Frequently Asked Questions
There are no Erasmus Mundus scholarships available this year. You can find information on alternative funding opportunities here
This is something we are currently working on. Please feel free to write to us or post any queries on the following social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Please be advised that due to the demands of the Programme students may not wish or have time to engage. You may find the What Our Students Say section of our website useful. Please refer to Academic Staff for background information and contact details.
Pathway A refers to Dublin, pathway B to Trento. Students are given the choice to study (during their second semester) at either Dublin City University or the University of Trento.
A joint degree is a single degree provided by multiple institutions. Students who complete the degree will be provided a single diploma which is jointly awarded by all three primary teaching institutions to this programme. It is called an International Master and this distinguishes it from an MSc, MA or MRes which tend to be degrees provided by a single institution.
Students who successfully complete this programme of study will be awarded an International Master Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies (from University of Glasgow, Dublin City University or University of Trento and Charles University)
This is a particularly international programme with students coming from Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa, North America, South America and Australasia. You can be assured that your studies will be among a truly international student group. We have received applications from over three quarters of all countries in the world, made offers to nearly two thirds of all countries, and taught to nearly one third of all nationalities on the IMSISS programme so far.
Yes – we have a dedicated Facebook page. We encourage you to like the page so you are kept up to date with new information. You can also use this to contact students on the existing double degree programme. Please follow us also on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn
A copy will be sent to all students registered to the programme in the Summer of 2024 prior to arriving in Glasgow.
From September 2020 onwards , the programme has run as follows: 4 months in Glasgow (UK), 8 months in Dublin (Ireland) or Trento (Italy) with option to attend a summer school in 1 of 4 locations and 6 months in Prague (Czech Republic). All students will return to the institution of their primary supervisor for the final 6-month period, subject to participation in the Work-Based Placement Scheme and independent study fieldwork.
The Orientation Week for the IMSISS programme starts in Glasgow and is normally held in the first week in September.
No, there is no maximum number of Masters programmes (sometimes referred to as courses) for which students can apply for.
Applicants must apply online and submit/upload the necessary supporting documentation alongside the online application by TBC. Details of the application procedure and selection timetable can be found here.
Please note that this is a very popular programme and unless you have a minimum 2:1 (UK degree) or national equivalent undergraduate honours degree it is unlikely you will be made an offer. If you are very close to the equivalent grade but do not quite make it we can look at your grades and if you have some relevant work experience that can help, but we cannot guarantee entry until an assessment has been made. You must apply to the programme for an assessment to be made.
Cognate degrees acceptable for this programme include: political science, international relations, history, area and cultural studies (i.e. American studies / Russian Studies / Asian Studies / African Studies / European Studies / Latin American Studies etc.), law, sociology, criminology, human geography, computing science, language/linguistic sciences, global studies, psychology, media studies and journalism, modern languages or business. Please note that applicants with modern languages degrees are also encouraged to apply. Other disciplines not listed here will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants with a relevant work experience background in the fields of policing, security, intelligence and risk analysis will also be considered.
You can check your country-specific requirements on our country information pages. You need to look for the postgraduate taught entry requirement.
- Austria: Austrian Diplomstudium/Magister or Bachelor Degree with a score of 2 (Gut) or better
- Czech Republic: Czech with a minimum grade of 1.5 or B (Velmi Dobre)
- France: French Licence or Bachelors Degree with a grade of 12/20 or better
- Germany: German Magister Artium or Bachelor Degree, with a Gut (2.5 or above)
- Italy: Italian Laurea with 104-106 out of 110 overall, with 28/30 for core courses
- Netherlands: Dutch Doctoraal/Bachelor Degree with a grade of 7.0 (Ruim Voldoende) or better
- Poland: Polish Licencjat/Inzynier or Bachelors with a grade of 4 (Dobry) or better
- Spain: Spanish Licenciado / Título de Ingeniero / Título de Arquitecto or Bachelors Degree with a grade of 7.0/10 or Notable (Very Good)
- Sweden: Swedish Kandidatexamen or Bachelors Degree with Väl godkänd (VG) – Pass with Distinction
- Canada: Final GPA of 3.0 or 80% or B+ or 6.5 out of 9, or better
- Brazil: a Bacharel / Licenciado / Professional title with a score of Bom (7.0-8.9) overall
- USA: Bachelor Degree with a minimum GPA 3.0
- Australia: a 2:1 Bachelor Degree with Honours
- New Zealand: a Bachelor Degree with Honours at a Grade B+ (2:1)
- Nigeria: a Bachelor Degree with Honours with a 2:1/60-69%/GPA of 3.0 from Public Universities and GPA of 3.5 from Private Universities
- Kenya: a Bachelor Degree with Honours with a 2:1/B/60-69%
- South Africa: Bachelor Degree with Honours with a 2:1/70-74%
- China: Please see our website for a list of all accepted institutions and required scores
- Indonesia: Sarjana I (S1) or Diploma IV (D4) from an A accredited institution with a GPA of 3 for A accredited programmes or GPA of 3.5 for B Accredited programme or a GPA of 3.5 from a B accredited institution with an A accredited programme
- India: Bachelor Degree from Indian central, state or leading deemed and private universities. Ordinarily applicants must have achieved a minimum cumulative 1st division or better across all years of their studies and all applications are considered on a case by case basis.
- Pakistan: a Bachelor Degree with Honours with Division 1/60% overall average or an overall GPA of 3 (must be a 4 year degree)
ECTS are academic credits. They relate to the European Credit Transfer System and enables institutions to recognise the credit value of each other’s courses. 10 ECTS is equivalent to approximately 200 hours of study.
