Defence and Security

PgDip

  • Entry year 2026
  • Duration Part time 1 year
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Overview

Lancaster University is a centre for world-leading research on defence and security issues. Our expertise is sought by UK decision makers, policy advisors and commentators. This Postgraduate Diploma equips you to comprehend, analyse and address today’s defence and security challenges, preparing you to pursue or develop a career in government or the defence industry, think tanks and policy making, journalism or the armed forces.

Why Lancaster?

  • Lancaster stands at the heart of the UK's national defence and security ecosystem, embedded in a network of research, government and industry organisations
  • Lancaster’s Centre for War and Diplomacy and Security Lancaster Institute are hubs of excellence - our experts and visiting professionals provide insights via a wide-ranging events programme
  • Combine insights from across academic disciplines, from the historical and cultural contexts of global regions to emerging cyber and military technologies, linguistic analysis, conflict ethics and international and humanitarian law
  • Build expertise in global defence and security, including insights into the African nations, USA, China and Russia
  • Study a programme co-designed with UK Government and defence sector partners
  • Train in methods developed through Lancaster’s think tank and consultancy work, in cutting-edge facilities
  • Study in a flexible format alongside full- or part-time work

Work with experts

Lancaster University is a centre for world-leading research and sought-after expertise on defence and security issues in a range of disciplines, from Cyber Security to History, International Relations, Languages and Cultures, Law, Linguistics, Politics, and Security Studies.

We work closely with the defence sector, from consulting on UK government defence planning to membership of the GCHQ North West Partnership for Security and Trust.

We have a close partnership with the National Cyber Force which unites personnel from intelligence, GCHQ, the MoD, the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.

Our qualifications are designed to support and progress careers in industry, government, intelligence, think tanks, policy making, journalism and the armed forces.

Sophisticated tools and insights

The defence and security challenges facing our world are extensive and complex. This Postgraduate Diploma enables you to build expertise in world regions and actors – such as the USA, China and Russia - and security in Africa, the Indo Pacific and Transatlantic areas. You will combine insights from global cultures, history and linguistic analysis, and assess UK defence and security policy in a shifting geopolitical landscape.

Appraise the workings of diplomacy, intelligence and ‘grey zone’ warfare through international relations and international law and engage with the philosophy and ethics of war and espionage. Assess the impact of new technologies on warfare by combining cyber conflict and security studies with historical perspectives.

You will be trained in how to apply your knowledge to real-life scenarios, from responding to emergencies such as the threat of nuclear war and terrorism, to ensuring the UK's energy security and building defence and security policy.

Our experts will guide you in methods such as red-teaming and back-casting, tackling geopolitical challenges by assessing the resources of global powers, their ambitions, political cultures and constraints, and in considering the interplay between actors in given scenarios. Learn how strategy is formed and test how economic, diplomatic, intelligence and military interventions impact the world order.

Flexible format

This part-time degree is designed so that you can study alongside work and other commitments. It offers a combination of online learning and intensive in-person sessions at Lancaster University.

We offer a suite of postgraduate level awards in Defence and Security:

You can choose to take any one of the three programmes as a stand-alone qualification, depending on the level of qualification and commitment that is right for you.

You also have the option to build your qualifications incrementally on a timeframe that suits you. Begin with the Postgraduate Certificate and, when you are ready, carry forward your credits to progress to the Postgraduate Diploma or the Masters. Or begin with the Postgraduate Diploma and progress to the Masters.

Please contact pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk for further information.

Careers

This Postgraduate Diploma is suitable for those who are pursuing a career in a wide range of sectors and who wish to develop their skills and knowledge by learning from an expert team.

In particular you may be working or seeking to work in:

  • The defence sector, whether in government or industry
  • Think tanks or policy making
  • Defence analysis
  • Journalism
  • The armed forces

Alternatively, you may be planning the transition from a career in the armed forced to a civilian career in the defence sector or looking to build a foundation for further research, such as a PhD.

Careers and employability support

Our degrees open up an extremely wide array of career pathways in businesses and organisations, large and small, in the UK and overseas. Our specialist Employability team is ready to support you, whether you are starting out your career after leaving higher education or returning to university to open up new career options.

We provide individual employability advice, application support, career events, development opportunities and resources to help you plan and achieve your career goals.

The Lancaster Award is available to all postgraduate taught students and recognises work experience, volunteering and personal development alongside your studies. Developed with employers, it helps you reflect on key skills, boost your CV and articulate your strengths with confidence.

Whether you have a clear idea of your potential career path or need some help considering the options, our friendly team is on hand.

Find out more about Lancaster’s careers events, extensive resources and personal support for Careers and Employability.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

2:2 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in a related subject such as History, Politics, International Relations, Law, Linguistics, Languages, Politics, Security Studies or Sociology.

We will also consider applications where you have a degree in other subjects or have not studied at university level but have relevant professional experience, including from former or current service personnel and those working in the defence sector or journalism.

If you are not sure if you meet our entry requirements, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you. Please contact us for information.

Additional requirements

We encourage you to use your Personal Statement to demonstrate your interest in this subject and how your experience and skills have prepared you to undertake this programme of study (e.g. the ability to analyse data and evidence, to write reports and/or essays, and to meet deadlines).

English language requirements

We require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test.

We also consider other English language qualifications and if your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.

Help from our Admissions team

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.

We also have more details on our website about:

Pre-master's programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master's pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master's degrees. Visit INTO Lancaster University for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Course structure

We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

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Fees and funding

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2026/27 entry fees have not yet been set.

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Scholarships and bursaries

Details of our scholarships and bursaries for 2026-entry study are not yet available, but you can use our opportunities for 2025-entry applicants as guidance.

Check our current list of scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. Find out more about our  Charter and student policies.