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The programme is structured around a series of mobility periods across two years where you study at the three programme universities for 6 months each. During year 1 you will undertake a series of core courses reflecting the main themes of the programme and research methods training.

In year 2 you will choose a specialist concentration containing a range of optional courses. Also included is a 4th flexible mobility period, during which independent study (dissertation) and an optional work-based learning placement with a relevant non-academic practitioner partner is undertaken.

The periods of mobility are designed to enable you to engage with a variety of perspectives on the three core themes of the programme and promote valuable knowledge and practical skills based outcomes that will feed into future career opportunities.

University of Glasgow (September to February)

• European and international security & defence strategies
• Global Security: Theories & concepts
• Intelligence analysis & policy making
• Language option: Arabic, Chinese, Russia, German, French OR Spanish
• Modern strategic thought.

OTH Regensburg (March to August)

• Consultation & decision support
• Cultural awareness & security
• Data analytics and tool analysis & the security of Big Data
• Security project
• Strategic analysis & intelligence methods

Charles University Prague

You must choose one specialist themed concentration and complete a minimum of four courses (including the core). You may choice a fifth course from any of the options offered to make up 30 ECTS.

• Strategic studies (core)
• Arms control & disarmament
• Economic Warfare
• War studies.

• Regional security (core)
• African security
• Asian security
• Grand strategies
• Middle East security.

• Security and technology (core)
• Cyber security
• Intelligence
• Space security
• Technology and warfare.

• Conflict studies (core)
• Ethics and violence
• Human security
• Peacekeeping and peacebuilding
• Terrorism and counterterrorism.

Independent Study Portfolio (March to August)

During this flexible mobility period you will return to the university location of your primary supervisor. This will be your official academic home for this period. During this period all students have to complete their independent study portfolio which includes a dissertation. Depending on your research topic you may be able to spend some time in a fourth location at one of our associate partners. Some students will also have the opportunity to undertake a six week work-based placement linked to their dissertation topic. These are offered by our associate non-academic partners and are available on a competitive basis.

A range of formative and extra-curricular features are embedded within this programme. These include

• Language learning opportunities (e.g. German, Czech, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, Urdu, Arabic),
• Study Tour opportunities (e.g. Brussels/Paris/London, Washington) to visit key institutions and organisations working in the security sector such as NATO, European External Action Service.
• Policy development exercises, situational workshops and crisis management training events
• A project based Summer School
• Opportunities to attend security focused conferences
• Membership of the University of Glasgow's Global Security Network.

‌Charles University was founded in 1348 making it one of the oldest universities in Europe. It is ranked amongst the top 1.5% of universities in the world and is rated 3rd in the QS Emerging Europe and Central Asia university rankings. It has an established pedigree for teaching dedicated security studies at postgraduate level. It works in partnership with the Prague Security Studies Institute and specialises in a range of strategic and European/Regional and technological security matters. For this degree Charles University offers the widest range of optional courses, enabling students to tailor the programme to their specific individual interests.

‌‌OTH Regensburg is one of the largest technical universities of applied sciences in Germany. It was founded in 1971, but its origins can be traced back to the early 19th century. It currently has over 10000 students undertaking a range of practice orientated bachelors and masters degrees. It has broad expertise in applied security studies and information based intelligence matters and provides this degree with embedded practical learning experiences.