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Universities Australia Australian National University Courses Master of National Security Policy

Master of National Security Policy
at Australian National University

Canberra, Australia

Tuition Fee AU$ 48,802
Country Rank#6
Duration18 Months
Score IELTS: 6.5

Program Overview

This degree prepares new generations of national security policymakers, analysts, researchers and leaders, in line with the vision of the National Security College as a unique joint initiative between The Australian National University and the Australian Government. It offers a world-class qualification in national security. Core courses provide foundations in concepts and practical policy skills, with a focus on navigating the Australian security landscape. Electives examine the horizon of present and future risks, from pandemics, climate change, terrorism and cyber attacks through to Indo-Pacific geopolitical crises, US-China tensions, foreign interference and information warfare. To address these challenges, students may choose a policy grounding in security-related aspects of such areas as law, bureaucracy, politics, ethics, history, intelligence, geoeconomics, risk-management, civil-military relations, migration, gender, energy and critical technologies.

This Masters degree is designed around a signature teaching model: each course integrates academic expertise from NSC, Crawford and across ANU with the direct insights of leading policy practitioners from Australia and internationally, drawing on the NSC’s exceptional networks. This degree equips graduates equally for careers in government agencies or for the many other professional pathways where it matters to understand 21st century security.

Course Content
Program Structure

The Master of National Security Policy requires the completion of 72 units which must consist of:

12 units from completion of compulsory courses from the following list:
- NSPO8006 National Security Policymaking
- NSPO8007 National Security: Concepts and Methods
A minimum of 18 units from completion of national security policy courses from the following list:
- NSPO8008 Ethical Challenges for National Security
- NSPO8009 Cyber and Emerging Technologies in National Security
- NSPO8012 Leadership, Risk and National Security Crisis Management
- NSPO8013 Disease, Security and Biological Weapons
- NSPO8014 Ethics and Technology of War
- NSPO8018 National Security since 1945
- NSPO8028 History for Policymakers
- NSPO8030 Coercion and National Security
- NSPO8032 Geoeconomics and National Security
- NSPO8033 Climate, the Environment and National Security
- NSPO8034 China, America and National Security
- NSPO8035 Australia's Strategic Environment and Future Security Challenges
- NSPO8036 Australian National Security Law: An introduction for policymakers
A minimum of 6 units from completion of national security issues courses (3 units each) from the following list:
- NSPO8040 Gender and Security
- NSPO8041 Borders, Migration and Security
- NSPO8042 Civil-Military Coordination
- NSPO8043 Pandemics, Infectious Diseases and National Security
- NSPO8044 Energy Security
- NSPO8045 Propaganda and information war
- NSPO8046 Terrorism and national security
- NSPO8047 How Canberra works: a guide for security policymakers
- NSPO8048 The Future of Intelligence
- NSPO8049 Security in the Indo-Pacific
A minimum of 6 units from completion of experiential courses from the following list:
- ANIP6503 Australian National Internships Program A
- POGO8140 Practice-Based Project
- CRWF7000 Applied Policy Project
- CRWF8019 Public Policy and Professional Internship
- NSPO8037 Research Project
A maximum of 24 units from completion of security, strategy and policy courses from the following list:

Cyber Studies
- LAWS8035 Cyber Warfare Law
- LAWS8077 Cyber Law
- SOCY6064 Surveillance and Society
- SOCY6066 Social Science of the Internet
Global Security
- DIPL8006 Diplomacy, Politics and the United Nations
- INTR8062 Humanitarianism in World Politics
- INTR8067 US Foreign and Security Policy in the Asia-Pacific
- MEAS8115 Islam in World Politics
- REGN8007 Violence Against Women in Australia, Asia and the Pacific
- STST8002 The New Power Politics of Asia
Public Policy
- IDEC8021 The Chinese Economy
- INTR8017 Issues in Australian Foreign Policy
- INTR8068 Foreign Policy Analysis
- POGO8021 Public Sector Ethics
- POGO8045 International Policymaking in the Shadow of the Future
- REGN8052: Regulation and Governance
- POGO8062 Public Sector Management
- POGO8076 Corruption and Anti-Corruption
- POGO8083 Policy Advocacy
- POGO8136 Participating in Public Policy: Citizen Engagement and Public Talk
- POGO8138 Science, Technology and Public Policy
- POGO8231 Leading in Public Administration
- POGO8233 Policy Tools & Mixes
- POGO8234 Unpacking Policy Capacity
- POGO8235 Engaging China: Working with Policy in the PRC
- POGO8401 Foundations in Public Policy
- POGO8402 Political and Institutional Architecture of Public Policy
Strategy and Defence
- STST8001 Strategic Studies
- 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 Modern Warfare
- STST8056 Strategy and Southeast Asia: Defence and Security Dynamics
- STST8068 Asian Strategy and Security: History, Theory, and Practice
Resources and the Environment
- EMDV8009 Asia Pacific Environmental Conflicts: Causes and Solutions
- EMDV8079 Water Justice, Management and Governance
- EMDV8080 International Climate Change Policy and Economics
- EMDV8081 Domestic Climate Change Policy and Economics
- EMDV8124 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
- IDEC8089 Energy Economics
A maximum of 24 units from completion of a research thesis course
- NSPO8031 Thesis (24 units)
Entry Requirement
At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not automatically guarantee entry.
- Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 5/7; or
- Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or
- Bachelor degree or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7; or
- Graduate Diploma or international equivalent with a GPA 4/7; or
- 48 units of courses in a postgraduate program with a GPA of 4/7; or
- Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or
- Graduate Records Examination (GRE) General test, completed no more than 5 years before the time of application, with a minimum score of 155 for Verbal Reasoning, 155 for Quantitative Reasoning and 4.0 in Analytical Writing and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or
- A minimum of 10 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program.
Academic achievement & English language proficiency

The minimum academic requirement for full entry and enrolment is a Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 5.0/7.0.

However, applicants will first be ranked on a GPA ('GPA1') that is calculated using all but the last semester (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes.

If required, ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of:
- a GPA ('GPA2') calculated on the penultimate and antepenultimate semesters (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes; and/or
- demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency.
Prior to enrolment in this ANU program, all students who gain entry will have their Bachelor degree reassessed, to confirm minimum requirements were met.
Fees & Scholarships
The annual indicative fee provides an estimate of the program tuition fees for international students and domestic students (where applicable). The annual indicative fee for a program is based on the standard full-time enrolment load of 48 units per year (unless the program duration is less than 48 units). Fees for courses vary by discipline meaning that the fees for a program can vary depending on the courses selected. Course fees are reviewed on an annual basis and typically will increase from year to year. The tuition fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and the courses selected and are subject to increase during the period of study.

Annual indicative fee for international students

$48,802

Cost Of Studying At Australian National University

Interest rates as low as 8.9% ^*

250K+

Students Assisted

800Cr+

Loan Amount Disbursed

5000+

Loans Sanctioned

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Master of National Security Policy at Australian National University