University of Portsmouth
Flexible
January / September
Blended Learning
Earn a postgraduate qualification in security and risk while you work, and open career paths by combining your existing experience with master’s-level study.
On this MSc Security and Risk degree, you will follow a programme of study designed in collaboration with the Defence College of Policing and Guarding at Southwick Park. You will be able to use what you have learnt in your military career so far to earn credits toward your qualification, and to support that with study modules that will help you find senior roles in the risk and security sector.
You will enhance your understanding of the theoretical issues and emerging practice in the field, with options to shape your study to your interests. You can earn module credits for topics you already know through the University of Portsmouth’s Recognition of Prior Learning scheme, and use the MOD’s Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service (ELCAS) funding to pay for your studies. The way you learn is flexible, so you can study wherever is most convenient for you and schedule your studies around your existing commitments.
When you complete the course, you will have developed the skills and knowledge to better meet your employer’s objectives, and to support you in your career aspirations.
Please note: This course is only available to serving and former military personnel. Because the course is work-based, you must already be in a full-time, part-time, or voluntary role. This course is not eligible for a student visa.
On this course, you will:
Most of your learning will come from work-based learning (WBL) projects. These are projects that are valuable to your employer, which you complete at work.
Examples of WBL projects include Adaptation of Existing Systems to Increase Reliability and Developing New Software Solutions.
These projects will not involve activities you do in your day-to-day job as they need to involve new learning for you. You will do most of the work for these projects in your normal working hours.
You can also study distance learning modules to expand your knowledge and understanding or to develop new skills in a more structured way.
Modules that previous students have studied include Computer Security, Computer Forensics, Programming Skills for the Web, Web Asset and Application Development, and Information Systems Development and Management.
The course is delivered via the University of Portsmouth’s interactive virtual learning environment. With access to all the study material you will need, discussion forums and the chance to connect with peers and lecturers via chat sessions, you will have plenty of academic support and a wide range of resources.
You will also have the support of a Workplace Mentor chosen by you – someone at work who can offer advice, guidance, and moral support – alongside an academic tutor specialising in your area of study.
The way you are assessed will depend on which modules you take and the work-based learning projects you do. Assessment methods vary accordingly.
You can also earn credits through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for qualifications and experience you already hold. The LIBT Postgraduate Diploma in Security and Strategic Leadership may be used to claim up to 120 RPL credits toward the 180 credits required for the full MSc. The remaining 60 credits are completed through work-based learning projects and/or taught modules.
This programme is designed for motivated people who are ready to invest in their future. Here is what we look for.
This course is only available to serving and former military personnel.
The University of Portsmouth is a public university based in Portsmouth, England, welcoming students from more than 150 countries across the globe. It offers a broad range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programmes, with a strong emphasis on employability, industry collaboration, and applied research.
The University of Portsmouth’s Learning at Work degrees at Levels 6 and 7 are approved under the university’s degree-awarding powers and comply with the Office for Students (OfS) and Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) standards in the United Kingdom. These qualifications are generally recognised internationally, though recognition may vary by country. Prospective learners are advised to check with the relevant qualification recognition authority in their country before applying.
Students have full access to the University of Portsmouth Library’s extensive electronic resources, academic skills support, and the university’s student community throughout their studies.
This course is exclusively available to serving and former military personnel. Because it is a work-based learning programme, you must also be in a full-time, part-time, or voluntary role for the duration of your studies. It is not eligible for a student visa. Applications are currently not accepted from nationals of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, or Oman.
Your LIBT Postgraduate Diploma in Security and Strategic Leadership may be used to claim up to 120 Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) credits toward the 180 credits required for the full MSc. This leaves 60 credits to complete through work-based learning projects and optional modules. RPL is subject to assessment by the University of Portsmouth, and a portfolio assessment fee will be applicable.
The University of Portsmouth recommends studying modules worth 60 credits per year. Students entering with the maximum 120 RPL credits typically take 12 to 18 months to complete the remaining 60 credits. The programme has no fixed timetable. You study at your own pace, in your own location, and must complete the full course within five years of starting.
Submit your application online today through our secure student portal. It only takes a few minutes to complete your profile and upload your documents.
