MSc in International Relations, Strategy and Security (Distance Learning)

PROGRAMME INFORMATION

1.5 YEARS

90 ECTS

ENGLISH OR GREEK

DISTANCE LEARNING

AWARDED BY NEAPOLIS UNIVERSITY

OBJECTIVE OF THE MSC IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, STRATEGY AND SECURITY (DL)

  • The Program is accredited by the The Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA)

The MSc in International Relations, Strategy and Security aims at providing students with a broad assessment of contemporary international relations, with emphasis on strategy and security issues. It combines in-depth academic training in key concepts, theories and case-studies, alongside a structured process of engagement with contemporary debates and experience. It integrates theoretical approaches with the study of many cases and issues. It also explores the ways in which the line between the domestic and international is blurred by trade, financial, environmental, strategic, security, ideological, cultural and ethical issues. Moreover, the Programme provides a strong theoretical and empirical understanding of the international security environment of the post-Cold War era, including the origins of conflicts and peace, the emergence of new security threats and the many different agencies involved in conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacemaking today. Last but not least, the Programme identifies the ways state and non-state actors develop strategies in the international environment as far as security issues are concerned.

Graduates of the Programme are expected to have a thorough understanding of international political, security, and strategic issues, which will enable them to pursuit careers in the diplomatic corps, in international organizations, in NGOs, as well as in both the public and the private sector as senior policy and security advisors.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PROGRAMME

  • The international prestige and recognition of Neapolis University Pafos.
  • Excellent academic staff with strong expertise in the taught subjects.
  • International collaborations with many Universities.
  • The flexibility of distance learning.
  • The use of advanced technology and resources.
  • The dynamic choice between synchronous and asynchronous distance education.
  • The adjustment of the Programme to current academic trends and market requirements.
  • Competitive tuition fees.

TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT METHODS

Courses are delivered online through teleconferences. Teleconferences are accessed through a specially formulated pedagogical framework that promotes communication and interaction, with the main feature of collaborative building of knowledge from a distance in real time. From a technological point of view, there are the possibilities offered by the latest technology communication tools (Moodle, WizIQ), which allow the transfer of different types of information (image, audio, text) allowing a reliable and bi-directional connection between professors and students but also among students with each other. However, our main goal is to bring teleconferencing into a well-formed pedagogical framework that improves the communication and interaction environment between teachers and learners. Usually, teleconferences are held 6 times throughout the academic semester, every two weeks, starting from week 2 of the semester. Typically, each teleconference lasts two hours, reflecting the needs and the specificities of the course.

The interactivity and formative assessment form part of the learning and teaching methodology. 30% of the students’ final grade in each course corresponds to their performance in the midterm assessment which takes the form of written assignments, whereas 70% corresponds to their performance in the final written exams. In order to secure a passing grade in a course, students need to secure a passing grade (i.e. 50% or higher) in both the midterm assessment and the final exams.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

SEMESTER 1

CodeCourse titleCourse typeECTS
DMETH600Research Design and Empirical Methods in the Social SciencesCompulsory7.5
DIRSS621Contemporary Issues in Global PoliticsCompulsory7.5
DIRSS611International Security and Strategic StudiesCompulsory7.5
DIRSS612Strategy and Decision MakingCompulsory7.5

SEMESTER 2

CodeCourse titleCourse typeECTS
DIRSS623International Law and SecurityCompulsory7.5
DIRSS624Homeland SecurityCompulsory7.5
DIRSS626 Information SecurityCompulsory7.5
DIRSS622Special Topics in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East SecurityElective7.5
DMEP500Foreign Policy, Security and Defense in the European UnionElective7.5

SEMESTER 3

CodeCourse titleCourse typeECTS
DIRSS610-ENG MA DissertationCompulsory30
For the successful completion of their studies, students need to sum up in total 90 ECTS. In the 1st semester students choose all four compulsory courses. In the 2nd semester students choose all three compulsory courses and one of the three available elective courses. In order to successfully complete their studies and be awarded the MSc in International Relations, Strategy and Security, students are also obliged to conduct a Master’s Dissertation.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

In order to be admitted to the Programme, candidates must possess a Bachelor Degree or equivalent in International Relations, Political Science, Law, History, Sociology, Economics, or in any other related field of Social Sciences and Humanities with grade 6.5/10 or 2:1 or equivalent. It also encourages the application of graduates of schools of the Armed Forces and the Security Forces. The general admission criteria are based on the type and quality of previous studies, the grade obtained in previous studies and the suitability of the candidate for the Programme of study that has been applied for. In any case, the file of each applicant will be considered on its own merit.

Satisfactory knowledge of English is essential. The minimum language requirement is a B2 certificate in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages scale. In the absence of such a certificate/degree, candidates will be asked to sit English language exams in order to prove their satisfactory knowledge.

DISCLAIMER

The University reserves its right to define the electives offered on an academic year basis

APPLY FOR THIS PROGRAMME

Register your interest and one of our admissions consultants will contact you with guidance and additional information.

FACULTY & STAFF OF THE PROGRAMME

Pantelis Sklias

Professor of International Political Economy

Rector of Neapolis University Pafos

Pantelis Sklias (1969) is a Professor of International Relations and International Political Economy (IPE) and since September 2018 Rector of the University.

Giorgos Georgis

Professor of History

Giorgos Georgis is Professor at Neapolis University Pafos, Member of the Board and Director of the Postgraduate Programs in History at the same University.
Floros Flouros

Floros Flouros

Assistant Professor in International Political Economy: Energy, Security and Climate Change

Floros Flouros is a post-doc researcher at the University of Aegean researcher with main focus on security, energy security and climate change in the Mediterranean and Middle East region. He defended his PhD Thesis at the University of Peloponnese...

Katerina Papazacharia

Lecturer in Diplomatic History and International Relations

Katerina Papazacharia is a Doctor of Philosophy in Byzantine History. She graduated with a B.A. degree from the Department of History and Archaeology, School of Philosophy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Kyriakos Iakovidis

Lecturer in Modern History

Born in Limassol, 1984. BA Journalism (Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh). MA in History (Royal Holloway). PHD holder (University of Cyprus). Member of the research program «Evrodaktilios», financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cyprus).

Antonis Klapsis

Visiting Researcher in Diplomacy and International Organization

Assistant Coordinator of the MA in Modern and Contemporary Greek and European History (Distance Learning)

Antonis Klapsis is Assistant Professor of Diplomacy and International Organization at the Department of Political Science and International Relations of the University of Peloponnese.

Georgios Maris

Research Fellow in in Political Economy of International Relations, University of Aegean

Georgios Maris is Associate Professor in Political Economy of International Relations at the University of the Aegean (Department of Mediterranean Studies).

EVALUATION, RECOGNITION & COLLABORATIONS