National Security Policy

Join a network of experienced national security practitioners and policy-makers at the National Security College with the highly-regarded Master of National Security Policy.

This program offers a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the current and emerging national security challenges facing our region and the world. Develop the skills to implement and evaluate effective policy responses, and graduate as a future leader in strategy development.

Career Options

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the skills and knowledge to: 

1. Decomonstrate a greater understanding of national security issues
2. Understand research principles and methods applicable to different disciplinary approaches to national security issues
3. Reflect critically on theory and practice of national security issues
4. Demonstrate high-level analytical skills as well as oral and written communication skills
5. Conduct independent research and understand aspects of professional practice within the field of national security

Cognate disciplines

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Development Studies, Governance, History, International Affairs, International Relations, Law, Non Language Asian Studies, Pacific Studies, Policy Studies, Public Administration, Political Communication, Political Sciences, Security Studies, Strategic Studies.

The Master of National Security Policy requires the completion of 96 units which must consist of:

36 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

INTR8032 Global Security

INTR8065 Writing International Relations

NSPO8006 National Security Policymaking

NSPO8007 National Security: Concepts and Challenges

NSPO8020 Research Methods

NSPO8022 Selected Topic in National Security Policy

12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

NSPO8004 National Security Leadership and Risk Management

NSPO8017 Malicious Networks: Transnational Terrorism and Crime

NSPO8018 The Evolution of National Security Policy since 1945

12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

NSPO8010 Civil-Military Relations

NSPO8013 Disease, Security and Biological Weapons

NSPO8015 Asian Regionalism and Security: Implications for Australia

NSPO8016 Governance, State Weakness and Human Security in Asia

NSPO8019 Sectarianism and Religiously Motivated Violence

36 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ANTH8032 Law, Order and Conflict in the Pacific

ANTH8043 Conflict and Development in the Pacific

CRWF8006 International Climate Change Policy and Economics

CRWF8016 Food Wars: Food Security and Agricultural Policy

DIPL8006 Diplomacy, Politics and the United Nations

INTR8062 Humanitarianism in World Politics

INTR8065 Writing International Relations

INTR8067 U.S. Security Policy in the Asia-Pacific

MEAS8111 Islam, the West and International Terrorism

NSPO8004 National Security Leadership and Risk Management

NSPO8010 Civil-Military Relations

                    NSPO8012 Strategy Planning in National Security Crises

NSPO8013 Disease, Security and Biological Weapons

NSPO8014 Ethics and Technologies of War

NSPO8015 Asian Regionalism and Security: Implications for Australia

NSPO8016 Governance, State Weakness and Human Security in Asia

NSPO8017 Malicious Networks: Transnational Terrorism and Crime

NSPO8018 The Evolution of National Security Policy since 1945

NSPO8019 Sectarianism and Religiously Motivated Violence

NSPO8021 Statecraft and national security in cyberspace

POGO8037 Writing Public Policy

POGO8045 International Policymaking in the shadow of the Future

STST8001 Strategic Studies

STST8002 Grand Strategies in the Asia-Pacific

STST8004 Australian Strategic and Defence Policy

STST8013 China's Defence and Strategic Challenges

STST8021 Intelligence and Security

STST8026 Nuclear Strategy in the Asian Century

STST8027 Insurgency & Counterinsurgency in an Age of Terror

STST8051 Great and Powerful Friends: Strategic alliances and Australian security

A Bachelor degree or international equivalent.

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 24 units (one semester) of credit.

Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 48 units (one year) of credit.

Credit may be available for relevant work experience.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.