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 War Studies BA equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand, investigate, and analyse the conceptual, historical, and contemporary dimensions of war and other forms of armed conflict, violence, and coercion. In this three-year undergraduate course, you will study the global human challenges of war and conflict from a variety of distinctive angles, including history, politics, international relations, philosophy, sociology, diplomacy, and strategic studies. This provides you with essential knowledge and insights into world politics (contemporary and historical) and the skills needed for a variety of careers.
You will develop the ability to assess a broad range of evidence, analyse complex, challenging, and important issues, and present arguments in a clear, concise and effective manner, both orally and in writing.
The first year of study introduces to key areas and topics in War Studies, including the causes and consequences of war, the global experience of war, the history of modern war, contemporary security issues, and past and present perspectives on studying war. Your first year will thus provide a rounded introduction to the occurrence of war as a global challenge and the benefits of its multi-disciplinary study, laying the foundation for your more specialised study of war, conflict and security issues in Years 2 and 3.
In your second year, you will take two required modules, one on research methods and one on the global Cold War. You will also choose 90 credits from a range of modules offered by the Department of War Studies. These options provide you with a deeper understanding of war, conflict and security, as revealed through a variety of methods of study and disciplinary pathways, including history, politics, international relations, philosophy, and sociology.
In the final year, you are required to complete a dissertation on an approved subject of your choice (with emphasis placed on self-directed research). The remaining 90 credits worth of optional modules are designed to reflect the current research and expertise of staff in the department, providing you with the opportunity to study specialist subjects in-depth.
Students can take one language module free of charge as part of their programme. This can be taken as additional credit in either Year 2 or Year 3, or as a for-credit module in Year 3.
Key benefits
- King’s is amongst the world’s leading universities for the study of war and conflict. We rank 7th in the UK for Social Sciences (Times Higher Education University World Rankings 2026 per subject).
- The War Studies Department offers a uniquely comprehensive approach to analysing war, peace, and global security, bringing together experts in politics, history, sociology, law, philosophy, and technology. It is one of the few academic departments in the world focused solely on the complexities of conflict and security, supported by world-renowned scholars, with strong links to governments, international organisations, NGOs, and leading defence institutions.
- An outstanding interdisciplinary curriculum that allows students to discover and study the aspects of conflict, international relations, and war that interest them most. Beginning in the second year of study and especially in their final year, students can choose from a wide range of specialist modules.
- High-profile visitors contribute lectures to modules and are featured at extra-curricular events.
- Our vibrant, diverse academic community supports graduates to acquire the transferable skills and global perspective needed for careers in government, diplomacy, journalism, policy, risk analysis, management consulting, defence, humanitarian aid, international organisations, and beyond. We do this in multiple ways. For example, we utilise a diverse set of assessments, including policy briefs, presentations, essays, group projects and exams. We also leverage our central London location to bring in practitioners to enhance your learning.
- Intellectually and physically located close to government; our campus is just ten minutes' walk from Whitehall and sits within the heart of London amongst the media, museums, and major libraries and research institutes of the capital.
War Studies gave me access to an interdisciplinary curriculum and a vibrant academic environment. In many ways, my experience surpassed my expectations – the sheer breadth of research within the department is hardly comparable and was made accessible to students through not only teaching but discussion groups, events and conferences
PiaAlumni
Special features
Optional study abroad
Key Information
UCAS code:
L252
Course type:
Single honours
Delivery mode:
In person
Study mode:
Full-time
Required A-Levels:
AAA
Duration:
Three years with optional year abroad
Application status:
Start date:
September 2027
Application deadline:
Administrative bodies
Regulating body
Base campuses
Waterloo Campus
Centrally located and well connected, Waterloo brings together students from health, science and law, just steps from the South Bank. It's also home to the world's #2 nursing school – the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery (QS 2026).