Overview
Protective Security and Resilience is becoming an important and influential consideration in the counter terrorism, security and development disciplines, particularly in relation to crowded places and critical infrastructure protection.
Our new and impactful programme focuses on the complex security-related challenges faced by law enforcement, governments and businesses and how these are understood and mitigated in order to help keep people safe.
Our postgraduate programmes in Protective Security and Resilience (PG Cert, PG Dip, MSc) are shaped by research-active staff and real-world events. Delivered in a friendly and supportive learning environment, these innovative and highly interactive programmes will allow you to understand and analyse current issues and develop your skills in response.
The MSc is studied through blended learning – a mixture of face-to-face and distance study – allowing you to study flexibly around work and personal commitments. We also provide the opportunity to study through our fast-track (APEL*) route which allows you to gain accreditation for your prior experience and learning, including what you have achieved in your career so far.
Qualifications available:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Protective Security and Resilience (8 months by blended/distance-learning).
- Postgraduate Diploma in Protective Security and Resilience (16 months by blended/distance-learning).
- Full Term MSc Protective Security and Resilience (24 months by blended/distance-learning).
- Fast-Track MSc (APEL) Protective Security and Resilience (16 months).
Why Coventry University?
An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.
COVID-19
The University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to Covid-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedStudent experience
All the support you need, in a top student cityWhat our Academics say
The programme places emphasis on operational and strategic experiences within protective security and the need to approach protective security and resilience from a holistic perspective. This in our view is very much at the core of this course’s distinctiveness.
Course information
Protective Security and Resilience is becoming an important and influential consideration in the counter terrorism, security and development disciplines, particularly in relation to crowded places and critical infrastructure protection. Our new and impactful programme focuses on the complex security-related challenges faced by law enforcement, governments and businesses and how these are understood and mitigated in order to help keep people safe.
Our postgraduate programmes in Protective Security and Resilience (PG Cert, PG Dip, MSc) are shaped by research-active staff and real-world events. Delivered in a friendly and supportive learning environment, these innovative and highly interactive programmes allow students to understand and analyse current issues and develop their skills in response.
If you take the full route, the whole course will take two years. If you take the APEL fast track however, you don’t study the PGDip and you study all modules within a 16-month period.
Qualifications available:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Protective Security and Resilience (8 months by blended/distance-learning).
- Postgraduate Diploma in Protective Security and Resilience (16 months by blended/distance-learning).
- Full Term MSc Protective Security and Resilience (24 months by blended/distance-learning).
- Fast-Track MSc (APEL) Protective Security and Resilience (16 months).
Course specification
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Modules
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
In more detail...
This course is delivered by researchers currently active in the field of protective security, counter-terrorism and resilience. Our teaching, like our research, draws from a broad range of disciplines to better understand and confront global challenges. Our course provides practice-focused learning, blending academic knowledge and practical skills to enhance your practice and further your career.
We work hard to provide a supportive, rich learning environment for both face-to-face and distance study. Our courses are informed by our Centre’s research and real-world events, and led by a teaching team with a wealth of experience in both the practice and theory that underpin this critical field of study.
Our courses attract students from around the world who bring with them an array of personal and professional experiences. The opportunity to meet and learn with professionals in similar roles but working in very different contexts is one of the most important and powerful aspects of our programme.
- Complete an MSc in 16 months with accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) - For those with 5 years+ working experience, you could gain one-third of your Master’s degree credits in recognition of what you’ve already achieved, through our APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning) route.
- Complete a Postgraduate Certificate in 8 months. Our course can be studied at Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s Level, with the opportunity to stop, pause or progress between stages. Whilst most complete a full Master’s degree with us, many students choose to pause after the first or second stage, graduating and continuing their careers with ‘PGCert’ or ‘PGDip’ after their name.
- Study wherever you are, whilst working. We provide the flexibility of studying online and through short residential workshops where you can meet, network and learn with peers in a diverse range of roles around the world.
- An international network of professionals. Access to a network of practitioners working in roles related to peacebuilding internationally, as well as the large team of researchers and practitioners working in the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations.
- A distinctive, international course led by world-leading experts. Delivered by active international researchers, our courses are global: from the content of the programme and the staff leading them, to the diverse backgrounds of our participants.
