Intelligence and Security MA, by distance learning

From battling international terrorism to solving local crime, using intelligence has become crucial to security. But using it means understanding it – the debates and ethical concerns, how it’s collected and analysed. By exploring this topic in depth, you’ll learn what it takes to work in a number of important sectors.

This is the first course in Britain and only the second worldwide to be accredited by the International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE), an international organisation dedicated to expanding research, knowledge and professional development in intelligence education. It will equip you with an understanding of key concepts and debates in intelligence and security and the current state of knowledge in the field. It will enable you to apply this new knowledge to your own field, whether as a practitioner or an academic.

You will look in depth at four major themes:

• key concepts and debates in intelligence
• intelligence collection and analysis
• intelligence failure
• intelligence ethics

As well as a greater theoretical understanding of intelligence and security, this course looks at the subject from the perspective of civilian, military and police intelligence agencies as well as provides an insight into commercial intelligence activity, such as the provision of intelligence by private security companies and political risk analysis.

Combining world-leading research by members of Politics and International Relations at Leicester, and their practical experience in the field of intelligence, this degree will give you an opportunity to conduct advanced study on intelligence theory and practice.

The MA in Intelligence and Security will be especially beneficial to you if you are seeking professional development and/or enhanced employability working with intelligence in central government, the military, the police, the private security sector, non-governmental organisations, the UN or other international organisations.

By choosing to study by distance learning, you will have the flexibility to fit your study around existing commitments and enhance your career prospects without having to leave employment.

Why Leicester?

• Distance learning lets you apply new knowledge and insights to your working life while you are still studying. Many students choose to tackle work-related topics in their dissertations.
• Our staff play leading roles in cutting-edge global research networks, actively advising and engaging with global policy communities, civil society, the media and the public.
• You’ll have the opportunity to share ideas and debate with a diverse and interesting group of students, many of whom work in sectors related to security and conflict.

Teaching and learning

Distance Learning

This course is taught entirely online via our virtual learning environment, Blackboard, therefore it is essential that you have reliable, regular access to the internet (preferably with a broadband connection) in order to participate.

As a distance learning student, you will have access to the University Library's electronic service, the Leicester Digital Library, which includes a large number of e-journals and e-books. You can also make use of the University’s Career Development Service as well as a broad range of other support services.

If you live close to Leicester you can, of course, visit the Library in person. For UK-based students who wish to use other libraries, we can issue you with a card which allows you to do so. This is a national scheme which allows distance learning students to borrow material from up to three other participating libraries.

You will be guided through your modules by a well-trained and experienced tutor who will be available online throughout your studies. You will have access to the library’s special service for distance learning students, access to the internet and database services, as well as the virtual learning support environment, Blackboard.

Teaching and Assessment

You will get a weekly reading list accompanied by questions or exercises to get you thinking and help you engage critically with that week's literature. Each week you are invited to join our online forums to discuss your reading, ask questions, share ideas and debate arguments.

Alongside your weekly reading and discussions, you are expected to complete module activities, designed to build a supportive online community of students as well as develop your key scholarly skills. E-tivities take the form of a combination of non-credit-bearing and credit-bearing assessments designed to complement and support the learning objectives for your particular module. Credit-bearing assessments for each module include a reflective statement and an end-of-module essay.

Your modules are structured enough to keep your studies on track whilst remaining flexible to the unique needs of distance learners, many of whom we know combine studies with demanding jobs.

You will be supported by a dedicated team of tutors and support staff available through Blackboard and email. Administrative support is available by telephone, and you can contact your personal tutor via telephone or Skype. You will be encouraged to contact other students to share views, ideas and issues and to create a virtual student community.

For the MA you must complete a dissertation.

• Intelligence: Key Concepts and Debates
• Intelligence Techniques and Tradecraft
• Intelligence Failure
• Intelligence Ethics

Plus your Dissertation.

The modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Our postgraduate degrees are an excellent way to enhance your expertise and career prospects. A postgraduate course in politics and/or international relations provides a foundation for a wide range of career options. You may seek to use your knowledge to work in government service, international organisations or areas of political research and journalism. Or you may opt to look for employment in an unrelated field such as banking, business or teaching where your MA will be respected as a postgraduate qualification.

Our politics and international relations courses are offered via distance learning, enabling you to tailor your study around your other commitments. The wide range of option modules provides you with the flexibility to tailor your course around your interests and also provides you with the skills and knowledge to move into a variety of careers or postgraduate research.

The MA in Intelligence and Security will be of use to you if you are seeking professional development or enhanced employability working with the intelligence in central government, the military, the police and cognate services (such as the National Crime Agency, Border Force and HM Prison Service), the private security sector (including political risk), NGOs, the UN or other international organisations.

The course will also appeal to those interested in pursuing advanced postgraduate studies in the field of intelligence with an academic background in (but not limited to) International Relations, Politics, Criminology, War Studies, Terrorism Studies, History, Human Rights, Philosophy or Law.