BA Intelligence and International Security
About this course
BA in Intelligence and International Security is a politics degree focusing on global security dynamics, strategic studies and intelligence operations. Core topics include Research Methods. The course culminates in an independent research dissertation in the final year. The first year covers core concepts through compulsory modules such as Exploring the International 1: Central Concepts and Core Skills and War, Strategy and Intelligence, alongside optional choices like Behind the Headlines. The second year shifts focus to advanced strategy with compulsory study in Strategy, Intelligence and Security in International Politics, complemented by optional subjects including America at War: A Military History of the United States and Terrorism & Counter Terrorism in the Modern World: Policing, Intelligence & War. The third year centres on the compulsory Dissertation, supported by further optional modules such as Making Sense of Secrets: Intelligence Analysis in Theory and Practice and Russian Security in the 21st Century.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: BBB-CCC IB: 30-28
What students say
Based on about 72 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 93%
- Learning opportunities: 89%
- Assessment and feedback: 86%
- Academic support: 93%
- Organisation and management: 91%
- Learning resources: 93%
- Student voice: 89%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 125 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 91%
- Left higher education: 8%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 1%
What graduates do next
Based on about 26 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 55%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 15%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 5%
- Protective service occupations: 5%
- Natural and social science professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 30%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 125 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 5%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 6%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 14%
- East of England: 11%
- London: 11%
- South East: 14%
- South West: 11%
- Wales: 23%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 130 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 96%
- Access course: 1%
- Foundation course: 1%
- Other HE qualification: 2%
- Other qualifications: 1%
Modules
- Exploring the International 1: Central Concepts and Core Skills
- War, Strategy and Intelligence
- Behind the Headlines
- Globalization and Global Development
- Politics in the 21st Century
- The Making of the Modern World: War Peace and Revolution since 1789
- Strategy, Intelligence and Security in International Politics
- A War on the Mind: Propaganda and Secret Intelligence from the Great War to the 21st Century
- America at War: A Military History of the United States
- China From the Opium War to the Present
- Climate Change and International Politics in the Anthropocene
- Contemporary Latin America
- Devolution and Wales
- International Relations: Perspectives and Debates
- Intervention and Humanitarianism
- Making Sense of Secrets: Intelligence Analysis in Theory and Practice
- People and Power: Understanding Comparative Politics Today
- Political Theory
- Politics in Diverse Societies
- Questions of International Politics
- Russian Security in the 21st Century
- Science, Technology, and International Relations
- Terrorism & Counter Terrorism in the Modern World: Policing, Intelligence & War
- The BRICS in World Politics
- The Century of the Superpowers and the Global Cold War
- The Governance of Climate Change: Simulation Module
- The Second World War in Europe
- Total War, Total Peace
- Trade Wars and the Liberal Order
- Warfare after Waterloo: Military History 1815-1918
- Dissertation
- A War on the Mind: Propaganda and Secret Intelligence from the Great War to the 21st Century
- America At War: a Military History of the United States
- China From the Opium War to the Present
- Climate Change and International Politics in the Anthropocene
- Contemporary Latin America
- Devolution and Wales
- Intervention and Humanitarianism
- Making Sense of Secrets: Intelligence Analysis in Theory and Practice
- Political Theory
- Politics in Diverse Societies
- Questions of International Politics
- Russian Security in the 21st Century
- Science, Technology, and International Relations
- Terrorism & Counter Terrorism in the Modern World: Policing, Intelligence & War
- The BRICS in World Politics
- The Century of the Superpowers and the Global Cold War
- The Governance of Climate Change: Simulation Module
- The Second World War in Europe
- Total War, Total Peace
- Trade Wars and the Liberal Order
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Intelligence and International Security at Aberystwyth University earn?
The median salary is £25,000 after 15 months, £22,000 after 3 years, £28,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £22,000 and £37,000. The £28,500 median after five years is £1,000 more than the UK median for Social policy.
What do graduates of BA Intelligence and International Security at Aberystwyth University do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Intelligence and International Security at Aberystwyth University?
93% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Intelligence and International Security at Aberystwyth University?
The typical offer is BBB at A level. The average entrant had 102 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Intelligence and International Security at Aberystwyth University?
91% of students continued into their second year, and 8% left higher education.