MA Modern War Studies and Contemporary Military History

Course outline

In a world of uncertainty and rapid change it is more important than ever to study why and how wars are fought. The University of Buckingham has a well-established Master’s degree in Modern War Studies and Contemporary Military History based in London. The one-year (two years part time) course* commences in October with a ‘Course Study Day’ followed by ‘Research Skills’ lectures and culminates, after a period of supervised research, with the submission of a dissertation. During their time of study, candidates are encouraged to attend both a series of evening seminars held at the Army and Navy Club, Pall Mall, at which some of the most eminent names in the field present papers, and course research day at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. This series of talks examines a range of historical subjects as well as those issues affecting modern Defence in all dimensions.

A 20% discount is available on the tuition fees for this programme to all serving members of the British Armed Forces (regardless of rank).

*A six-month long variant of this course is available to all those who have attended the Advanced Command and Staff Course (or its international equivalent).

Induction and Research Skills Day

Location: Humanities Research Institute, 51 Gower Street, London WC1E

Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm

Date: Saturday 30 September 2023

Seminar and Research Day 2023-24

Seminar Location: Army and Navy Club, 36-39 Pall Mall, St. James’s. London SW1Y 5JN

Time: Seminars take place from 6.00pm and are followed by dinner.

22 November 2023: Aiden Aslin ‘Putin’s Prisoner-My time as a prisoner of war in Ukraine’ [in Conversation Professor Lloyd Clark] (British citizen who fought as a Ukrainian Marine in Mariupol)

6 December 2023: Dr John Greenacre ‘Scorched Earth: Conflict, Landscape and the Environment (Lecturer in History, University of Suffolk)

17 January 2024: Lt Col (Rtd) Crispin Black ‘8 June 1982-The Falklands War and the most costly day of combat since the Second World War.’ (Author and commentator)

21 February 2024: Professor Joanna Bourke ‘From shell shock to traumatic brain injury. A history of military psychiatry’ (Birkbeck College, University of London)

20 March 2024: Dr Matthew Powell ‘Round pegs in square holes-The perils of Close Air Support in the modern era’ (Teaching Fellow in Strategic and Air Power Studies, University of Portsmouth)

17 April 2024: Professor Lloyd Clark ‘The Last Hurrah! Military raids in 1945 and their operational effectiveness’ (Professorial Research Fellow, University of Buckingham)

Study Day at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst 2024

Study Day Location: The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Camberley, Surrey GU15 4PQ

Date: Saturday 18 May 2024

Speakers:

Dr Gary Buck: ‘Operation Market Garden: Cognitive biases and Field Marshal Montgomery’s decision making’

Professor David Martin Jones: ‘The Ukraine War and the changing geopolitics of central Europe’ (Honorary Visiting Professor, University of Buckingham)

Mr Andrew Fox: ‘Groupthink and Sunk Cost Fallacy: Task Force Helmand, 2004-10’ (Senior Lecturer, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst)

WO1 Mark Willis: ‘A Perspective on RAF Leadership – 40 Years in the making’ (Warrant Officer, Tedder Academy, RAF Cranwell)

Current Student Research Projects include

• Millennials and Western Militaries: Leadership Challenges for Generational Integration, 2002 to Present
• Justifying War: George Bush Jr, Tony Blair and the Decision to Invade Iraq, 2003
• The Role, Performance and Influence of the Canadian Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV III) in Afghanistan, 2001-2014
• The Art of Precision: Strategic Bombing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
• Leading the Digital War: Army Officer Competencies and Hyper-Warfare
• Strategy, Power and Change: The Fall of the Dutch East Indies, 1945-1950
• Contextual Adaptation: US Maneouvrist Approach since 1991
• Moral Courage: Western Armies and the Application of Intelligent Disobedience, 1969-1982
• Poison Chalice: The Transition of the Nigerian Armed Forces since 2010
• Ultimate Impact: Israeli Airpower during the 1973 Yom Kippur War and its Influence on NATO
• Tomorrow’s Army Today: The British Army Officer Recruitment Pipeline in the 21^st Century
• Ethics and the Air War Against the Islamic State: The RAF’s Airstrikes During Operation Shader, December 2015
• Post -War Air-Land Integration and the Evolution of Doctrine, 1960-1990
• A General’s Prestige: Douglas MacArthur’s Character and Leadership Styles During the Korean War, 1950-53
• Quo Vadis Bundeswehr? Re-Appraising the Post-Cold War History of the German Armed Forces from a Perspective of Collective and National Defence, 1989-2020

What our students say

‘The Modern War Studies and Contemporary Military History MA (Research) combines engaging course sessions with a focus on one’s own research project. There are copious opportunities to engage with expert guest speakers drawn from academia, the armed forces and the defence sector. Equally important are the academic advisors and course staff, who are constantly available to provide their guidance and input. Due to the excellent study support, I would highly recommend the programme to anyone who wants to improve their academic skills, advance their career, or simply explore key topics in this amazingly broad field.’ (Nicolas Leixner, MA programme)

