Structure and Courses
The 90 ECTS MA in Global Peace, Security and Strategic Studies runs across one intensive academic year and is divided into three trimesters.
For students interested in following the degree as part-time students, the course load per trimester is between 15 and 18 ECTS. Thus, the total study time for a 90 ECTS degree part-time will take 24 months.
TRIMESTER 1: CORE FOUNDATIONS (Sept-Dec)
Students follow five compulsory courses
| Core Foundations Trimester (Compulsory Courses) | 30 ECTS |
| • The Theory and Practice of International Relations | 6 ECTS |
| • Theories and Applied Issues of Global Peace, Security and Strategic Studies | 6 ECTS |
| • The Role of International and Regional Organizations | 6 ECTS |
| • Research Methods | 6 ECTS |
| • MA Thesis and Capstone Preparatory Seminar | 6 ECTS |
TRIMESTER 2: SPECIALISATION TRACKS (Jan-May)
Students follow three compulsory courses and two electives chosen from diplomacy or global governance track
| Elective Course Modules (GPSSS) | 30 ECTS |
| PEACE STUDIES TRACK | |
| • Global Perspectives on the History and Ideas of Peace (compulsory course) | 6 ECTS |
| • Mediation, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution in Theory and Practice | 6 ECTS |
| • Peacekeeping, Peacebuilding and Peace Enforcement | 6 ECTS |
| SECURITY STUDIES TRACK | |
| • History of Global Conflicts and Global Security (compulsory course) | 6 ECTS |
| • Terrorism, Counterterrorism and (De-)Radicalisation | 6 ECTS |
| • Emerging Security Threats in Theory and Practice (incl. Cybersecurity, Energy Security, Environmental Security) | 6 ECTS |
| STRATEGIC STUDIES TRACK | |
| • History and Theory of Strategy (compulsory course) | 6 ECTS |
| • Geopolitics | 6 ECTS |
| • Comparative Regional Security Complexes and Strategic Cultures | 6 ECTS |
* Electives can be taken to either DEEPEN or to WIDEN tracks. I.e., either students take two additional electives in one track to deepen that track OR students use the two electives for any courses within the three tracks or two courses from the MADAGG track, you can find the full list HERE.
TRIMESTER 3: MA THESIS, CAPSTONE AND FREE ELECTIVE (May-July)
| Thesis, Capstone and Free Elective | 30 ECTS |
| • MA Thesis | 18 ECTS |
| • Capstone (Students work on a real-life problem at the intersection of diplomacy and global governance by applying their knowledge to a concrete policy problem) |
6 ECTS |
| • Free Elective (to choose one of the following options) -Internship* -Foreign Language -Transatlantic Approaches to Global Peace, Security & Diplomacy (in cooperation with Georgetown University) -Contemporary Global Challenges |
6 ECTS |
*Note that students taking the 120 ECTS option – see below – cannot take an internship in the third trimester as they take an extensive internship in the additional trimester
Additional content for the 120 ECTS track
Students have the option of following a 120 ECTS track for the MA Programme in order to widen their knowledge, deepen their practical skills with an extensive internship and take a concentration in Global Risk Analysis. Since some national career-tracks in diplomacy or government service can require a 120 ECTS MA, the programme offers the additional flexibility of enrolling for 30 additional ECTS credits with an additional trimester. This additional content consists of:
- 9 ECTS intensive internship
- Theories and Applied Issues in Diplomacy and Global Governance course
- Risk Analysis concentration of five weekend modules
| Risk Analysis and Early Warning | 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.