Master of Security and Strategic Studies
PostgraduateMAQ-SEC-MAS2024
Course information for 2024 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Meet the growing demand for strategic security specialists
Understand and unlock complex security problems. Develop an in-depth knowledge about Australia’s emerging security and defence environment in the 21st century. Choose your specialisation and focus on the latest developments. Think critically and ethically.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- Approx. 1.5 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 12
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Master of Security and Strategic Studies
About this degree
On successful completion, you will be able to
- Critically analyse and explain real world security/strategic issues through specialised disciplinary knowledge.
- Transfer, integrate and use advanced disciplinary techniques and methods to develop solutions to real world security/strategic issues.
- Apply disciplinary knowledge to develop, analyze, and evaluate intelligence-related policies.
- Create research and implementable policies in the field of Security and Strategic Studies.
- Make ethically and socially informed judgments in Security and Strategic studies.
- Communicate disciplinary knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences in written and oral forms.
In a changing international and strategic environment, there is a growing demand for people with specialised knowledge in security and strategic studies. In studying this course you will have a deep understanding of the theory and practice of security and strategy studies. This includes in-depth knowledge of Australia’s emerging security and defence environment in the 21st Century. The course further seeks to equip you with practical skills in terms of thinking through complex security problems in a systematic way in order to enhance your employment opportunities. The core units, provided through the Department of Security Studies and Criminology, focus on synthesising the latest developments in security and strategic studies. They will provide you with an in-depth understanding of theoretical and practical issues at a global, regional and national level. The elective units will allow you to focus on other aspects of security, including cyber security, counter terrorism, intelligence and criminology.
Recommended study pattern
Master of Security and Strategic Studies students must complete eight or twelve subjects as per the admission point.
Please note: It is not recommended to enrol in more than 2 subjects per Session
A student who is taking an unduly long time to complete a program of study may be excluded from further enrolment. An unduly long period of time is considered to be effective enrolment longer than 7 years for this Masters degree.
Core Zone
Essential Subjects: 50 credit points
- PICX8012 Critical Thought & Research Design
- PICX8050 Strategic Thinking
- PICX8060 Geopolitics and Geostrategy
- PICX8061 Transnational Security
- PICX8921 Australia’s Strategic and Defence Policy
Core Zone
Elective Subjects
Complete 10 credit points from:
- PICX8951 Simulation in Security and Strategy
- PICX8961 Decision Making , Scenario Planning and Simulation in Security and Strategy
Complete 20 credit points from:
- PICX8020 Advanced Terrorism Studies
- PICX8045 Intelligence: Theory and Practice
- PICX8080 Cyber Conflict, Cyber Espionage and Information Warfare
- PICX8088 Advanced Criminology Theory
Flexible Zone
Electives: 40 credit points from:
- PICX8013 History of Intelligence
- PICX8020 Advanced Terrorism Studies
- PICX8040 Cyber Crime and Cyber Policing
- PICX8043 International Terrorism
- PICX8045 Intelligence: Theory and Practice
- PICX8062 The Crimes of the Powerful
- PICX8080 Cyber Conflict, Cyber Espionage and Information Warfare
- PICX8088 Advanced Criminology Theory
- SOCX8015 Doing Social Survey Research
- SOCX8020 Evaluating Social Policy
- SOCX8035 Qualitative Methods for Policy
- SOCX8080 Making Public Policy in a Globalised World
- PICX8002 Information Warfare, Disinformation and Propaganda
Total credit points: 120
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Master of Security and Strategic Studies students must complete eight or twelve subjects as required. Students must complete the compulsory subjects as indicated in the degree structure.
On completion of admission you are bound by the University Terms and Conditions and must comply with present and future By-laws, Rules, Codes, and Policies, Procedures and Schedules of Macquarie University
Students who did not commence their program in the current year are required to follow the program structure provided to them at the time of admission.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Applications are due the Friday two weeks prior to the close of enrolment date for the study session you are applying for.
Please note:
Once you have been admitted into your degree, you must enrol in at least one subject in the study term immediately following admission, and you must remain enrolled past the census date. If not, your admission will lapse and you will need to re-apply for the degree again. Deferment is not available for OUA students.
Visit Studying a degree through OUA for further information.
Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy will not be permitted to register in Macquarie University degrees offered through OUA. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
From 2020 the Macquarie unit codes have changed. All units previously studied under the old unit code will be recognised as equivalent.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $31,600
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about Macquarie University.
Explore Macquarie courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 10
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 10
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
Depending on your prior qualifications, work experience, or other recognised prior learning, you may qualify for entry to the course at one of the admission points below.
Each admission point requires the completion of some or all of the course's zones (see Course Structure) which will affect the overall duration of the course.
Core and Flexible Zones
- AQF level 7 bachelor's qualification in a related field or recognised equivalent, or
- AQF level 7 bachelor's qualification or recognised equivalent, and approved work experience, professional certification or other recognised prior learning, or
- AQF level 7 bachelor's qualification or recognised equivalent with a WAM of 65
Core Zone
- AQF level 8 bachelor honours or graduate diploma qualification in a related field or recognised equivalent, or
- Meet two of the following three criteria:
- AQF level 7 bachelor's qualification in a related field or recognised equivalent
- Minimum two years relevant approved work experience at senior management level, professional certification or other recognised prior learning
- AQF level 7 bachelor's qualification or recognised equivalent with a WAM of 65
Related Disciplines For Prior Qualifications
Social Sciences, Humanities
Relevant Prior Work Experience, Professional Certification, Or Other Recognised Learning
Police Force, Defence Force, Public Service, Law, Policy advising, defence and security related industry and business, media, international policy think tanks.
The required standard of English for this program is:
Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall with minimum 6.0 in each band, or equivalent.
All applicants to coursework programs at Macquarie University are required to provide evidence of proficiency in English.
For more information on accepted equivalents, please see English Language Requirements.
You may be eligible for credit against individual units in your course at Macquarie if you have additional postgraduate-level study or qualifications beyond those required for admission.
For more information see our Recognition of Prior Learning page or submit an enquiry.
Career opportunities
Graduates will be equipped to work in a range of government, non-government and private employment, including:
- Department of Defence
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Australian Border Force
- International/Regional organizations
- Think tanks and policy advising.
- Media
- Defence and security related business and industry
- International Non-Government Organisations
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Commissioned Defence Force Officers | Over $120K | N/A^ |
Detectives | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
Intelligence and Policy Analysts | $93K to $120K | Up 22.6% |
Intelligence Officers | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
Police | $93K to $120K | Up 10.8% |
Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
^ There is no data available
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
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You can enrol without entry requirements
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You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
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Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
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If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.