Security and Data Science University of Exeter

• Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and the increasingly data-driven nature of all aspects of society have significantly altered the security, defence, and law enforcement domains, with this, and other emerging technologies, posing both novel opportunities and threats for governments, armed services, security services, law enforcement, and civil society.
• Understanding how these emergent technologies have aggravated social tensions, created new security vulnerabilities, impacted war fighting capabilities, and encouraged relative power shifts at both the inter-nation state and state versus sub-state actor levels involves understanding the technology-security relationships across multiple levels.
• Our aim is to maximise your employability by providing you with a unique skill set that blends in-depth domain knowledge and practical data analysis skills; a hugely employable and transferable skillset both within and beyond the security, defence, and law enforcement sectors.
• Graduates of this programme will have a dual speciality in data science skills and strong knowledge of the security-threat landscape and how security, defence, and law enforcement organisations are adapting to the novel opportunities and threats posed by emerging technologies, particularly data and AI.
• This dual speciality will prepare you for roles in organisations such as the security services, National Crimes Agency, Europol, Interpol, and specialist policing units, as well as roles in business intelligence and analytics, data journalism, social research and specialised government department roles focused on the security, defence, and law enforcement domains.

Entry requirements

We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree or above in a social science* or humanities subject area (including Business and Management). While we normally only consider applicants who meet these criteria, if you have a high 2:2 or equivalent, are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant work experience, we would welcome your application.

*Accepted social science subjects include:

• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Area and Development Studies
• Criminology
• Demography
• Development Studies
• Economics
• Economic and Social History
• Education
• Environmental Planning
• Human Geography
• International Relations
• Law
• Linguistics
• Management and Business Studies
• Media and Communication Studies
• Philosophy
• Politics and International Studies
• Psychology
• Science and Technology Studies
• Social Policy
• Social Statistics, Methods, and Computing
• Social Work
• Socio Legal Studies
• Sociology

Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.

Entry requirements for international students

Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements.

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B1. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.