Application deadline

Friday 26 April 2024

Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes.

Entry requirements

A strong 2.1 Honours degree. A background in political science and international relations is strongly encouraged. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.

The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.

Application requirements

CV or résumé
personal statement indicating your knowledge of the programme and how it will benefit you (500 words)
sample of your own, single-authored academic written work (2,000 words maximimum)
two original signed academic references
academic transcripts and degree certificates.

For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.

English language proficiency

If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.

Course details

The MLitt in International Security Studies is a one-year taught postgraduate programme run by the School of International Relations.

Highlights

Allows students to study critical and traditional security approaches.
Ensures that students grasp the cutting-edge debates taking place in security studies. 
Invites students to think originally and ask alternative questions. 
Provides opportunities for students to apply a wide array of theoretical lenses. 
Encourages students to focus on empirical case studies and global security issues.

The School of International Relations has three broad research themes:

conflict, peace and security
the evolving character of global and supra-national institutions
civil societies and international relations.

These themes are covered by the School's research centres:

Modules

The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your programme. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue.

All International Security Studies MLitt students take two compulsory and two optional modules over the course of the programme.

Critical Security Studies: examines the challenge to traditional conceptions of security presented by the emergence of critical security studies since the end of the Cold War.
International Security: focuses on important issues and significant debates in security studies.

Here is a sample of optional modules that may be offered.

Leaders, Psychology and Foreign Policy: examines the psychology of political leaders, including information processing, personalities, and group dynamics influences on their foreign policy choices.
The Military in Politics: introduces students to civil-military relations and then analyses how armed forces impact states domestic politics.
Political Economy of Conflict: provides a political economy perspective on conflict in a developing economy.
Security and Development in East Asia: investigates growth and development in East Asian states, and seeks to understand if there is a uniquely Asian approach to security and development that produces distinctive regional patterns.
Spaces of Securitization: explores how securitization unfolds in theory and in practice by investigating the ‘spatial turn’ in international relations.

You may, with permission, take modules from other MLitt programmes in the School. 

Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University’s position on curriculum development). 

The final element of the MLitt is a 15,000-word dissertation. The dissertation should focus on an area of international security studies in which you are interested. Each student is supported by a relevant supervisor from the School who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process.

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there is an exit award available that allow suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.

The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2024 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.

Teaching

The programme consists of four taught modules taken over two semesters and a 15,000-word dissertation in an area of your choice.

The two compulsory modules will ground you in both long-standing and contemporary approaches to security issues.

Modules are taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars and tutorials.

Average lecture sizes range from 20 to 30 students, and tutorial sizes range from 1 to 15 students.

Assessment methods include a combination of examination and coursework.

Every MLitt student is assigned a dissertation supervisor who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. 

Fees

Home
£14,140

Overseas
£29,950

More information on tuition fees can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.

Marc L Carter International Security Studies Essay Prize

The Marc L Carter International Security Studies Essay Prize is awarded annually for the best ISS essay or equivalent assessed work.

The prize is named after Marc Carter, a passionate educator who believed in multi-disciplinary teaching, student-centred learning, and the transformative power of education.

Nominations will be made by staff members only, and recipients will be determined by a review panel in the ISS programme. The prize carries with it a £200 monetary award.

Taught postgraduate scholarships Postgraduate loans

After your degree

Careers

Students who graduate from the MLitt in International Security Studies frequently find employment in the foreign service, non-governmental agencies and security consulting, or advance to a PhD to pursue an academic career.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.

Further study

In addition to the MLitt, the School offers a two-year Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree option in International Security Studies.

Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in a PhD programme at St Andrews. 

Postgraduate research

What to do next

Online information events

Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.

Postgraduate online visiting days

We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online visiting days.

Contact us

Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 1944
Email: irpgt@st-andrews.ac.uk
Address: School of International Relations
The Arts Building
The Scores
St Andrews
KY16 9AX

School of International Relations website

International Security Studies (MLitt) 2024 entry