MAApplied Security and Strategy (MStrat)
Source: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/securitystudies/applied-security-strategy/ Parent: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/
MA Applied Security and Strategy (MStrat)
MA Applied Security and Strategy (MStrat)
| UCAS code | 1234 |
| Duration | 1 year full time 2 years part time |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Typical offer View full entry requirements | 2:2 Honours degree |
| Contextual offers |
Why study MA Applied Security and Strategy (MStrat) at Exeter?
- Learn to think critically and strategically to tackle emerging security challenges in an increasingly unstable world.
- Engage with real-world scenarios through interactive workshops, a field trip, and a simulated exercise to enhance practical skills.
- Our core module Applied Strategy in the Contemporary World (POLM233) combines theoretical knowledge with practical tools to develop strategic expertise, making it invaluable for roles requiring fast-paced, high-level analysis and decision-making in the public and private sectors.
- Choose from optional modules aligned with your career aspirations, including global security, AI and emerging technologies, and decision-making.
- Complete a traditional dissertation or focus on a work-related project with a reflective learning portfolio.
- Study with experts addressing contemporary threats like great power competition, regional conflicts, and technological disruptions.
- Participate in weekly seminars led by leaders from the Strategy and Security Institute’s extensive network of honorary fellows.
- The course is available for full-time or part-time study, with classes timetabled to ensure maximum convenience for those in employment. It will be taught mid-week over two days.
- Join a community of students who go on to successful careers in government, defence, intelligence, and beyond.
- We recognise that many professionals in defence and security, such as those in the Armed Forces, entered their careers without a first degree. We welcome applications from individuals without a degree who can demonstrate to the Programme Director through their application that they have the requisite experience and academic capability to thrive on the programme.
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Select date of entry Sept 2026
Select programme Full time 1 year Part time 2 years
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Apply for Sept 2026 entry
Fast Track (current Exeter students)
Contact
Programme Director: Professor Anthony King
Web: Enquire online
Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72
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Professor Anthony King talks about the MA Applied Security and Strategy (MStrat) programme.
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Entry requirements
For applicants with an undergraduate degree, our typical offer is a 2:2 Honours degree or above (or equivalent).
We recognise that many professionals in defence and security, such as those in the Armed Forces, entered their careers without a first degree.
We welcome applications from individuals without a degree who can demonstrate to the Programme Director through their application that they have the requisite experience and academic capability to thrive on the programme.
You should use your Personal Statement to provide additional information such as:
- Why you want to study this course at the University of Exeter.
- What personal qualities make you suitable for postgraduate study.
- Any relevant background (work experience or academic attainment).
- Career/future ambitions and how the course will help you achieve them.
The Programme Director (see above) welcomes pre-application conversations.
Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.
Entry requirements for international students
Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements.
Read more
Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.
Entry requirements for international students
English language requirements
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course.
The required IELTS test scores for this course fall under Profile B1.
Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
Course content
In a world where security threats are constantly evolving and strategic decisions are more critical than ever, there is increasing demand for graduates trained in both the theory and practice of strategy.
The MStrat provides an academically rigorous but practically oriented education in the theory and practice of strategy for professionals in the private and public sectors. The course involves three core taught modules and two optional.
Our core module Applied Strategy in the Contemporary World (POLM233) equips students with professional tools essential for careers in government, defense, security, and commercial sectors. Students gain expertise in decision-making frameworks such as SWOT, Mission Analysis, and Crisis Management, alongside innovative techniques like Pre-Mortems, Design Thinking, and Systems Mapping. Through practical coursework, including simulations, scenario planning, and policy writing, the module develops strategic planning and communication skills tailored for real-world professional environments.
MA Applied Security and Strategy is a unique, academically rigorous and professionally focused programme designed to equip you with critical understanding of the theory, history and practice of strategy.
- The MStrat includes a field trip and simulated exercise that provide practical professional training for students.
- The MStrat is flexible: students can choose to take any module from across the Faculty, including data science, forensics, and a range of modules on international security and politics, to create a bespoke degree.
- The MStrat culminates in a dissertation or work-based portfolio; students can apply what they have learnt on the course to specific problems and questions which they confront in their professional careers.
The modules below provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Modules - MA Applied Security and Strategy
Please note that the module information displayed here is from a previous year and is subject to change.
Year 1: 120 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLM233 | Applied Strategy in the Contemporary World | 30 |
| POLM242 | Theory of Strategy: Conceptual Approaches for Surviving and Thriving | 30 |
| POLM243 | Dissertation | 60 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLM240 | Security Futures | 30 |
| POLM241 | How to Make a Decision: Understanding Command, Leadership and Management | 30 |
| SPAM002 | Security, Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies | 30 |
| POLM308 | Transnational Security and Terrorism | 30 |
| POLM503 | Foreign Policy Decision-Making | 30 |
| POLM144 | The West, Civilisations and World Order | 30 |
| POLM088 | State-building after Civil War | 30 |
| POLM217 | Conflict, Security and Development in Eurasia | 30 |
| POLM344 | Empire and Hierarchy in Russia and Eurasia | 30 |
| POLM082 | International Relations of the Middle East | 30 |
| POLM239 | International Organisation | 30 |
| POLM084 | Conflict, Security and Development in World Politics | 30 |
| POLM082 | International Relations of the Middle East | 30 |
| POLM239 | International Organisation | 30 |
| POLM084 | Conflict, Security and Development in World Politics | 30 |
Modules - MA Applied Security and Strategy (part-time)
Please note that the module information displayed here is from a previous year and is subject to change.
