International Peace & Security MA

Our MA in International Peace & Security is the only MA in the UK which provides an integrated study of international law with international politics relevant to the contemporary world. It consists of a broad-based, multidisciplinary curriculum, focusing on law and conflict in international society and contemporary security issues. It is ideal if you are looking for a career in international organisations, government departments, political risk, the financial sector, further research/PhD or professional legal studies.

Key benefits

• The opportunity to choose from a wide range of optional modules available within the Department of War Studies, and from a handful of carefully selected law modules (from within the Law School which may vary from one year to another) that are made exclusively available to International Peace and Security MA students each year.
• Develop skills beyond the expected academic ones, including group and team work, report, policy and situation analysis, as well as the unique opportunity to acquire peace and conflict field skills training delivered in conjunction with the major international NGO -International Alert.
• Graduates predominantly go on to work in fields such as international organisations, government departments and diplomacy, defence and scientific research, international criminal law, research — including academic, risk analysis and international NGOs, and commerce and finance.
• An unrivalled location in central London close to the Royal Courts of Justice, leading NGOs and research institutions, Westminster and London's legal quarter.

Course essentials

Our course was launched by the School of Law and the Department of War Studies – two long-standing and world-leading academic departments within King’s - in response to the rapidly changing world after the Cold War. It enables students to gain vital insight into major world events through the lens of international law, international politics and strategy. The specialist course draws on the strengths of War Studies and Law to provide an integrated study of international law and international politics relevant to the contemporary world. Our MA will give students of international relations, historians and political scientists a deeper knowledge of international law. It will narrow the existing gap between international lawyers and international relations specialists as well as educate individuals interested in forging a career in international organisations (both inter-governmental and non-governmental), government, or as teachers of international law and politics. This MA is based in the Department of War Studies, one of the only academic departments in the world to focus solely on the complexities of conflict and security. War Studies is an multidisciplinary department and all War Studies students benefit from research-led teaching in such subjects as the history and evolution of war and grand strategy, arms control and non-proliferation, migration, strategic thought, cyber, conflict and the environment, the influence of science and technology on international security, along with regional specialisms covering Africa, Asia (East and South), Russia and elsewhere.

Base campuses

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Waterloo Campus

Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Entry requirements

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Teaching & structure

Teaching methods - what to expect

Lectures

Seminars

Self-Study

Curious to find out more? Access on-demand content including taster lectures and talks, and meet our current staff and students on our subject hub page.

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

The following table will give you an idea of what a typical academic workload might look like as you progress through your studies:

Module	Lectures, seminars and feedback	Self-study
Per 30-credit module	40 hours of teaching. Typically, 2 hours per week over two 10 week terms. This can be split into lectures and seminars. A 15 credit module will be half of this.	260 hours.
Dissertation module (60 credits)	Up to 12 hours of online guidance, training workshops and personal supervision.	588 hours for dissertation.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours work.

Assessment

• Essays
• Individual & Group Presentations
• Seminar participation
• Exercises
• Exams
• Dissertation

The primary methods of assessment for this course are assessed essays, individual and group presentations, seminar participation, exercises, and/or exams.

The dissertation module assessment will be based on a 100% dissertation assignment (up to 12,000 words).

Structure

Required modules

Courses are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180 credits. If you are a part-time student, you will take Law & Conflict in International Society and a total of 60 credits of optional modules in your first year. You are required to take the following modules:

Law & Conflict in International Society (30 Credits)

Dissertation (60 Credits)

Optional modules

In addition, you are required to take 90 credits from a range of optional modules if a full-time student. If you are a part-time student you will typically take 30 credits (or up to 60 credits) from a range of optional modules in your first year that may include the below:

International Law & War (30 credits)

Transitional Justice And International Criminal Law (15 Credits)

Understanding Deterrence in Theory and Practice (15 credits)

Migration, Conflict & Politics (15 credits)

The Yugoslav War and Succession - Issues and Debates (15 credits)

Hacking Defence Problems (30 credits)

Gender in International Politics and Security (15 credits)

Or choose from a range of optional modules available within the Department of War Studies. Please Note: the optional modules available change each year and are therefore only made accessible to enrolled students during the module allocation process.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Careers

Employability

War Studies Graduates go on to work for NGOs, the FCO, the MOD, the Home Office, NATO, the UN or pursue careers in journalism, finance, academia, the diplomatic services, the armed forces and more. Recent posts held by our alumni include Threat Analyst, Director of Political Violence Forecasting, Research Advisor at NATO Defence College, Foreign Policy Fellow.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: £16,200 per year (2022/23)

Part time: £8,100 per year (2022/23)

International:

Full time: £29,310 per year (2022/23)

Part time: £14,655 per year (2022/23)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000.

