfect for people who have jobs, careers, families, essentially outside commitments. I'm now in my second year and the time has flown past”.
The programme design and assessment pattern have both been created with flexibility in mind: this means you can choose and complete your online seminar presentation working around particularly busy times at work, or in your personal life.
Current student Alex Gatopoulous (Qatar) says: “The War in the Modern World MA is a postgraduate degree for the 21st century. Its flexible structure is perfect for people who have jobs, careers, families, essentially outside commitments. I'm now in my second year and the time has flown past”.
Accessible 24/7/365
Because our students are living, working and studying across many time zones, it is a special feature of War in the Modern World that it is always ‘on’ – 24/7/365 (except for notified maintenance downtimes). This accessibility ensures that you can study and participate whenever you are available to do so.
How long?
War in the Modern World is a two-year, part-time programme. Exceptionally, and if student numbers allow, it may be possible to study two modules concurrently.
Student feedback
There is a great deal of information on this website which you are welcome to browse at your leisure, but the proof of our students’ satisfaction with what War in the Modern World provides is what they say.
Here are four examples:
Here are four examples:
"With a degree in History and Politics, a Masters in Criminology, and a day job in command of Hong Kong’s largest Police region with one and a half million people and 4,000 officers to worry about, I was looking for an online postgraduate degree that was credible, challenging, relevant and flexible. War the Modern World is the answer. The programme is intense, but well structured, and you have the ability to determine some of the pace by deciding which parts of the modules you will lead and focus on, and which you will contribute to in a more general way. The learning resources and the guidance from the tutors are superb, and the environment itself raises everyone’s game. The online discussion process is not a half-baked “chatroom” but a rigorous intellectual debate with everything recorded. So, if you are looking for an academic challenge, that you can combine with serious work and family commitments, have an interest in the last 65 years, and why we are where we are today, then War in the Modern World is for you."
"As a journalist, I was looking for an MA that would help me put daily news into its proper context. WiMW fitted the bill perfectly as the online delivery means I can continue to work and travel while studying. The biggest surprise for me was the diversity of my fellow students: not only are we geographically disparate but we also come from a broad range of backgrounds. The mix is fascinating and we have built a good rapport online. The teaching and course materials are excellent and the knowledge I have acquired is already proving helpful in my work."
"War in the Modern World allows students to engage in the programme from anywhere in the world and at any time. I travel a great deal in my job and require a high level of flexibility if I am to study while working full time. It is not easy, but the degree is well structured and allows me to do this. It is quite challenging, but very stimulating, particularly since the body of professors and students have a wide range of experience in the field which noticeably enriches debate and discussion. So far, it has been great..."
“Combining a full-time job and a MA-study is not always easy, but the flexibility of e-learning programme and of the tutors fits almost any calendar – however difficult. Studying War in the Modern World has expanded my knowledge of conflicts, and helps me put my daily job into a larger perspective. The online debates often reveal new and interesting explanations on all levels due to the different background of the students. On top of that you get to benefit from a global network that only increases every year.”
More testimonials can be found in ‘What our students say’.
Want to join us?
If you are interested in applying for War in the Modern World you can do so at any time. Please click on ‘Applying for the programme’. At present, we start once a year in September.
Applications are being accepted for 2010-11. The start date for new entrants in 2010-11 is 13 September 2010: for returning students it is 20 September 2010.
Anne-Lucie Norton
Executive Director
Applications are being accepted for 2010-11. The start date for new entrants in 2010-11 is 13 September 2010: for returning students it is 20 September 2010.
Anne-Lucie Norton
Executive Director