We are delighted to continue our longstanding partnership with the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. Through the Defence Studies Department, King’s brings together internationally recognised expertise in defence, security and leadership education, helping to equip current and future leaders with the knowledge and analytical skills needed to address complex global challenges. This renewal reflects the strength of our relationship with the Defence Academy and our shared commitment to educational excellence.
20 August 2026
Strengthening National Capability: Defence Partnership Renewed
The Defence Academy of the United Kingdom has extended its academic provision contracts with King’s College London and Cranfield University for a further four years, continuing defence and security education opportunities for military personnel, UK industry, civil servants and international partners to 2031. This continued academic provision will support efforts to maintain safety and security in an increasingly insecure global environment.
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King’s College London and Cranfield University are long-standing trusted partners of the Defence Academy, with both universities delivering world-class specialist teaching and research for decades.
Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor & President of King’s College London commented:
King’s will continue to provide academic support and teaching through the Defence Studies Department (DSD) in the School of Security Studies. Through the partnership, King’s academics will contribute to professional military education at the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), the Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC) and the Land Command and Staff College (LCSC) supporting the development of defence and security professionals from the UK and allied nations.
Major General Peter Rowell, Commandant of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, said:
This extension provides continuity and confidence for Defence at a time when maintaining our intellectual edge has never been more important. It ensures that our people continue to benefit from world-class academic support whilst we shape the future of professional military education and defence learning.
Cranfield University has partnered with the Defence Academy for over forty years with teaching informed by the latest research and innovation spanning across the university’s specialisms of technology, engineering and management.
Using its unrivalled technical facilities and operating from a secure campus at the Defence Academy site at Shrivenham, Cranfield University brings innovation and academic rigour to courses alongside a focus on applied practical application. Cranfield offers a range of specialist defence master’s courses, apprenticeships and short courses that reflect the changing demands of the sector, and which draw on its globally renowned academic expertise in defence, technology and leadership.
Professor Wyn Bowen, Head of the School of Security Studies commented:
The extension of the contract is first and foremost a testament to the excellent work of our academic and professional services colleagues responsible for supporting professional defence and security education at the UK Defence Academy. We are excited about the future and continuing to deliver on our unique academic-military partnership.
King’s College London and Cranfield University recently announced a proposed merger to bring together both institutions into a global university that will support UK national capability and resilience. While these contract extensions are independent of the proposed merger, the merger will allow the two institutions to combine their considerable strengths in these domains and create new strengths for the UK’s national capability and resilience.
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Head of the School of Security Studies
Head of the Defence Studies Department