Program Requirements
The Master of National Security Policy requires the completion of 72 units which must consist of:
12 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:
NSPO8006 National Security Policymaking
NSPO8007 National Security: Concepts and Methods
A minimum of 36 units from completion of national security policy courses from the following list:
NSPO8008 Ethical Challenges for National Security
NSPO8009 Cyber-intelligence and Security
NSPO8010 Civil-Military Relations
NSPO8012 National Security and Crisis Management
NSPO8014 Ethics and Technologies of War
NSPO8017 Malicious Networks: Transnational Terrorism and Crime
NSPO8018 The Evolution of National Security Policy since 1945
NSPO8020 Research Methods in National Security Policy
NSPO8021 Statecraft and National Security in Cyberspace
NSPO8022 Special Topic in National Security Policy
NSPO8024 American National Security Policy
NSPO8025 Terrorism and National Security
NSPO8026 Energy and National Security
NSPO8027 Propaganda, Information War and National Security
NSPO8028 History and Policymaking
NSPO8023 National security in the Indo-Pacific
A maximum of 24 units from completion of strategy and policy courses from the following list:
CRWF8000 Government, Markets and Global Change
DIPL8006 Diplomacy, Politics and the United Nations
INTR8017 Issues in Australian Foreign Policy
INTR8062 Humanitarianism in World Politics
INTR8065 Writing International Relations
INTR8067 U.S. Security Policy in the Asia-Pacific
INTR8068 Foreign Policy Analysis
MEAS8111 Islam, the West and International Terrorism
MEAS8115 Islam in World Politics
POGO8045 International Policy Making in the Shadow of the Future
POGO8083 Policy Advocacy
REGN8007 Violence Against Women in Australia, Asia and the Pacific
STST8001 Strategic Studies
STST8002 The New Power Politics of Asia
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
A maximum of 24 units from completion of a research thesis:
NSPO8031 Thesis (24 units)
A maximum of 6 units from the following experiential courses:
ANIP6503 Australian National Internships Program Internship A (Graduate)
CRWF7000 Applied Policy Project
CRWF7001 Editor’s practicum: online public engagement, academic blogging digital disruption
CRWF8019 Public Policy and Professional Internship
VCPG8002 Ignorance!
VCPG8001 Dealing with Wicked Problems
Hurdle Requirements
Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 5.0 in the first 96 units attempted to commence the 24 units of Masters courses in their Bachelor degree. Students who do not achieve this GPA will be able to complete and graduate from their Bachelor degree but will not be able to undertake Masters courses.If the total number of units attempted exceeds 96 in the same teaching period in which the 96th unit is attempted, all courses attempted will be used in the calculation of the GPA.
Admission Requirements
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.
Applicants must present a Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 5.0/7.0
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.
In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors.
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.
Diversity factors
As Australia’s national university, ANU is global representative of Australian research and education. ANU endeavours to recruit and maintain a diverse and deliberate student cohort representative not only of Australia, but the world. In order to achieve these outcomes, competitive ranking of applicants may be adjusted to ensure access to ANU is a reality for brilliant students from countries across the globe.
Assessment of qualifications
Unless otherwise indicated, ANU will accept all Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications or international equivalents that meet or exceed the published admission requirements of our programs, provided all other admission requirements are also met.
Where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will base assessment on the qualification that best meets the admission requirements for the program. Find out more about the Australian Qualifications Framework: www.aqf.edu.au
ANU uses a 7-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale. All qualifications submitted for admission at ANU will be converted to this common scale, which will determine if an applicant meets our published admission requirements. Find out more about how a 7-point GPA is calculated for Australian universities: www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/tertiary-qualifications
Unless otherwise indicated, where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will calculate the GPA for each qualification separately. ANU will base assessment on the best GPA of all completed tertiary qualifications of the same level or higher.
Applications for course credit
Applicants with a Bachelor Degree, Bachelor degree with Honours, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in a cognate discipline may be eligible for up to 24 units
Credit Granted
Indicative fees
- Annual indicative fee for domestic students
- $32,256.00
For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees
- Annual indicative fee for international students
- $46,080.00
For further information on International Tuition Fees see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments/international-tuition-fees
Scholarships
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.
For further information see the Scholarships website.
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
Graduates from ANU have been rated as Australia's most employable graduates and among the most sought after by employers worldwide.
The latest Global Employability University Ranking, published by the Times Higher Education, rated ANU as Australia's top university for getting a job for the fourth year in a row.
This program is available for applications to commence from Summer Session, 2020
Learning Outcomes
demonstrate a greater understanding of national security issues
understand research principles and methods applicable to different disciplinary approaches to national security issues
reflect critically on theory and practice of national security issues
apply high-level analytical skills as well as oral and written communication skills
conduct independent research and understand aspects of professional practice within the field of national security
