Taught and awarded by London Metropolitan University, the programme starts on 25th November 2013. Enrolment for the PGCert (11 months), PGDip (21 months) and MSc (26 months) closes on 11th November.

The course has been developed by a renowned team at the University in conjunction with the John Grieve Centre for Policing and Community Safety. It is delivered in partnership with IBC Academy, an experienced provider of distance learning education. IBC Academy has many years’ experience offering education and development courses for personnel in a wide range of sectors looking to boost their career trajectory.

“The programme examines key themes and debates shaping concepts of security”, says Dr Nick Ridley, Programme Leader and Senior Lecturer in Policing and Security at the University. “It addresses critical areas of contemporary concern, covering issues stretching from foreign policy through the role of radicalisation in international politics to the evolving dangers of financial and cyber crime.”

“The Security Studies programme will not only equip you to analyse these types of problems but will also help you to place them in the context of broader military, strategic and political considerations. You will gain a solid academic grounding in the fields of criminology, terrorism and intelligence which will equip you with the critical thinking skills needed to make sense of the ever-changing global security agenda. These skills will enable you to engage with institutions and individuals central to this area.”

The course is of special benefit to anyone wishing to work for a public, private or international organisation. Typical career destinations might include, senior positions in the police and armed forces, intelligence agencies, the private security sector, criminal justice, academic positions, government research posts, local and public services, journalism, and positions within institutions such as the European Union or the United Nations.

“The vocational nature of the postgraduate programme is further enhanced by the dissertation, which allows participants to engage in a substantial piece of research and to apply knowledge and skills in an area of particular interest relative to career aspirations”, adds Dr Ridley.

Part-time study by distance learning is particularly well-suited to busy professionals looking to equip themselves for new career opportunities in the global environment. “The postgraduate Security Studies programme requires no physical attendance at induction sessions or lectures at the university itself,” explains Stephen Wrench, Curriculum Manager at IBC Academy. “We offer an academically rigorous qualification using a sophisticated Learning Management System to involve and support students in an immersive study programme, wherever they are in the world, and whatever their current commitments. This means that you can organise your learning and gain a postgraduate award without having to take any time away from the demands of your work and home life.”