our unique national security studies ma enables participants to develop an in-depth understanding of national security both in the uk and from an international perspective. the course focuses on cross governmental responses to security challenges and is structured around key themes such as strategy, counter-terrorism, and ethics in national security. this course brings together current serving security policy practitioners in the public and private sectors, studying alongside our postgraduate students with an interest in policy. all participants will gain an in-depth understanding of national security issues and security approaches in the international context. the course will educate students in key national security themes, enabling them to critically analyse current and future developments in the field. delivered by a team of academic experts with a background in security policy research and practice, it complements teaching with a series of guest lectures from former ministers, mps and leading national security experts from the uk and overseas. in the past, guest speakers have included former security and intelligence coordinator professor sir david omand, former national security adviser professor lord peter ricketts, former ambassador to the un and national security adviser professor sir mark lyall grant, and former deputy head of the us state department’s policy planning staff professor kori schake.