An applicant who is completing the final year of their first degree can apply and will be considered for entry to the IMSISS programme but will not receive an unconditional offer of a place on the programme until we have received their final degree result. In such cases you may be made a conditional pending completion of your degree at the required grade. This documentation must be submitted to the IMSISS Consortium via the University of Glasgow online application before a final unconditional offer can be made. Similarly, applicants completing the final year of their first degree may be offered an IMSISS scholarship on condition that they obtain the outstanding entry requirements. Documentation must be provided as soon as possible and no later than the given deadline in July of the year of entry.
An applicant who is unable to provide proof of English Language qualification can apply and will be considered for entry to the IMSISS programme. In such cases you may be made a conditional offer pending receipt of the language test result at the required grade. This documentation must be submitted to the IMSISS Consortium via the University of Glasgow online application before a final unconditional offer can be made. Similarly, applicants may be offered an IMSISS scholarship upon condition that they obtain the outstanding entry requirements. Documentation must be provided as soon as possible and no later than the given deadline in July of the year of entry.
For 2023 entry see full details of English testing options accepted at the English language requirements information page.
This programme is taught completely in English language. You must show evidence of your proficiency in English if you are not from a majority English speaking country. Also please note that under UKVI (UK Visa and Immigration) regulations, all international students (non-EU) who are not from a majority English speaking country or have obtained a degree from a university in a majority English speaking country, are required to take an English Language proficiency test to a required level. There are no exceptions. You are not able to gain entry to the UK and obtain a student visa without having the test certificate. Information on the different types of proficiency test which we can accept and the required scores can be found on our website.
For 2023 entry see full details at the information page for English language requirements.
Yes, as part of this degree you will be able to study a language. We offer a wide range of languages in your first semester, including French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Russian and Chinese.
Students will need to identify their own accommodation while participating in this programme. We will seek to support students with as much information as possible, but ultimately the responsibility for finding accommodation in each mobility location lies with students. Accommodation and living costs are separate from the tuition fee.
Glasgow
More information on accommodation arrangements in Glasgow will be made available in the Welcome Pack you receive in the summer prior to starting your studies.
Dublin
All students will need to identify private accommodation/shared apartments while in Dublin. We will provide further information in pre-arrival sessions during the first semester.
Trento
University accommodation is available in Trento. We will provide further information in pre-arrival sessions during the first semester.
Prague
We anticipate that most students will opt for a city shared apartment (private) while in Prague, although university accommodation (mostly shared rooms/dorms) is available if students prefer. We will provide additional information on accommodation in pre-arrival sessions during the second semester.
Please note that the overall cost of living for this programme varies for each stage of the programme. You can find information about cost of living in each city below:
- Glasgow
- Dublin
- Prague: Charles University has a number of student cafeterias and restaurants at different University locations. Student prices are guaranteed with a Charles University ISIC card (approx. Kč 35/meal). The exact cost of your stay in Prague is largely up to you. The cost of living in the Czech Republic is on average comparable to that of other Central and East European countries. A single student is advised to have available approximately Kč 8.500 (around 330 euro) per month to cover food, basic transport and accommodation.
- Trento
The Consortium will pay the health insurance costs for all students. Insurers such as Marsh or IPS-Lippman are recommended to obtain the minimum health and accident insurance coverage.
Additionally, IMSISS students will be covered by the University of Glasgow’s insurance scheme which will be valid in other partner countries for the duration of the 2 year programme. This gives emergency medical cover only but covers postgraduate students, accompanying spouses/partners and children for a maximum period of 12 months on any one trip. There is no excess. The insurance coverage is very comprehensive: death or severe permanent disablement (£150,000); medical & emergency repatriation expenses (unlimited coverage); personal belongings (£10,000); personal liability: limit of indemnity – any one event (£5 million); emergency replacement of passport, visa, travel documents etc (£1,500) etc.
IMSISS students are advised to obtain the European Health Insurance Card prior to arrival in Glasgow for the start of the programme. Both EU and non-EU students are entitled to apply for this.
Non-EU students will have to supply a copy of their original visa showing that they are entitled to be in the UK for the period in question and in this way will have full EU medical care cover. EU national students can apply through their own EHIC equivalent so they are entitled to health care in the UK. Again overseas nationals who might be studying at the partner universities can apply through the partner country which their visa is for. Basically students will be entitled to medical treatment that becomes necessary, at reduced cost or sometimes free, when temporarily visiting a European Union country. Only treatment provided under the state scheme is covered.
You will receive an email from the Admissions Office at the University of Glasgow. Please retain this email communication as no hard copy offer letter will be sent. This message will contain your Student ID and Application Number. You must accept or decline the offer using Admissions Self-Service by clicking the link provided in the email message and logging into your application account. Please follow the instructions provided in the email.
If your offer is conditional you will be able to access your conditions and submit any required documents using Admissions Self-Service.
Please upload the required documentary evidence to your online application. Once we have confirmed your documentary evidence as meeting the conditions we will issue you with an unconditional offer. Please note that uploaded academic documents should be scanned copies of the original document and should normally be in colour.
After you have accepted an unconditional offer, you will be eligible to enrol. Details regarding your access to enrolment will be available starting in early August. You will receive another email to tell you how to register online using the University’s MyCampus website. That email will provide you with your personal login details and the website URL. Please ensure that your email address is kept up to date as all correspondence is sent via email.
If you are an international student you will receive a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) which is required for visa application purposes. A CAS is only issued once you have accepted an unconditional offer and you have uploaded a copy of the passport you are going to travel with. If you hold more than one offer, please think carefully before you accept your offer as CAS cannot be changed easily. Rules about how your personal information is recorded on CAS are very strict so please inform us quickly if any of your details have changed. Let us know if you have changed your name, your passport or if you notice any errors in the correspondence issued to you. Your personal and course details must match your documents exactly.
You will also receive information regarding the teaching programme closer to the start of the session.