MA Modern War Studies and Contemporary Military History
The University of Buckingham has a well-established Master’s degree in Modern War Studies and Contemporary Military History based in London.
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Course overview
Buckingham Campus Open Day
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13 July 2024
FIND OUT MOREAbout the Course
Course outline
In a world of uncertainty and rapid change it is more important than ever to study why and how wars are fought. The University of Buckingham has a well-established Master’s degree in Modern War Studies and Contemporary Military History based in London. The one-year (two years part time) course* commences in September with an ‘Induction and Research Skills Day’ and culminates, after a period of supervised research, with the submission of a dissertation. During their time of study, candidates are encouraged to attend both a series of evening seminars held at the Army and Navy Club, Pall Mall, at which some of the most eminent names in the field present papers, and in-depth course ‘Study Day’ at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. This series of talks examines a range of historical subjects as well as those issues affecting modern Defence in all dimensions.
A 20% discount is available on the tuition fees for this programme to all serving members of the British Armed Forces (regardless of rank).
*A six-month long variant of this course is available to all those who have attended the Advanced Command and Staff Course (or its international equivalent).
Induction and Research Skills Day
Location: Humanities Research Institute, 51 Gower Street, London WC1E
Time: 10am to 4pm
Date: Saturday 28 September 2024
Seminar programme 2024-25
Seminar Location: Army and Navy Club, 36-39 Pall Mall, St. James’s. London SW1Y 5JN
Time: Seminars take place from 6pm and are followed by dinner.
23 October 2024: John Foreman CBE ‘The UK Defence Attaché’s View from Moscow, 2019-22 (Former Defence Attaché in Kyiv and Moscow)
20 November 2024: Admiral the Lord West ‘The UK’s Nuclear Endeavours since 1940’ (Former First Sea Lord and Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office)
9 February 2025: General Sir Nick Carter ‘British Defence in Dangerous Times: An Assessment’ (Former Chief of the Defence Staff)
19 March 2025: Dr Thomas Colley ‘New Wars: How Governments are Battling to Shape Reality’ (Department of War Studies, King’s College London)
09 April 2025: Professor Lloyd Clark ‘Mission Command and Warfighting: Rethinking old ideas’ (Professorial Research Fellow in Modern War Studies, The University of Buckingham)
23 April 2025: Dr Daniel Packham ‘Compulsory Military Service in the Modern Age: Selective Conscription in the Nordics’
STUDY DAY AT THE ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY SANDHURST 2025
Study Day Location: The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Camberley, Surrey GU15 4PQ
Date: Saturday 17 May 2025
SPEAKERS
Professor Tom Dyson: ‘A Revolution in Military Lesson Learning? Good Practices from NATO and Ukraine’ (Royal Holloway College, University of London)
Dr Matthew Powell: ‘The Rise of Multi-National Defence Procurement in the 21st Century’ (RAF College Cranwell and University of Portsmouth)
Dr Jonathan Carroll: ‘Challenging our Assumptions: The Spectre of Somalia in the 1990s’ (Department of War Studies, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst)
WO1 Sarah Cox: In conversation with Professor Lloyd Clark (Command Sergeant Major, Home Command)
Current Student Research Projects include
- Millennials and Western Militaries: Leadership Challenges for Generational Integration, 2002 to Present
- Justifying War: George Bush Jr, Tony Blair and the Decision to Invade Iraq, 2003
- The Role, Performance and Influence of the Canadian Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV III) in Afghanistan, 2001-2014
- The Art of Precision: Strategic Bombing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
- Leading the Digital War: Army Officer Competencies and Hyper-Warfare
- Strategy, Power and Change: The Fall of the Dutch East Indies, 1945-1950
- Contextual Adaptation: US Maneouvrist Approach since 1991
- Moral Courage: Western Armies and the Application of Intelligent Disobedience, 1969-1982
- Poison Chalice: The Transition of the Nigerian Armed Forces since 2010
- Ultimate Impact: Israeli Airpower during the 1973 Yom Kippur War and its Influence on NATO
- Tomorrow’s Army Today: The British Army Officer Recruitment Pipeline in the 21st Century
- Ethics and the Air War Against the Islamic State: The RAF’s Airstrikes During Operation Shader, December 2015
- Post -War Air-Land Integration and the Evolution of Doctrine, 1960-1990
- A General’s Prestige: Douglas MacArthur’s Character and Leadership Styles During the Korean War, 1950-53
- Quo Vadis Bundeswehr? Re-Appraising the Post-Cold War History of the German Armed Forces from a Perspective of Collective and National Defence, 1989-2020
What our students say
‘The Modern War Studies and Contemporary Military History MA (Research) combines engaging course sessions with a focus on one’s own research project. There are copious opportunities to engage with expert guest speakers drawn from academia, the armed forces and the defence sector. Equally important are the academic advisors and course staff, who are constantly available to provide their guidance and input. Due to the excellent study support, I would highly recommend the programme to anyone who wants to improve their academic skills, advance their career, or simply explore key topics in this amazingly broad field.’ (Nicolas Leixner, MA programme)
‘I am currently a final year student on the Modern War Studies and Contemporary Military History PhD programme, but I started my journey on the MA (Research) course which provided me with the skills to conduct independent research. Expert supervision and one-to-one tutorials developed my ability to developing thinking skills, refine my knowledge and to develop my project in a coherent manner. The course seminars also gave me the opportunity to speak with leading figures in the field, including former British Chief of Defence Staff, General The Lord Richards. The opportunity to interact with the experts whose books I had read and whose achievements are of historical and academic significance, was a fascinating experience and improved by ability analyse important issues. These skills not only led to me gaining an MA, but also helped me as a serving officer and allowed me to operate more confidently in multinational and inter agency environments while encouraging me to write three small books. The programme is highly recommended.’ (Mohamed Marwa, MA 2019 and currently on the PhD Modern War Studies and Contemporary Military History programme)
ASSOCIATE STUDENTS
For those who wish to attend the seminars and to join the post-seminar dinners with the visiting speakers, it is possible to join the programme as an Associate Student. Associate Students do not enrol for the MA and do not have to submit any written work, but they are otherwise full members of the seminar and free to take part in discussion. There is also a substantially reduced fee.
