King's College London

The international political system is now experiencing its most momentous period of upheaval since the end of the Cold War. Our International Affairs MA, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, with specialisms in Cyber Security, Espionage & Surveillance Studies, and now Strategic Studies engages with the world’s international security issues with the goal of educating the next generation of leaders in the industry. If security is of concern to you, this course will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed.

Our International Affairs MA will provide you with an advanced and comprehensive understanding of the complex world of contemporary international relations and politics. With a ground-breaking, flexible curriculum, King’s equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges, and the threats they pose both to individual states and to the international community.

Delivered by the Defence Studies Department and drawing its content from our School of Security Studies, the largest academic community of its kind in the world, the course makes use of our teaching team’s deep connections to security organisations worldwide to provide the highest tier of research and experience-led learning outcomes. This complete master’s course is taught 100% online, meaning you can progress your education alongside your career from anywhere in the world, without needing a career break. The flexible curriculum fits around your existing work and life commitments.

International Affairs is a ground-breaking course that combines international relations, military history, strategic studies and regional security studies to educate students in the fundamental issues surrounding international security and conflict politics. With modules covering international relations, strategy and conflict history, modern implementation of deterrence strategy, cyber security, intelligence and future conflict, the course’s multidisciplinary approach enables you to gain a holistic understanding of the global security industry and the challenges it faces.

As well as its core subject areas, the course seeks to transform your research capabilities, with skills modules focussed on critical thinking and evidence evaluation. You will need to complete a self-directed research dissertation that will inaugurate you into the academic conversation surrounding international affairs.

Specialist Pathways

King’s Defence Studies Department is dedicated to nurturing the security and defence leaders of the future and our curriculum content is structured with this goal in mind. Our course modules have been described as “transformative” and “sector-leading”; fundamentally changing the way that you will understand the global security and defence landscape. Armed with these top-tier study and research outcomes we anticipate that our graduates will undertake critical leadership positions in security-related fields.

The MA in International Affairs provides a comprehensive study pathway with options to explore your own subjects of interest. However, students with specific career goals in mind may wish to specialise within a subset of the field.

Cyber Security is a complex and increasingly pressing issue in today’s digitised world. The definition of the term itself is broad, covering both an understanding of what constitutes a cyber ‘attack’ as well as defence apparatus, surveillance architectures, data management and information campaigns. The advent of artificial intelligence adds even greater levels of risk to an already intricate digital landscape. The Cyber Security specialism helps students to grasp the theory behind this complex world, investigating different aspects of the industry with the goal of offering a practical understanding of security strategies and approaches.

The Espionage & Surveillance pathway explores the history of intelligence organisation over the past 60 years as a foundation for understanding the theory and strategies involved in intelligence gathering and analysis. This fascinating field takes on a new aspect in the 21st century when digital technologies and artificial intelligence are redefining our understanding of the nature of information. ES is at once practical, historical and theoretical, laying the groundwork for flourishing intelligence-related careers.

The Strategic Studies pathway builds on the Introduction to Strategy core module of the course. This pathway encourages students to look at the modern-day implementation of deterrence before studying in-depth the topics of sanctions, strategy and statecraft. Students get to grips with the complexity of strategy in the modern world, which has implications not only for international affairs but also for business and organisational development.

• Gain cutting-edge knowledge in the contemporary world of international relations and politics.
• Study at one of the top 10 UK universities in the world (Times Higher Education world rankings, 2023).
• Draw upon knowledge and research from the Defence Studies Department, the School of Security Studies and the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy.
• Learn from high-profile academics in the field of security and defence.
• Choose your path with our specialisms - Cyber Security Studies, Espionage & Surveillance Studies or Strategic Studies.
• Six intakes a year for maximum flexibility (Jan, Mar, May, Jun, Sept, Oct)
• Study 100% online, from wherever you are in the world.