‘I am currently a final year student on the Modern War Studies and Contemporary Military History PhD programme, but I started my journey on the MA (Research) course which provided me with the skills to conduct independent research. Expert supervision and one-to-one tutorials developed my ability to developing thinking skills, refine my knowledge and to develop my project in a coherent manner. The course seminars also gave me the opportunity to speak with leading figures in the field, including former British  Chief of Defence Staff, General The Lord Richards. The opportunity to interact with the experts whose books I had read and whose achievements are of historical and academic significance, was a fascinating experience and improved by ability analyse important issues. These skills not only led to me gaining an MA, but also helped me as a serving officer and allowed me to operate more confidently in multinational and inter agency environments while encouraging me to write three small books. The programme is highly recommended.’ (Mohamed Marwa, MA 2019 and currently on the PhD Modern War Studies and Contemporary Military History programme)

Entry requirements

The minimum entry level required for this course is as follows:

• a first or upper second-class honours degree from a recognised university or,
• a recognised professional qualification with relevant work experience.

In cases where candidates are applying on the basis of work experience, they may be asked to complete a short written assignment and/or attend an interview as part of the applications process.

Students shall also have satisfied the Programme Director that they have sufficient background knowledge to undertake the degree. It is likely that they will already have a background of study in history or a cognate discipline and that they have identified a research topic which they wish to study and which they are qualified to pursue. The emphasis of the Buckingham MA in War Studies and Contemporary Military History is on independent research.

Mature students

Age is no barrier to learning and we welcome all applications from suitably qualified students.  Due to their flexibility, our London-based MAs by research attract a wide variety of applicants from a range of backgrounds, including people in full-time employment and retirees. Our current students range in age from 21 to 75.

International students

We are happy to consider all international applications and if you are an international student, you may find it useful to visit our international pages for details of entry requirements from your home country.

The University is a UKVI Student Sponsor.

English levels

If English is not your first language, please check our postgraduate English language requirements. If your English levels don’t meet our minimum requirements, you may be interested in applying for our Pre-sessional English Language Foundation Programmes.

Selection process

Candidates apply online, sending in their supporting documents, and will be assessed on this basis by the Programme Director.  The Programme Director or Admissions Assistant will be happy to answer any enquiries. Call us on +44 (0)1280 820227 or get in touch via our online form.

Student Contract for prospective students

When you are offered a place at the University you will be notified of the student contract between the University and students on our courses of study. When you accept an offer of a place on the course at the University a legal contract is formed between you and the University on the basis of the student contract in your offer letter. Your offer letter and the student contract contain important information which you should read carefully before accepting an offer. Read the Student Contract

Quality teaching

We offer high quality, traditional Oxbridge-style teaching, which leads to our degrees being recognised around the world. The standards of degrees and awards are safeguarded by distinguished external examiners – senior academic staff from other universities in the UK – who approve and moderate assessed work.

Teaching methods

For Master’s degree candidates, the core of the programme is the writing, under supervision, of the dissertation on a subject chosen by the student in the field of Modern War Studies. Subject to approval by the Course Director, the topic to be examined in the dissertation can address any aspect of warfare since 1945, and the precise topic is usually formulated in a process of discussion with the Course Director and/or the student’s supervisor. The length of the dissertation is normally 25,000 words. Research does not have to be confined to British-related subjects. Some of the themes which students may wish to examine include: political decision making; alliances; warfare and faith; the impact of critical strategic thinkers; intelligence gathering; the impact of technology on the battlefield; the development of doctrine; military-media relations; leadership; command and control; the application of force at the strategic, operational and tactical levels of war on land, sea and air; and the influence of war on non-combatants, politics, society, economies and cultures.

Assessment methods

Examination is by a research dissertation on an approved topic of not less than 25,000 words.

The University’s Course Directors, students’ supervisors, and the Research Officer and Tutor for Graduate Students are available to discuss students’ post-graduation plans and how they may utilise most effectively the skills acquired during their studies.

The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.

Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and other ancillary charges. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.

Please note that The University of Buckingham has four terms per year. Students will pay the same termly fee for the duration of their studies, unless studies are interrupted and resumed later. The tuition fee quoted is therefore the total cost of the degree.

A 20% discount is available on the tuition fees for this programme to all serving members of the British Armed Forces (regardless of rank).

Postgraduate loan scheme

A system of postgraduate loans for Masters degrees in the UK is available with support from the UK Government. The loan is available for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas. The loans can be used for tuition fees, living expenses or both.

Scholarships

Details of scholarships can be found on our Bursaries and Scholarships page. You should make an application to study at the University and receive an offer letter confirming our acceptance of your application before applying for a scholarship.

You may also find it useful to visit our External Funding page.

Due to the mode of study on this course you will not normally need a room in University accommodation during your degree.

Apply directly

You can apply directly using our online application form – all you need to do is click the ‘apply’ button at the bottom of this page.