Students on the IMSISS programme will examine a broad range of contemporary security challenges, such as terrorism, civil war and conflict, mass migration, energy supply security, cybersecurity, new technologies, and transnational organised crime. Students will also explore the intelligence and strategic approaches used by governmental and non-governmental actors to combat these threats.

The degree adopts a unique approach to the study of security by combining theoretical, applied and empirical knowledge and skill sets. Students will have the opportunity to meet with and work alongside a range of academics and researchers from international partner universities and think tanks from around the world, as well as practitioner experts from governmental and industry security and defence sectors.

Students on IMSISS will study across Europe in at least 3 cities and universities. They have the opportunity to undertake short study visits to other universities and can apply for work-based learning placements as part of the independent study semester.

• Start date: Teaching for 2026-2028 students begins in September 2026
• Duration: Two years (24 months)
• Teaching and Assessment Delivery: The programme uses small group seminars, tutorials and lectures, with a variety of assessment methods including written assignments (essays, policy briefs, literature reviews), individual and group presentations and projects, dissertation and oral examination.
• Qualification: International Master (IntM)
• Study-Type: Full-time
• Funding Available: Erasmus Mundus Scholarships are available, find out more here. Alternate funding opportunities are listed here
• Programme Application Deadlines:
  • Scholarship Deadline: 8th January 2026 at 1300 UK time
  • Self-funded Applications Deadline (International, EU, and UK applicants): 21st August 2026 at 2359 UK time
• Please note that a £2000 deposit will be required to secure a place on the programme. Scholarship applicants do not need to pay this deposit until after Scholarships have been announced in April.
• If you are successful in receiving an offer for the programme, please note that where a checklist item date of 31st August exists on your offer letter, this is the date to provide your final documents to meet all your offer conditions, NOT the date for submitting documents for scholarship consideration. To be considered for scholarship, the necessary documents must be provided by the specified scholarship deadline of 8th January 2026

1. Emerging Technology & Digital Resilience examines how cyber security and advancements in AI, nuclear technologies, bio-medical innovations, weapons systems, satellite development and space exploration affect the security of both the physical and digital worlds.

2. War, Conflict & Peace Studies investigates the effects of interstate and civil wars on states and societies (with a renewed focus on shifting norms in contemporary geopolitics), while also exploring solutions and strategies to promote peace and stability.

3. Radicalisation, Terrorism & Organised Crime acknowledges the pervasive nature of these issues and explores the connections between crime and terrorism, as well as the socio-cultural factors driving radicalisation and extremism in politics and society.

4. Intelligence, Strategic Planning & Public Diplomacy explores the challenges associated with intelligence gathering and analysis, strategic planning, policy formulation, and diplomatic efforts for achieving global, national and regional security objectives.

5. Human & Environmental Security addresses the protection of individuals and ecosystems from threats like climate change, natural disaster, and resource scarcity, while ensuring sustainable development and wellbeing.

Students should be aware that, unless they are a citizen of the countries listed here, that they can only make their Czech visa application in:

• the state of which they are a citizen;
• the state which issued their current passport; or
• the state in which they hold long-term or permanent resident status and have been continuously resident for at least two years

Students from exempted countries listed in the above link can make their application in any visa-issuing Czech diplomatic mission (as outlined in Decree No. 429/2010 Coll.).

Students who are subject to these regulations may wish to consider applying for Study Pathway B

EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals are exempt from Czech student visa requirements and should familiarise themselves with guidance for staying and studying in the Czechia.

Students can find more information on the Czech visa application process here. This guidance is valid as of August 2023.

Information for Russian and Belarusian Nationals:

Due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Czechia has placed restrictions on visa services for nationals of Russia and Belarus.

Russian and Belarusian nationals who wish to apply for the IMSISS programme should be aware that, unless they are subject to an exemption listed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Czechia, they will be refused entry to the Czechia for the mobility period at Charles University Prague.

We ask any Russian and Belarusian prospective applicants to familiarise themselves with Czech visa regulations and any announcements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czechia. Please consider these restrictions before applying to participate in the IMSISS programme.

For more information on the restrictions in place and any exemptions to these, please see the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czechia.

IMSISS has students from all around the world. In fact, we have had students from more than 45 different countries participating in the programme since 2017. Mehwish Rani is one of our students from the 2017-2019 cohort. Please watch the short video from her visit to London to meet Emily Winterbotham from RUSI (Royal United Services Institute).

Maria Patsikouridi is one of our most recent graduates from the 2021-2023 cohort, and spoke about the programme, the skills she gained, and some of her favourite memories of the programme.

To read more about our students please click HERE to visit their profile pages.

See below sample documents of the IMSISS Higher Education Achievement Report and the 2023-2025 IMSISS Student Agreement (click the pop-out button in the top right corner for full screen).

The IMSISS programme is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) programme. Prestigious Erasmus Mundus Scholarships are available for well qualified applicants to the Erasmus Mundus International Master in Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies. Find more information about the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship, application deadlines, and additional funding opportunities here: Funding Opportunities – IMSISS. We have also compiled a database of funding opportunities that might be applicable to you, which you can find at the link here: IMSISS Additional Funding Database.