MStrat September2025
MAAppliedSecurityStrategy(MStrat)
WhychoosetheMStrat?
SecurityChallengesareRising:
• Greatpowercompetition;warsareproliferating.
• Environmentaldamagegeneratinginsecurityacrosslargeregions.
• Inaninterconnectedandmultipolarworld,strategyismorecomplexthan ever.
TrainingFutureLeaders:
• Establishedin2012,theMStratpreparespublicandprivatesectorleadersto mastertheartofstrategy.
• ThenewIncarnationoftheMStratprogrammeremainsacademically rigorousandvocationallyfocussed,buthasevolvedtoaddressmodern challenges.
FlexibleandModularDesign:
• TheMStratnowoffersastructuretailoredforworkingprofessionals, enablingpart-timestudyalongsidecareercommitments.
MAAppliedSecurityStrategy(MStrat)
WhatmakestheMStratunique?
• TheMStratisaninterdisciplinaryprogrammecombiningstrategy, policy,andsecuritystudies,withafocusonreal-worldapplicationsof strategyandsecuritytheories.
• Deliveredbyleadingacademicsandindustryexperts,withstrong connectionstogovernmentandinternationalorganisations.
• Theprogrammeisdesignedforbothprofessionalsandstudents interestedincareersindefence,security,anddiplomacy,withsmall, diversecohortsfosteringglobalnetworking.
• Wesupportflexiblelearningoptions:Fulltime(2daysperweek)and part-time(1dayperweekovertwoyears). Thisisanin-person programmewithnoonlineorremotelearning,fosteringcollaborative engagement.
MStrat:Programmeoverview
Strategy
• Modulecode:TBC
• Credits:30
• Contacttime:44
AppliedStrategy
• Modulecode:TBC
• Credits:30
• Contacttime:44
HowtoMakeaDecision: command,leadershipand management
• Modulecode:TBC
• Credits:30
• Contacttime:44
SecurityFutures (Optional)
• Modulecode:TBC
• Credits:30
• Contacttime:44
Dissertation(orResearch Project)
• Modulecode:TBC
• Credits:60inc.Research
skillstraining
DrDavidBlagden FoundationsandTheoryof Strategy
DrMartinRobson
ProfessorAnthonyKing OrganisationalTheory; Theoriesofdecision-making; Casestudiesindecisionmaking
AppliedStrategy; SimulatedExercise
ProfessorDougStokes, Facultystaff Defence,Human, Environment,Migration Cyber,AI,Law
staff
PreparationandDelivery
10,000wordsof equivalent
MAAppliedSecurityStrategy(MStrat)
ModuleDescriptor:FoundationsandTheory ofStrategy
ModuleConvenor:DrDavidBlagden
Thismoduleaimstointroducestudentsfromdifferentdisciplinaryand employmentbackgroundstoacommonbodyofknowledgethatwill allowthemtoconsiderdefinitionalandconceptualboundarieswhen studyingandapplyingsecuritystrategy.
Themoduleintroducesstudentstosomeofthemainworksintraditional strategicthoughtandexaminescontemporarytheoreticalapproaches tosecurityandstrategy.
Bytheendofthemodulestudentswillhavedevelopedasenseofsecurity strategyasacoherentyetcomplexintellectualdiscipline.
MAAppliedSecurityStrategy(MStrat)
ModuleDescriptor:AppliedStrategy
ModuleConvenor:DrMartinRobson
Thismodulefocussesonthechallengesof‘doing’strategyinthereal worldandtherisk-basedapproachtodecision-making.Usinga ‘strategicsandbox’todevelopanappliedstrategicskillset,studentsare shownsome‘toolsofthetrade’.Bytheendofthismodulestudentswill havedevelopedsomeoftheskillsnecessaryforstrategicdecisionmakinginthecontemporaryworld.
Initialfocusisonwhy'realstrategy'isdifficult,illustratedwithexamples ofwhystrategyhas,attimes,failed.Interactiveteachingsessions,akin toworkshopseminars,thencoverthe 'toolsofthetrade'ensuring studentstodeveloparangeofappliedskillstheycanapplyto contemporarysecurityissuesandchallenges. Learningwillbereinforced withengagingandimmersiveappliedexercisesincludingaFieldTripand aCrisisManagementSimulatedExercise.
MAAppliedSecurityStrategy(MStrat)
ModuleDescriptor:HowtoMakeaDecision Command,LeadershipandManagement
Module
Convenor:ProfessorAnthonyKing
Inthismodule,studentswillexplorethetheoryandpracticeofdecisionmakinginordertounderstandthecomplexconceptsofcommand, leadershipandmanagement.Thecourseisinter-disciplinaryandbroadranging,drawingfromorganisationalstudies,sociology,politics, psychology,andphilosophy.Thecoursebeginswithanintroductionto organisationaltheory,beforeexaminingclassictheoriesofdecision-making includingtheworksofJanis,MarchandOlsen,Perrow,Drucker,before applyingthesetheoriestoaselectionofpertinentcasestudies.
