Scholarship Application Results Now Released!
Erasmus Mundus Scholarship application results for the 2026-28 cohort have now been sent to all reviewed candidates. Check your email for a message from imsiss@glasgow.ac.uk. Best of luck!
2026-2028 Applications Now Open!
We’re delighted to announce that applications to join the 2026-2028 cohort of the Security, Intelligence & Strategic studies programme (beginning in September 2026) are now open!
Erasmus Mundus Scholarships are available to applicants this year, with the deadline for Scholarship applications being 8th January 2026 at 1300 UK time. The deadline for self-funded applications (International, EU, and UK) is 21st August 2026 at 2359 UK time.
This will be the first cohort that includes our new Study Pathway incorporating the University of Belgrade, whereby students will study at Glasgow, Dublin and then Belgrade. This is in addition to our existing Glasgow-Trento-Prague and Glasgow-Dublin-Prague Pathways.
These three Pathways are structured around five major security themes, and students are invited to co-create their own flexible learning journey. The five themes are:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
As part of the degree, students will undertake a mandatory 6-week minimum internship or alternative experiential learning experience – this is made possible through extended network of partnerships with private, public, and third sector organisations.
We will have more information on the new Study Pathway, an updated academic calendar, updated internship information available on the website soon. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at imsiss@glasgow.ac.uk, or through our Instagram (@erasmusimsiss) where you will also find a story highlight with FAQs from previous application cycles which you might find useful.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Scholarship Funding Secured
The IMSISS Consortium, led by the University of Glasgow, is delighted to announce that the International Masters in Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies degree programme has successfully been awarded new funding from the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme.
This is a tremendous outcome and will mean that IMSISS will be able to continue to provide scholarships for students applying for entry between 2026 and 2029.
With this funding, IMSISS will be able to award 70 fully funded scholarships to students from around the world, offer enhanced employability and skills development opportunities to students, and further develop relations with university partners globally.
We will also be launching a new 3rd study pathway incorporating our new Degree-awarding partner, University of Belgrade. This will enable students to study at Glasgow, Dublin and Belgrade.
What this means?
This success could not have been achieved without the hard work of our Erasmus Mundus team, the Programme Director and colleagues from Glasgow and our overseas consortium partners, including new partners for this new edition of IMSISS.
The refunding of IMSISS under Erasmus+ demonstrates the continued strength of the University of Glasgow, as the leading Erasmus Mundus coordinator in the UK HEI sector, in fostering international partnership.
We are very grateful to all of IMSISS Partners for their continued support, and look forward to continuing to develop this world-leading programme.
What changes?
New Degree-awarding partner: University of Belgrade. Expertise: Critical security studies, peace, conflict and post-conflict studies, development studies, European and regional security, Balkan Studies, ethnic and civil wars, human and environmental security.
Part of new Glasgow-Dublin-Belgrade Pathway
New Key Associate Partners:
- Temple University – Philadelphia, USA
- Expertise: Civil war, wartime violence, terrorism, US foreign relations, diplomacy, criminology & crime science, cyber security, AI.
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro – Brazil
- Expertise: Online mis/disinformation, social media policy analysis, conspiracy-led extremism, hate-speech & alternative media ecosystem, online discourses of misogyny, content moderation, AI, digital methodologies, Amazon deforestation.
- American University in Dubai – UAE
- Expertise: International Diplomacy, International Relations, Global Governance, Security Studies, Politics of the Middle East.
New Associate Partners
- Africa: Kenyatta University (Kenya), University of the Free State (South Africa), Versatilis Group (Ghana)
- Asia & Pacific: Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, University of the Philippines Cebu, Gadja Mada University (Indonesia), Macquarie University (Australia)
- Other APs extend our commitment to the transatlantic region and examples include the NATO accredited Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence (Netherlands), German Marshall Fund (USA), and Horizon Intelligence (Belgium).
New course structure: five major security themes:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Expanded range of optional courses: almost 30 extra courses not previously available
Programme restructuring: there are now three study tracks across five themes, with students invited to co-create their own flexible learning journey
Mandatory 6-week minimum internship or alternative experiential learning experience: made possible through extended network of partnerships with private, public, and third sector organisations.
Belgrade study track will facilitate opportunities in Serbia & Western Balkans; expansion of key associate partners will facilitate new opportunities in the USA and Japan.
What happens now?
Applications for the 2026-2028 IMISS cohort, including Erasmus Mundus Scholarship applications, will open in early October – keep up-to-date through our social media channels and our website.
IMSISS Information Webinar
Thank you to everyone who came along to our information webinar about the IMSISS Programme - the recording is now available to view here.