Year 1
Stage 1: 30 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLM242 | Theory of Strategy: Conceptual Approaches for Surviving and Thriving | 30 |
| POLM242 | Theory of Strategy: Conceptual Approaches for Surviving and Thriving | 30 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLM240 | Security Futures | 30 |
| POLM241 | How to Make a Decision: Understanding Command, Leadership and Management | 30 |
| SPAM002 | Security, Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies | 30 |
| POLM308 | Transnational Security and Terrorism | 30 |
| POLM503 | Foreign Policy Decision-Making | 30 |
| POLM144 | The West, Civilisations and World Order | 30 |
| POLM088 | State-building after Civil War | 30 |
| POLM217 | Conflict, Security and Development in Eurasia | 30 |
| POLM344 | Empire and Hierarchy in Russia and Eurasia | 30 |
| POLM082 | International Relations of the Middle East | 30 |
| POLM239 | International Organisation | 30 |
| POLM082 | International Relations of the Middle East | 30 |
| POLM239 | International Organisation | 30 |
Year 2
Stage 2: 90 credits of compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLM233 | Applied Strategy in the Contemporary World | 30 |
| POLM243 | Dissertation | 60 |
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Fees
2026/27 entry
UK fees per year:
*£12,650 full-time; £6,325 part-time*
International fees per year:
£25,550 full-time; £12,775 part-time
Scholarships
The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year, including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships *. We also provide awards for sport, music and other achievements, as well as regional and partner scholarships with organisations such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship
We are pleased to offer University of Exeter alumni beginning a standalone postgraduate programme in 2026/27 with us a scholarship towards the cost of your tuition fees. Full details can be found here.
*Terms and conditions, including deadlines, apply. See our website for details..
Find out more about tuition fees and funding »
Why study the MStrat?
We live in an increasingly unstable and uncertain world. Great power competition is rising. The war in Ukraine continues; the Hamas-Israel War in Gaza threatens to spread into a wider regional war. Tensions in the Indo-Pacific are increasing. Mass migration, environmental crisis, and AI compound the dangers. With the election of President Trump, many institutional certainties about the Transatlantic Relation, NATO, and other international organisations may be in doubt. New strategies and new thinking are required.
Successful professionals today working in the security, defence, and intelligence sectors, in government departments, or in the private sector, in tech or business, need to understand and navigate the complex 21st century geopolitical security environment. The MA in Applied Security and Strategy (MStrat) enables just that.
The MStrat was first developed in 2012 under the University of Exeter’s Strategy and Security Institute. Uniquely, the MStrat aimed to help students to dissect strategic problems and to be able to respond to them adeptly. It enabled them as practitioners and leaders to perform better and to advance their careers. The new MStrat, launched for September 2025 entry, stays true to this vision.
Teaching and research
Teaching
Students on the MStrat will be taught by leading academics in the field of strategy and security studies, who work closely with the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence and other government departments. It also draws on the wider expertise of the department of Social and Political Sciences, Philosophy, and Anthropology, and the wider Faculty of Humanities and the Social Sciences.
The MStrat is offered as a full-time or part-time programme and will be timetabled to ensure maximum convenience for those still in employment. Students enrolled in the core MStrat modules (POLM241 and POLM242 in Term 1; POLM240 and POLM233 in Term 2) can be assured that teaching will take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week. Please note that if you choose to substitute optional modules with other postgraduate-taught (PGT) modules from across the University, teaching may be scheduled on different days. In these cases, we cannot guarantee that your timetable will be limited to Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Teaching will be through a blend of lectures, seminars, group work, a field trip and a simulated exercise designed to teach and confirm practical skills. It will be supported by a weekly two-hour seminar by a guest speaker drawn from our honorary fellows and professors and wider network who will be a leader in their field and with whom students can engage.
Assessment
The course features a variety of assessments aimed at enhancing both your knowledge and practical skills. For your final project, you have the option to pursue either a traditional dissertation or a reflective learning portfolio focused on a work-related topic, allowing you to apply your learning directly to your career.
Facilities
The core modules are taught in the Knightley Building, which is home to the Strategy and Security Institute (SSI). Knightley is an elegant Victorian building on the beautiful Streatham Campus in Exeter. It was specially designed for the MStrat and students will have exclusive access to modern IT and AV facilities, as well as a fitted kitchen and shower facilities.
Careers
The MA Applied Security Strategy cohort is a diverse and talented group who together enrich the programme. Alumni on this course have pursued outstanding careers in government, the armed forces, the civil service, and in business.
Employer-valued skills
In the MA Applied Security and Strategy programme, you'll gain more than just academic knowledge — you'll develop critical analytical and decision-making skills to tackle real-world challenges. Immersive exercises will nurture key knowledge, skills and behaviours including intellectual enquiry, problem solving skills, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, cultural competence and global citizenship.
Career paths
Through this programme, you will acquire the knowledge and skills essential for advancing in strategy and security related roles within government, public administration, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, transnational corporations, and private security and risk analysis firms. The knowledge you will develop will also set you up for success if you choose to further your education with a doctorate and embark on an academic career.
Career support
As a University of Exeter student, you will also have access to the Career Zone, providing invaluable support and tailored guidance to help you prepare for your career after university.
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