Terrorism, International Crime and Global Security MA

Study level: Postgraduate
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This interdisciplinary course is concerned with the threats posed by terrorism and international crime to national and global governance, human rights and ethics.

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time
16-24 months (with professional experience)

Course code

AHT022

Start date

September 2025
January 2026
May 2026

At Coventry University, we continuously review the courses we offer to ensure we reflect industry-relevant emerging best practice and technology. As a result, this course is undergoing continuous improvement assessment and will be launched with a renewed curriculum starting in September 2025. Module content and titles will be updated. Course title, learning outcomes and assessments may also change. We expect our new curriculum to be fully updated by January 2025. Please return to this page to see the final course details.


Course overview

Since the end of the Cold War, there has been a growing awareness of the changing nature of security threats facing individuals, communities and states worldwide. With intensifying economic, political, cultural and military globalisation, there is now a heightened awareness of terrorism and international crime.

  • Guest speakers and field trips2 are an integral part of the course. Previous field trips have included visits to the counter-crime, counter-terrorism and counter-modern slavery organisations.
  • Previous students have been able to work on placements2 with the local police forces, as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international organisations within Europe, including the anti-mafia organisation AddioPizzo in Sicily, Ethicando in Paris, the UN NGO Women’s Federation for World Peace in Geneva, the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin, CISS (Cooperation International South-South) in Italy, and Chatham House in London.
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Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

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Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

The course has been designed to reflect the changing perceptions of international relations in the 21st century. It puts the twin threats of the ‘war on terror’ and transnational organised crime into context with modern societies facing broader challenges, including economic inequality, environmental pollution, disease, natural disasters, state collapse and racial or religious tensions.

  • Research-informed teaching will be delivered by our many experts on peacekeeping, foreign policy, criminal mafias, security and policing. Current staff include a current Director of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, a senior security adviser to the British government’s stabilisation unit and the academic responsible for pioneering the study of mafias within UK universities (staff are subject to change).
  • Our academic expertise is complemented by the input of international security practitioners2. You can benefit from interaction with professionals such as counter-crime and counter-terrorism experts, police officers, judicial prosecutors, diplomats and NGO workers. You could also have opportunities to attend workshops at the foreign affairs think tank Chatham House, travel to Sicily to study the mafia and anti-mafia organisations in situ or study organised crime in Costa Rica.
  • The interdisciplinary approach of this course provides transferrable skills valued by employers and has helped former students secure a broad range of employment worldwide, as civil servants, diplomats, journalists, military and police officers, NGO leaders and security professionals.
  • We aim to provide a series of specialist workshops, delivered by experienced practitioners which in the past, have included ambassadors, UN weapons inspectors, chief constables, anti-mafia judges, and anti-trafficking and smuggling officers2.

We aim to facilitate access to international learning experiences via course-related optional field trips2, and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) activities2 (past examples include webinars with the University of Costa Rica, the University of Buenos Aires and with the South-South International Cooperation organisation in Sicily).

More than just a degree

Studying at Coventry University has been one of the best decisions I have made. My course director makes sure everyone is supported. All our lectures are carried out professionally even though they were online.

Maria Adebayo, Terrorism, International Crime and Global Security MA student, 2021
Maria Adebayo

What you'll study

The key themes of this master’s degree are addressed in the three core subjects: international organised crime, international terrorism and threats to global security.

Part-time students split the full-time course across two years of study, taking at least one module per semester. The Critical Thinking module must be taken in the first semester of enrolment. A dissertation must be submitted in the final semester of enrolment.

Modules

 

With professional experience option

The professional experience opportunity2 enables you the opportunity to apply for optional professional experience in semester 1, which, upon successfully securing an opportunity, will extend the duration of your master’s to either 16, 20 or 24 months. The professional experience provides an opportunity for you to develop expertise and experience in your chosen field with the aim of enhancing your employability.

Please note that the optional professional experience modules incur an additional tuition fee, for which 1 semester of professional experience is £1,333.33, for 2 semesters of professional experience is £2666.67, and for 3 semesters of professional experience is £4,000.

