MLitt Middle East, Caucasus And Central Asian Security Studies

A 2.1 Honours degree. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.

The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.

Application requirements

• CV 
• personal statement indicating your knowledge of the programme and how it will benefit you (500 words) 
• sample of your own, single-authored academic written work (2,000 words) 
• two original signed academic references 
• academic transcripts and degree certificates

For fees and funding options, please visit website to find out more

Recent graduates from the MLitt in Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asian Security Studies have gone on to work for: 

• leading political risk consultancies 
• various think tanks in the UK, Europe, Washington, DC 
• local NGOs in the Middle East 
• OSCE in Kazakhstan, the world's largest regional
• intergovernmental security organisation 
• governments, in diplomatic or analysis posts

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.

Compulsory

All students must take the following compulsory module: 

• Core in Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asian Security Studies: focuses on major themes in the study of international security and applies them to the study of the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia. 

Optional

Students pick three optional modules. Unless students pursue a language track, they are expected to take at least one of their optional modules in the Middle East subject area, and one optional module in the Caucasus or Central Asia subject areas.

Here is a sample of optional modules that may be offered:

• Central Asia in World Order
• Conflict in the Middle East
• Conflict, Security and Democracy in the Greater Caucasus (30)
• Contemporary Gulf Politics in a Changing Global Context
• International Relations of the Modern Middle East
• International Society and Central Asia
• Iran and the World since 1921
• Political Order and Violence in the Middle East 

Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered. Some modules may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University's position on curriculum development).

Language Track

Those doing a language track have an option to take, in place of one of the above modules, undergraduate language modules chosen from Russian, Arabic or Persian. These modules depend on staff availability and timetabling compatibility, and cannot, therefore be guaranteed to be available every year. 

Dissertation

The final element of the MLitt is a 15,000-word dissertation. The dissertation should focus on an area of Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asian security studies in which you are interested. Each student is supported by a relevant supervisor from the School who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation must be submitted by the end of August. 

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a postgraduate diploma (PGDip). By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.