Strand Campus
Strand Campus sits along the Thames at London's cultural heart. Alongside world-class teaching spaces, students enjoy access to the pedestrianised Strand Quad, with Somerset House and iconic landmarks just steps away.
Overview
The MA in War Studies explores the phenomenon of war and conflict as a key aspect of the human experience, along with its causes, conduct and consequences. It offers a thorough, state-of- the-art introduction to the major issues and debates concerning war and its impact on the world.
The intractability of war suggests that no one disciplinary lens by itself will suffice to fully grasp the problem and identify solutions. By examining war and conflict in the round and looking at theories and practices, past, present and future, this multi-faceted and wide-ranging programme enables you to study alongside historians, social scientists, philosophers, jurists and artists, benefitting from their perspectives and those of the students around you.
This programme will provide you with an intellectual ‘toolbox’ composed of skills and techniques drawn from a range of disciplines associated with the humanities and social sciences, giving you an overview of the fundamental elements of various disciplines that are relevant to the study of war. The challenge we pursue together lies in combining and, if possible, integrating them in order to achieve a sophisticated and rounded understanding of the subject area.
War is a deeply complex and contentious phenomenon, and its interdisciplinary study offers a powerful opportunity to sharpen your critical analytical and reflective abilities and develop independent thinking. This prepares you for a wide range of careers and positions of responsibility in which such advanced intellectual skills are highly valued by employers.
Key benefits
- Designed to provide a postgraduate-level introduction to War Studies for students who have little or no specialist background in the field.
- An introduction to novel and contentious topics, issues, viewpoints and approaches through vigorous, reasoned debate and analysis.
- A chance to develop a range of transferable skills at advanced level - such as critical analysis and reflection, intellectual independence, time management, written and verbal communication - that will enhance your employability, aid your professional career development and help prepare you for postgraduate research.
- You will be taught by some of the very best academics in the field. Departmental staff come from all around the world and are internationally acknowledged experts in their areas of specialisation. They are active researchers and routinely use their latest findings in their teaching.
- You will be taught by some of the very best academics in the field hailing from all around the world. Departmental staff are internationally acknowledged experts in their areas of specialisation. They are active researchers and routinely use their latest findings in their teaching.
- The Department offers a varied list of interdisciplinary optional modules (approx. 35-45) that are open to students on all residential MA programmes. This provides an opportunity to focus or broaden your MA studies as you wish. (Please note that due to the large number of optional modules we offer, the spaces on any particular module are limited). See ‘Teaching & Modules’ tab for more information.
- Be part of a vibrant, highly international and multicultural community of students.
- Opportunities to network with high-profile visitors, such as government ministers, ambassadors, generals and academics, who frequently give talks in the Department.
- Join a global alumni community whose members work in government, international organisations, technology firms, think tanks, academia, journalism, risk consultancy, and the wider security profession.
- Located in the heart of London, that enjoys close relationships with other academic institutions, think-tanks, non-governmental organisations and policy-making bodies in London and around the world.
- A proven record of employability in a wide range of careers, including in academia, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, national civil and military public service, politics, journalism, public advocacy, risk analysis and many others.
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