MA in Global Security and Strategy: Structure and Courses*
| *Vesalius College is closely monitoring the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As the situation continues to change rapidly, our top priority remains the health, safety, and well-being of our community. Please note that due to the current situation in Belgium, the Fall 2020 lectures in Vesalius College’s MA programmes will take place in a blended format, being a combination of on-campus and online teaching. Students who are unable to travel to Belgium in time for the start of the academic year, will be able to follow classes via livestream, of which a recording will be available on the student platform. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. (last updated 9 September 2020) |
The 90 ECTS MA in Global Security and Strategy runs across one intensive academic year and is divided into three trimesters. Hence, it will take a full-time student a total study time of 12 months. Students taking the 120 ECTS option (only available until the 2021-22 academic year – included) will have to complete a fourth semester and will therefore have a total study time of 16 months. The additional time needed by part-time students to complete the study will depend on the number of courses a student will take each semester, but students interested in the part-time option should note that the minimum course load per trimester is between 12 credits (2 courses) and 18 credits (3 courses) and are strongly advised to discuss in advance their intended study plan with the Programme Director.
The course descriptions and syllabi of the courses listed below are available here.
TRIMESTER 1: CORE FOUNDATIONS (Sept-Dec)
Students follow five compulsory courses
| Core Foundations Trimester (Compulsory Courses) | 30 ECTS |
| • MA Thesis Preparatory Seminar | 6 ECTS |
| • Theories and Applied Issues of Global Security and Strategic Studies | 6 ECTS |
| • Geopolitics | 6 ECTS |
| • The Theory and Practice of International Relations | 6 ECTS |
| • Research Methods | 6 ECTS |
TRIMESTER 2: SPECIALISATION TRACKS (Elective Courses)
Students follow four compulsory courses and one elective.
| Compulsory Courses | 24 ECTS |
| • MA Thesis I | 6 ECTS |
| • History of Great Power Competition in the 21st Century | 6 ECTS |
| • Grand Strategy in Theory and Practice | 6 ECTS |
| • Non-traditional Security Threats in Theory and Practice | 6 ECTS |
| Elective Course Modules* (choose one) | 6 ECTS |
| • Public Diplomacy | 6 ECTS |
| • The Success, Failure and Future of Global Governance | 6 ECTS |
| • Geopolitics and Security in East Asia | 6 ECTS |
| • Terrorism and Europe’s Internal/external security nexus | 6 ECTS |
| • Global and Economic Governance: Trade and Finance | 6 ECTS |
| • Disinformation, cyber warfare and Post-Truth | 6 ECTS |
* In order to be organised, an elective course requires a minimum number of 4 students.
TRIMESTER 3: MA THESIS, CAPSTONE AND ONE ELECTIVE (May-July)
In addition to advancing their MA Thesis and working on a Capstone project, students take one elective which could be an internship.
| Compulsory | |
| • MA Thesis II | 15 ECTS |
| • Capstone case study (Students work on a real-life problem at the intersection of diplomacy and global governance by applying their knowledge to a concrete policy problem) |
9 ECTS |
| Elective (choose one) | |
| • Internship | 6 ECTS |
| • Cases and Issues in Global Security & Diplomacy | 6 ECTS |
*Note that students taking the 120 ECTS option – see below – cannot take an internship in the third trimester as they take an intensive internship in the additional trimester
Additional content for the 120 ECTS track
Since some national career-tracks in diplomacy or government service may require a 120 ECTS MA, the programme offers the additional flexibility of enrolling for 30 additional ECTS credits with an additional trimester. Please note that this option will only be available until the 2021-22 academic year (included). This additional content consists of:
| Intensive internship | 9 ECTS |
| The Theory and Practice of Diplomacy and Global Governance | 6 ECTS |
| Global Risk Analysis and Crisis Management concentration (5 modules) | 15 ECTS |
| Module 1: Understanding Risks, Grasping Uncertainty | 3 ECTS |
| Module 2: Analysing Risks, Preparing for Uncertainty | 3 ECTS |
| Module 3: Open Source Intelligence: Tools and Techniques | 3 ECTS |
| Module 4: A New Information Environment: Media, Conflict and Crisis Communication | 3 ECTS |
| Module 5: Global Crisis Monitoring, Conflict Analysis & Early Warning | 3 ECTS |
The programme takes 17 months for the full-time version and 33 months for the part-time version.
All our courses are taught in English.