For further information, please contact humanitiespg-admissions@buckingham.ac.uk
Approved by MOD for Enhanced Learning Credits. Provider ID 1460
Entry Requirements
Entry requirements
The minimum entry level required for this course is as follows:
- a first or upper second-class honours degree from a recognised university or,
- a recognised professional qualification with relevant work experience.
In cases where candidates are applying on the basis of work experience, they may be asked to complete a short written assignment and/or attend an interview as part of the applications process.
Students shall also have satisfied the Programme Director that they have sufficient background knowledge to undertake the degree. It is likely that they will already have a background of study in history or a cognate discipline and that they have identified a research topic which they wish to study and which they are qualified to pursue. The emphasis of the Buckingham MA in War Studies and Contemporary Military History is on independent research.
Mature students
Age is no barrier to learning and we welcome all applications from suitably qualified students. Due to their flexibility, our London-based MAs by research attract a wide variety of applicants from a range of backgrounds, including people in full-time employment and retirees. Our current students range in age from 21 to 75.
International students
We are happy to consider all international applications and if you are an international student, you may find it useful to visit our international pages for details of entry requirements from your home country.
The University is a UKVI Student Sponsor.
English levels
If English is not your first language, please check our postgraduate English language requirements. If your English levels don’t meet our minimum requirements, you may be interested in applying for our Pre-sessional English Language Foundation Programmes.
Selection process
Candidates apply online, sending in their supporting documents, and will be assessed on this basis by the Programme Director. The Programme Director or Admissions Assistant will be happy to answer any enquiries. Call us on +44 (0)1280 820227 or get in touch via our online form.
Student Contract for prospective students
When you are offered a place at the University you will be notified of the student contract between the University and students on our courses of study. When you accept an offer of a place on the course at the University a legal contract is formed between you and the University on the basis of the student contract in your offer letter. Your offer letter and the student contract contain important information which you should read carefully before accepting an offer. Read the Student Contract
Teaching & Assessment
Quality teaching
We offer high quality, traditional Oxbridge-style teaching, which leads to our degrees being recognised around the world. The standards of degrees and awards are safeguarded by distinguished external examiners – senior academic staff from other universities in the UK – who approve and moderate assessed work.
Teaching methods
For Master’s degree candidates, the core of the programme is the writing, under supervision, of the dissertation on a subject chosen by the student in the field of Modern War Studies. Subject to approval by the Course Director, the topic to be examined in the dissertation can address any aspect of warfare since 1945, and the precise topic is usually formulated in a process of discussion with the Course Director and/or the student’s supervisor. The length of the dissertation is normally 25,000 words. Research does not have to be confined to British-related subjects. Some of the themes which students may wish to examine include: political decision making; alliances; warfare and faith; the impact of critical strategic thinkers; intelligence gathering; the impact of technology on the battlefield; the development of doctrine; military-media relations; leadership; command and control; the application of force at the strategic, operational and tactical levels of war on land, sea and air; and the influence of war on non-combatants, politics, society, economies and cultures.
Assessment methods
Examination is by a research dissertation on an approved topic of not less than 25,000 words.
After Your Course
The University’s Course Directors, students’ supervisors, and the Research Officer and Tutor for Graduate Students are available to discuss students’ post-graduation plans and how they may utilise most effectively the skills acquired during their studies.
Fees & Scholarships
The fees for this course are:
Start | Type | First Year | Total cost |
---|---|---|---|
Sep 2024 Full-time (1 Year) | UK | £10,300 | £10,300 |
INT | £16,480 | £16,480 | |
Sep 2024 Part-time (2 Years) | UK | £5,150 | £10,300 |
INT | £8,240 | £16,480 | |
Sep 2025 Full-time (6 Months) Associate | UK | £3,433 | £3,433 |
INT | £5,493 | £5,493 | |
Sep 2025 Full-time (1 Year) | UK | £10,300 | £10,300 |
INT | £16,480 | £16,480 | |
Sep 2025 Part-time (2 Years) | UK | £5,150 | £10,300 |
INT | £8,240 | £16,480 |
Please note that The University of Buckingham has four terms per year. Students will pay the same termly fee for the duration of their studies, unless studies are interrupted and resumed later. The tuition fee quoted is therefore the total cost of the degree.
A 20% discount is available on the tuition fees for this programme to all serving members of the British Armed Forces (regardless of rank).
Postgraduate loan scheme
A system of postgraduate loans for Masters degrees in the UK is available with support from the UK Government. The loan is available for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas. The loans can be used for tuition fees, living expenses or both.
Scholarships
Details of scholarships can be found on our Bursaries and Scholarships page. You should make an application to study at the University and receive an offer letter confirming our acceptance of your application before applying for a scholarship.
You may also find it useful to visit our External Funding page.
Accommodation
Due to the mode of study on this course you will not normally need a room in University accommodation during your degree.