Program Requirements
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)
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.
· 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.
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.
Further information: English Language Requirements for Admission
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 who have completed a degree in a cognate discipline from a recognised university may be eligible to receive coursework credit towards this degree, in line with the ANU Recognition of prior and external learning policy
Credit Granted
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.
Indicative fees
- Annual indicative fee for domestic students
- $33,520.00
For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees
- Annual indicative fee for international students
- $47,940.00
For further information on International Tuition Fees see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments/international-tuition-fees
Fee Information
All students are required to pay the Services and amenities fee (SA Fee)
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.
For further information on Fees and Payment please see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments
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.
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.
Career Options
ANU ranks among the world's very finest universities. Our nearly 100,000 alumni include political, business, government, and academic leaders around the world.
We have graduated remarkable people from every part of our continent, our region and all walks of life.
Learning Outcomes
Demonstrate a multidisciplinary understanding of contemporary and emerging national security challenges affecting Australia
Develop an intellectually rigorous conception of national security connecting theoretical, historical and practical perspectives
Use concepts and frameworks to critically analyse complex and contemporary issues in the area of national security
Demonstrate a working understanding of the context, processes, challenges and options for national security policy development and implementation
Communicate ideas, analysis and arguments on national security.
