International Master in Security, Intelligence, and Strategic Studies secures €4.6m in funding
The International Master in Security, Intelligence, and Strategic Studies (IMSISS), a programme delivered in partnership between Dublin City University, the University of Glasgow, Charles University in Prague and the University of Trento, has been refunded.
IMSISS will support 70 fully-funded scholarships over 4 cohorts of students.
IMSISS specialises in teaching students the complex, challenging realities of international security faced by a wide range of actors, from nation-states and international organisations to multi-national corporations.
Students on the IMSISS programme examine a broad range of contemporary security challenges, such as terrorism, civil war and conflict, mass migration, energy supply security, cybersecurity, new technologies, and transnational organised crime. Students will also explore intelligence analysis and strategic approaches used by governmental and non-governmental actors to combat these threats in an increasingly volatile world.
They get the opportunity to meet with and work alongside a range of academics and researchers from international partner universities and think tanks from around the world, as well as practitioner experts from governmental and industry security and defence sectors.
Those on IMSISS study across Europe in at least 3 cities and universities. They have the opportunity to undertake short study visits to other universities and can apply for work-based learning placements as part of the independent study semester.
For the third iteration of IMSISS, the programme welcomes 33 associate partners from around the world. These include: the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Shin Chien University, Taiwan; Gadjha Mada University, Indonesia, and; the University of the Philippines.
Speaking about the refunding of the programme, founding director Dr James Fitzgerald said:
"When we established IMSISS in 2016, there was a gap in the market for Erasmus Masters programmes focused on security; even more so for programmes that could offer graduates a reliable route to employment in the sector. Almost a decade later, we have produced over 500 graduates, who have secured prominent positions at the likes of the United Nations, US State Department and also at various departments of foreign affairs, think tanks, and so on.
This re-funding allows IMSISS to broaden its horizons. We can welcome new partners from traditionally underrepresented regions and increase the number of IMSISS scholarships to 250 over its lifetime. At a time when university funding and norms of mobility face political headwinds, we are proud that IMSISS stands for these values. We couldn’t be more delighted to welcome our new students to DCU in 2026; and many more, through to 2032."