- Inspired by our city. Our courses are founded in and inspired by the heritage of Coventry, the UK’s City of Peace and Reconciliation. Further, our courses are developed by Coventry University, ranked 15th in the Guardian’s University Guide (2019) and Times Modern University of the Year 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Starting in September, each year our courses are designed to be studied by ‘blended learning’ – a mixture of distance and residential workshops in Coventry. There are 3 optional residential workshops during the course. These take place on the Coventry campus. This is the same for all our courses.
You will be well supported throughout your studies with a range of support, services and guidance to help you get the most out of your programme.
Students are provided with a range of pre-enrolment materials to better prepare them for their studies. Online modules are provided through the virtual learning environment (Moodle) to facilitate communication between staff and students, and between students. You will have access to Coventry University’s library, including its digital resources and library support for distance learners.
Extensive coursework feedback and support from the programme team will be provided. CTPSR has a team of PGT (Postgraduate Teaching) Ambassadors who provide pastoral and academic skills support. For those writing a dissertation, a supervisor will be allocated who has appropriate knowledge, experience and expertise in your chosen topic of study.
At each stage of the programme you will have the opportunity to attend a short residential workshop to deliver the core learning of one module. These workshops are covered in the course fees (an accommodation bursary is provided for those attending each workshop, but students must cover their own travel expenses).
- At the start of your study, our first workshop covers the core learning on the Introduction to Protective Security and Resilience module.
- At PG Diploma stage, a second workshop allows you to develop a project or intervention focused on Understanding Insider Threat.
- A final research design workshop is provided to prepare students for their dissertation.
Whilst not mandatory, attendance at the workshops is strongly advised as they provide a chance to hone your practical skills, network with professionals from across our postgraduate courses and meet our wider Centre team including leading academics, our PhD community and alumni network.
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods, which will vary depending upon the module, but will include essays and coursework projects.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include exams, individual assignments or group work elements.
On successful completion of the course students will receive a Postgraduate Certificate; Postgraduate Diploma or MSc. Completion of the course will provide students with a more holistic and critical understanding of key factors and discussions in the field of protective security.
You will have the opportunity to attend three optional residential workshops on the Coventry campus. Each workshop will last for five days. The remainder of the course is made up of distance learning.
The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
Global ready
Did you know we help more students travel internationally than any other UK university according to data from the experts in higher education data and analysis, HESA?
In 2018/19, we were able to provide a total of 5,469 experiences abroad that lasted at least five days.
Much of this travel is made possible through our Global Leaders Programme, which enables students to prepare for the challenges of the global employment market, as well as strengthening and developing their broader personal and professional skills.
Explore our international experiences1st for
International experiences
Sending more students overseas than any other UK uni 2016/17
5,469
Student experiences
The number of student trips abroad for at least 5 days in 2018/19
12,000
and counting
The number of students we’ve helped travel internationally since 2016
12
global programmes
As well as trips, we offer other opportunities like language courses
Entry Requirements
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
EU student fees
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.
For tuition fee loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
For maintenance loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
Career prospects
Graduate Immigration Route visa
Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
The course is taught by experts in the field of Protective Security and Resilience and is informed by their research. The programme is also evolving alongside contemporary challenges and our teaching reflects that. Further to this, the course ultimately seeks to create a learning community, where ideas can be interchanged and debated amongst academic staff, alumni, and current students, lasting well beyond the timespan of the academic programme itself.
- These are the benefits that the MSc in Protective Security and Resilience can offer you, and should thus enhance your career prospects in the following ways:
If you are already a practitioner, you will have the opportunity to broaden your professional network, which is very likely to be useful to you in the workplace, whilst also gaining a formal accredited postgraduate qualification, which may be required for further progression in your career. - If you are an individual with an interest in protecting crowded places, critical infrastructure and business risk mitigation, this course can help equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary to enter into jobs within a broad spectrum of organisations, including: law enforcement, government, private security organisations, architectural design and development companies, international non-government organisations and also academia.
Where our graduates work
Graduates from this course have developed the skills and knowledge necessary to enter into jobs within a broad spectrum of organisations, including: law enforcement, government, private security organisations, architectural design and development companies, international non-government organisations and also academia.
Disclaimer
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2020/21 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the University will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
