MA Conflict, Security & Development at King's College London

Programme overview

Interdisciplinary, policy-focused MA that examines how conflict, insecurity and development interact, taught by active researchers. Students move from theories of development to the root causes of conflict and state fragility and apply them to real-world cases.

Faculty: Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy | Department: Department of War Studies (School of Security Studies) | Duration: One year full-time or two years part-time (September to September); 180 credits (ECTS 90) | Intake: September 2027 | Study mode: full-time / part-time | Location: London, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

A compulsory Security & Development module and a dissertation, plus optional modules from War Studies such as Comparative Civil Wars, State Failure & State Building, Approaches to Understanding Violence and Atrocity in Civil Wars, Russia and the World, Transitional Justice & International Criminal Law, Power-Sharing Agreements in Deeply Divided Societies, International Politics of the Middle East and Gender in International Politics and Security. Assessment combines coursework and written or practical examinations, and the dissertation is assessed 100% on the dissertation.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

A minimum high 2:1 undergraduate bachelor's (honours) degree with a final mark of at least 65% in the UK marking scheme, in a subject such as International Relations, War Studies, History, Political Science, Strategic Studies, Criminology, Economics, Geography, Law, Philosophy, Psychiatry, Psychology, Religious Studies, Social Anthropology, Sociology or Theology; applicants with a first degree in other areas (science, languages, journalism) are also welcome. Applicants with a lower classification or an unrelated degree may be considered with significant relevant work experience or a related graduate qualification (such as a master's or PGDip). Application requires a personal statement answering two questions (why this programme and how it fits future plans; how educational or professional background suits it), official transcripts and one academic reference (a professional reference is accepted if qualifications were completed over five years ago); a CV is optional. International applicants (English language Band B): IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in each skill, or PTE Academic 69 overall with at least 62 in each communicative skill.

Domestic applicants: GBP 22,200 a year (2027/28). Full-time home fee. Source

International applicants: GBP 40,600 a year (2027/28). Full-time overseas fee. Source

Intake: September 2027

Duration: One year full-time, two years part-time, September to September

Apply through the official page: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/courses/conflict-security-and-development-ma

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