• If you receive an offer on or before 31 March, payment is due by 25 April 2022.
• If you receive an offer between 1 April and 30 June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 1 July and 31 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 1 August and 21 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer from 22 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery 
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
• Graduation costs

Funding

• Course essentials
• Entry requirements
• Teaching & structure
• Careers
• Fees & Funding

Our course was launched by the School of Law and the Department of War Studies – two long-standing and world-leading academic departments within King’s - in response to the rapidly changing world after the Cold War. It enables students to gain vital insight into major world events through the lens of international law, international politics and strategy. The specialist course draws on the strengths of War Studies and Law to provide an integrated study of international law and international politics relevant to the contemporary world. Our MA will give students of international relations, historians and political scientists a deeper knowledge of international law. It will narrow the existing gap between international lawyers and international relations specialists as well as educate individuals interested in forging a career in international organisations (both inter-governmental and non-governmental), government, or as teachers of international law and politics. This MA is based in the Department of War Studies, one of the only academic departments in the world to focus solely on the complexities of conflict and security. War Studies is an multidisciplinary department and all War Studies students benefit from research-led teaching in such subjects as the history and evolution of war and grand strategy, arms control and non-proliferation, migration, strategic thought, cyber, conflict and the environment, the influence of science and technology on international security, along with regional specialisms covering Africa, Asia (East and South), Russia and elsewhere.

Base campuses

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Waterloo Campus

Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Loading...

Teaching methods - what to expect

Lectures

Seminars

Self-Study

Curious to find out more? Access on-demand content including taster lectures and talks, and meet our current staff and students on our subject hub page.

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

The following table will give you an idea of what a typical academic workload might look like as you progress through your studies:

Module	Lectures, seminars and feedback	Self-study
Per 30-credit module	40 hours of teaching. Typically, 2 hours per week over two 10 week terms. This can be split into lectures and seminars. A 15 credit module will be half of this.	260 hours.
Dissertation module (60 credits)	Up to 12 hours of online guidance, training workshops and personal supervision.	588 hours for dissertation.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours work.

Assessment

• Essays
• Individual & Group Presentations
• Seminar participation
• Exercises
• Exams
• Dissertation

The primary methods of assessment for this course are assessed essays, individual and group presentations, seminar participation, exercises, and/or exams.

The dissertation module assessment will be based on a 100% dissertation assignment (up to 12,000 words).

Structure

Required modules

Courses are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180 credits. If you are a part-time student, you will take Law & Conflict in International Society and a total of 60 credits of optional modules in your first year. You are required to take the following modules:

Law & Conflict in International Society (30 Credits)

Dissertation (60 Credits)

Optional modules

In addition, you are required to take 90 credits from a range of optional modules if a full-time student. If you are a part-time student you will typically take 30 credits (or up to 60 credits) from a range of optional modules in your first year that may include the below:

International Law & War (30 credits)

Transitional Justice And International Criminal Law (15 Credits)

Understanding Deterrence in Theory and Practice (15 credits)

Migration, Conflict & Politics (15 credits)

The Yugoslav War and Succession - Issues and Debates (15 credits)

Hacking Defence Problems (30 credits)

Gender in International Politics and Security (15 credits)

Or choose from a range of optional modules available within the Department of War Studies. Please Note: the optional modules available change each year and are therefore only made accessible to enrolled students during the module allocation process.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

War Studies Graduates go on to work for NGOs, the FCO, the MOD, the Home Office, NATO, the UN or pursue careers in journalism, finance, academia, the diplomatic services, the armed forces and more. Recent posts held by our alumni include Threat Analyst, Director of Political Violence Forecasting, Research Advisor at NATO Defence College, Foreign Policy Fellow.

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: £16,200 per year (2022/23)

Part time: £8,100 per year (2022/23)

International:

Full time: £29,310 per year (2022/23)

Part time: £14,655 per year (2022/23)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000.

• If you receive an offer on or before 31 March, payment is due by 25 April 2022.
• If you receive an offer between 1 April and 30 June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 1 July and 31 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 1 August and 21 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer from 22 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery 
• Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
• Graduation costs

Funding

Application closing date guidance