Professional experience may also be subject to additional costs, visa requirements being met, subject to availability and/or competitive application. Professional experience opportunities are not guaranteed but you will benefit from the support of our Talent Team in trying to find and secure an opportunity. Find out more about the professional experience option.

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.


How you'll learn

On the full-time course, during each of the first two semesters, we will teach four modules designed to establish the core agenda of the programme, alongside pertinent research skills. In your third semester, you will complete a 15,000-word dissertation. All modules are assigned 15 credits, except dissertation (50 credits) and the Creative Futures and Social Change module (10 credits).

The topics included in the course are delivered as interactive and multimedia workshops. They blend case studies, practical illustrations and theoretical analysis. Each session is designed to encourage interaction and debate.

This course can be offered on a part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Request further information about part-time study


Teaching contact hours

The number of full-time contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 12 contact hours per week in the first year. The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 35 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules. 

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.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

  • Essays
  • Group work
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • Projects
  • Coursework
  • Individual assignments

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


International experience opportunities

Attracting students from many different European, African, Asian and American (North and South) countries, this course offers a multicultural learning experience of diverse cultures and values, which will better prepare you to work in an increasingly globalised job market.

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guaranteed2.


Entry requirements

Applicants should hold an honours degree 2:2 or above in a relevant academic discipline, such as finance, accounting or economics. Applications from candidates with relevant experience will be considered on an individual basis. Each application will be considered on its merits and the final decision will be made by the course director. For information regarding what might amount to a ‘relevant experience’ that would count, or ‘academic discipline’ that would qualify, please contact us using our online form for UK students.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5
  • If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
  • For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £11,200 | £15,200 (with prof. experience)  
Request fee information
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £11,200 | £15,200 (with prof. experience) per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £18,600 | £22,600 (with prof. experience) per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £18,600 | £22,600 (with prof. experience)  
Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees3 cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

You will benefit from studying on our well-equipped, modern campus. Our aim is to offer you sector-leading facilities in a dedicated environment4.

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The Library

You will benefit from our support designed to help you succeed and our industry-relevant teaching and resources. These include our modern library and computing facilities, dedicated careers advice and Your Students’ Union.

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Jaguar Centre

The Jaguar Centre has been specifically designed to provide facilities and services to support our postgraduate students including social spaces, computer suites and separate areas for small group study.

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The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student campus life. It's also home to the Health and Wellbeing Centre, the Spirituality and Faith Centre, the Tank Studio, Student Success Coaches and the Enterprise Hub.


Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion, you will have knowledge of:

  • the nature of terrorism, its evolution and role in the changing world order
  • the threat of organised crime in the changing world order
  • the changing international environment and the threats posed to global security
  • the principles of consultancy and the theories and practices found in leadership.

You should be able to:

  • evaluate the different perspectives and approaches used in the study of terrorism, organised crime and global security
  • demonstrate awareness of, and sensitivity to, differing international environments and the impact that these have on terrorism, international crime and global security
  • apply advanced research skills, identify appropriate sources and methods, take personal responsibility and demonstrate initiative in dealing with complex and unpredictable environments
  • demonstrate advanced analytical and evaluative skills to construct fair, coherent and convincing arguments
  • exhibit advanced problem-solving skills, tackling complex issues both independently and as part of a team.

Employers are looking for individuals with the ability to work across different cultures, to manage teams and possess problem-solving and critical analysis skills.

We encourage you to gain first-hand experience through volunteering and placement opportunities2. In the past, students have undertaken internships in counter terrorism with the West Midlands Police or anti-mafia and anti-trafficking grass-root project in Sicily, France and Greece and spent time conducting research in universities abroad, such as the Arab-American University in Jenin, or an anti-mafia research centre in Palermo.

Where our graduates work

Our graduates have been successful in securing employment in the foreign services of a range of countries from Ethiopia to the UK, as well as working in government departments in Kenya, Nigeria, Gulf States, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Ghana and the United Kingdom. Several have gone on to enter the security services in their home country; others have sought careers in international organisations, non-governmental organisations, or international commerce and business.

Some students are now working with big security firms in different parts of the world, others with NGOs and national police or military forces.


How to apply

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