Applications remain open until the 26th July 2024 for international applicants and 16th August 2024 for UK applicants, and you can apply here.
Czechia visa restrictions 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 the 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 Czechia.
New book by Prof. Pejman Abdolmohammadi (University of Trento)
We are glad to announce the new book Contemporary Domestic and Foreign Policies of Iran by Prof. Pejman Abdolmohammadi (University of Trento), co-authored with Prof. Giampiero Cama (University of Genova). The book has been published by Palgrave-Mcmillan, as part of the Middle East Today book series.
Dr Pejman Abdolmohammadi
This book is a comprehensive analysis of the domestic and foreign politics of Iran, focusing on its complex nature from political, social and cultural perspectives. It has adopted a multidisciplinary approach, combining comparative politics and intellectual and modern history with international relations. It analyses the institutional structure of the Islamic Republic, the main political and social actors and alliances, as well as Iranian opposition forces both inside and outside the country. The book tries to simplify the seemingly intractable complexity of the Islamic Republic by demystifying it and using political science methods to prove that it is a peculiar hybrid regime.
Dr Pejman Abdolmohammadi is a Senior Assistant Professor in Middle Eastern Studies at the School of International Studies, leading the Causes of Conflict Pathway at the University of Trento.
Deadline for 2020 Entry Applications & Deposits Extended
In response to the difficulties experienced by applicants due to the coronavirus outbreak, the deadline for submission of applications to join the IMSISS programme in September 2020 has been extended.
Applications to join the programme in September 2020 will close on Monday 10th August 2020 for International applicants and Monday 31st August 2020 for UK/EU applicants.
Scholarship competition for entry in September 2020 is now closed.
The deposit payment deadline to secure a self-funded place is 30th June 2020 for all candidates who make an application up to 31st May, and 7th September 2020 for applications submitted from 1st June.
We look forward to receiving more top-quality applications this year. All details on how to apply can be found on our website – see the Apply section and the Scholarships & Fees section.
Make sure you get your application in on time!
APPLICATIONS FOR ENTRY IN 2020 ARE NOW OPEN
Applications for entry to the IMSISS programme in September 2020 are now open. Applications for entry with Erasmus Mundus Scholarships will close on Friday 10th January 2020 and self funded applications will close on 1st April 2020.
Make sure you get your application in on time! We look forward to receiving more top-quality applications this year. All details on how to apply can be found on our website – see the Apply section and the Scholarships & Fees section.
Summer University on Security and Strategic Analysis in Regensburg
During the two-week course, students learnt about critical thinking, cognitive biases, and structured analytic techniques for intelligence analysis – ranging from Key Driver Identification to Scenario Development (as part of the Cone of Plausibility) and Courses of Action to verify assumptions – taught by LTC Georg Fuchs and Prof. Dr. Markus Bresinsky.
The practical and application-oriented nature of the Summer School required the participants to work together in small teams and prepare a 5–10-year strategic outlook for one of the countries of the G5 Sahel, Sudan, and Libya.
Throughout this process, the students received constant support and feedback from the entire OTH Regensburg team. A series of expert talks and social events further enhanced the Summer School experience.
IMSISS re-funding bid is successful!
We are delighted to announce that our application for 5 further years of funding for IMSISS was successfully approved by the EACEA in July 2019. This funding will support 88 scholarships across four intakes of students, as well as help the programme run its various events, visiting fellow programme and guest lecture series. The first intake of students for this new funding will start in September 2020. Individuals interested will be able to apply from October 2019.
On top of the exciting funding news, we can also announce that the programme continues to expand with a wide range of new academic and practitioner partners. The University of Trento in Italy, which had been an associated partner for the first funding round joins IMSISS as a full degree awarding partner and staff from its School of International Studies will lead on a new pathway focusing on the "Causes of Conflict". The University of Cádiz in Spain has also joined the consortium as a new associate partner offering a second summer school on migration and border security.
Other new associate partners to join the programme and who will contribute to the visiting fellows scheme and our work placement and internship programme include among others: the Italian Institute for International Political Studies, the Peace Research Institute Oslo, the University of Malaya in Malaysia, and PUC Minas in Brazil.
Since IMSISS launched in 2017 it has been an exciting and challenging project for the main team behind delivery of the programme. However, we have to acknowledge the role played by our students who have shown themselves to be enthusiastic, engaged, thought-provoking and hard-working.
Huge thanks also to all of our Partners and Associate Partners around the globe – established and new – for their input. We look forward to strengthening these relationships and working closer with them in the coming years.
More details about the new programme and the changes that will take place will be made available as we update this website. Please bear with us as the website updates are made.