Teaching & modules
Modules
Course structure
Courses are divided into modules. Over two years, you will normally take modules totalling 180 credits. All Year 1 students are required to participate in the online induction course.
Required modules
You are required to take the following modules:
- Dissertation (60 credits)
- International Relations & Contemporary War 1: Theories & Concepts (15 credits)
- International Relations & Contemporary War 2: Problems & Issues (15 credits)
Optional modules
In addition, you are required to take 90 credits from a range of optional modules offered by the Department of War Studies, which may typically include:
- Strategic Dimensions of Contemporary Warfare (15 credits)
- Sea Power (15 credits)
- Middle Eastern Security (15 credits)
- Intelligence in War & Peace (15 credits)
- Insurgency & Counter-insurgency (15 credits)
- Conflict in Russia & the Post-Soviet Space (15 credits)
- The Future of War (15 credits)
- Spacepower and War (15 credits)
- History of Contemporary Warfare: from Cold War to War on Terror, 1975–2011 (15 credits)
- Conflict, Rights and Justice (15 credits)
MA International Relations and War is designed to allow students the maximum flexibility in learning without compromising programme coherence or allowing skill-fade.
Normally, because most our students are doing the degree part-time alongside professional careers modules are spread across 3 terms instead of 2 terms:
Year 1 (75 credits)
2 x compulsory modules
3 x optional modules
Year 2: (105 credits)
3 x optional modules
Core dissertation module
Teaching methods - what to expect
The course is delivered online, via the King’s College London Virtual Learning Environment (KEATS).
You will study through lively online seminars, where everyone will participate in their own time, guided by one of our expert staff.
If you wish, and are in a position to, you may choose one or two residential modules and study on campus in your second year. For each of these, you will need to attend weekly face-to-face lectures (which are typically 1 – 2 hours long) and weekly hour-long seminars. On-campus study must be arranged with and approved by the Programme Director.
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 15-credit module |
20 hours of teaching. Typically, 2 hours per week of ‘seminars’ (asynchronous online discussions) per week for 10 weeks. |
130 hours |
|
Dissertation (60-credits) |
Up to 12 hours of online guidance, training workshops and personal supervision. |
588 hours |
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Assessment
- Written assignment
- Exams
Distance Learning Modules are usually assessed by written assignments. Residential modules may have exams. The dissertation module assessment will be based on a 100% dissertation assignment.
Application closing date guidance
We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that there is sufficient time for your application to be assessed. We may need to request further information from you during the application process.
- Our first application deadline is on 9 March 2027 (23:59 UK time)
- The final application deadline is on 25 August 2027 (23:59 UK time).
After the first application deadline in March:
- if the course is not yet full, we will continue to accept applications until all available places are filled up to the final application deadlines above
- if the course becomes full before the final application deadlines stated above, we will close the course to further applications