• Term1:Organisationaltheory,theoryofdecision-making
• Term2:Casestudiesindecision-making
MAAppliedSecurityStrategy(MStrat)
ModuleDescriptor:SecurityFutures*
ModuleConvenor: ProfessorDougStokes
Thismodulewillenhanceunderstandingofcontemporaryandfuturethemes insecurityandstrategy.
Thecontemporaryandfuturecontextispartlydrivenbyastrategic environmentwheresomeofthetraditionalnormsarebeingchallengedbya rangeoffactorsincluding:theacceleratingpaceoftechnologyandthe 4thIndustrialRevolutionincludingissuessuchasArtificialIntelligence,Cyber, Space,EnergyWeapons,AutonomousWeapons,andwhatitdoestothe traditionalnationsofstrategy,suchasdecision-making;risingand developingpowersarechallengingtheestablishedorderleadingtoacrisisof theWesternLiberalDemocracies;identitypoliticsarechallengingthevery processesofstrategymaking;moreoverclimatechangeandpandemics havealteredtheglobalstrategiclandscape.
*This module can be substituted with a cognate module from the Faculty allowing students to tailor the programme to their professional interests.
MAAppliedSecurityStrategy(MStrat)
Dissertation/Work-basedresearchproject
10,000wordsorequivalent
• Ensuresskillsneededtoconductanextendedpieceofresearchand writing
• Timeandguidancetoengagewithcoredebatesacrossthesubdisciplinesofpolitics
• Equipsstudentswithpracticalskillsandcontributestointellectual development
• Enablestudentstowriteonatopicoftheirchoosingwithasupervisor
• Allowsstudentstodemonstratedepthandbreadthofknowledgeina particularsubjectareaofprofessionalorintellectualinterest
• Adissertationisamarkofabilitytoexpressoneselfinwriting
• Tobecompletedby30Septemberofyearofstudy
MAAppliedSecurityStrategy(MStrat)
Potentialcognatemodules
ExamplemodulesthatmightbetakeninplaceoftheSecurityFutures modulewiththeProgrammeDirector’sagreement:
MStrat:DeliveryModel
T1:TheoryofStrategy
T2:AppliedStrategy
Lunch Lunch1200-1300
T1:HowtoMakeDecision
T2:SecurityFuture MStratSpeakerProgramme
MAAppliedSecurityStrategy(MStrat)
AlumniTestimonials
“Having now spent a few weeks working in the Whitehall bubble, I can cope with the relentless workload and intensity because of how the course prepared me. Learning how to better prioritise tasks, deliver high-quality outputs on time and keep seeking out new opportunities has set me above most. Days can be exhausting but my ability to cope has improved tenfold following being part of the MStrat.”
“I almost daily make use of the knowledge I gained. In retrospect, it is the sharpest programme I ever could have chosen. I use every chance I have to advocate for the MStrat at Exeter.”
“What the MStrat gave me was the ability to perform in the strategic environment and to confidently speak with senior stakeholders. The fusion of academic study, combined with applied work pushed me to think beyond commenting on decision-making to considering what I would have done in the same circumstances. This mindset has served me well in my profession and I have not come across any other Master’s courses which provide such insight into the practicalities of decision making at the strategic level.”
MAAppliedSecurityStrategy(MStrat)
EntryRequirements
Standardentry:
• 2:2Honoursdegreeandcompletedapplicationform
Non-standardentry:
Inrecognitionthatmanyprofessionalsindefenceandsecurity,suchasthose intheArmedForces,enteredtheircareerswithoutafirstdegree,SSI welcomesapplicationsfromindividualswithoutadegreewhocan demonstratetotheprogrammedirectorthroughtheirapplicationthatthey havetherequisiteexperienceandacademiccapabilitytothriveonthe programme.
Englishlanguagerequirements:
InternationalstudentsneedtoshowtheyhavetherequiredlevelofEnglish languagetostudythiscourse. PleasevisitourEnglishlanguagerequirements pagetoviewtherequiredtestscoresandequivalenciesfromyourcountry.
MAAppliedSecurityStrategy(MStrat)
HowtoApply
• StartDate:Tuesday23rdSeptember2025
• ApplicationDeadline:VisitourPostgraduateapplicationpagefordetails
• HowtoApply:Visitourwebsite
ContactUs
• Email:SSIAdministration@exeter.ac.uk
• Phone:+44(0)1392727272