International Terrorism and Extremism (MRes)

About the Course

Course subject to Validation

The MRes in International Terrorism and Extremism Studies draws on Liverpool Hope's significant research strength in this field, and offers an innovative programme for aspiring academic researchers, policy makers, and practitioners with an interest in a subject at the cutting edge of contemporary criminology. 

This unique degree programme aims to give students a robust grounding in the study of terrorism and extremism, and the interplay between security and the criminal justice system. Across two taught modules and an original research dissertation students will engage with in-depth subject teaching in this area, as well as advanced quantitative and qualitative research skills and the ethics and practicalities of conducting research on terrorism and extremism. This will build towards the production of an original research dissertation that explores a contemporary terrorism or extremism issue in line with the course content.  

By providing students with a world-leading understanding of the core issues around this field and the skills to produce high-quality original research, the course will allow them to pursue careers in and around criminal justice and security policy or practice, or to engage in advanced academic study via further postgraduate research qualifications.  

Curriculum Overview

The MRes in International Terrorism and Extremism comprises two compulsory taught modules of 30 credits each and a compulsory research dissertation of 120 credits. Assessment methods may include coursework, in the form of essays, reports, presentations, and an empirical research dissertation

Modules

During the programme you will study:

Terrorism and Extremism (30 Credits - Compulsory)

This module will critically explore key contemporary concepts and issues in extremism and terrorism studies. It will provide a broad-ranging perspective on the field through consideration of national and international controversies, research, and areas of academic and policy debate. It will investigate areas such as radicalisation, counter-violent extremism (CVE), and political violence, and will provide students with a holistic overview of criminological research around contemporary terrorism and extremism.  

The module will be delivered through a flexible blended learning approach, with asynchronous lecture content provided as pre-recorded micro-lectures for students to view in their own time before attending face-to-face seminars. These lectures will be grouped into four themes:

• Defining extremism and terrorism
• Causes of extremism and terrorism
• Counter Violent Extremism policy frameworks
• Case studies in extremism and terrorism 

Seminars will be delivered during intensive on-campus blocks. These sessions will take a problem-based learning approach, using case studies to support students to consolidate and apply their learning from the lecture programme, set reading, and further directed study activities.  

Advanced Research Methods (30 credits - compulsory)

This module will provide students with an overview of the advanced social research methods that provide the foundation for their dissertation research. It will cover a range of relevant topics and skills, including quantitative and qualitative research methods, research design, ethical issues in research, sources of data collection, and the use of specialist software. 

The module will be delivered through a flexible blended learning approach, with asynchronous lecture content provided as pre-recorded micro-lectures for students to view in their own time prior to attending the face-to-face seminars. These lectures will be grouped into themes of quantitative and qualitative research methods, and cover topics such as research design, ethical issues, sources of data, and analyzing data using specialist software.  

Seminars will be delivered during an intensive on-campus block. These sessions will focus on practical research skills, and will provide students with the opportunity to work in groups on the design and analysis of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research projects. The sessions will also provide guidance for students in developing a research proposal for an empirical dissertation project. 

Extended dissertation (120 credits - compulsory)

The extended dissertation offers students the opportunity to produce a longer piece of original research on a topic related to the core subject focus of the degree programme. This may draw on themes introduced in taught modules, or may alternatively speak to interests and/or topics from outside the core programme syllabus. 

Produced under the guidance and oversight of a member of academic staff through regular one-hour one-on-one supervisory meetings, the 30,000-word extended dissertation will involve the collection, analysis, and presentation of results from original primary and/or secondary research. In so doing it will provide a test of the student's knowledge and understanding of ethics, research practice, planning, and time-management.

Entry Requirements

A minimum of a second class honours degree in a relevant discipline awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification, or equivalent professional experience

International Entry Requirements

For students whose first language is not English there is a language requirement of IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 minimum of all components. In addition to this also we accept a wide range of International Qualifications, for more information please visit our English Language Requirements page.

For additional information about country specific entry requirements visit the your country pages. 

Due consideration will be given to applications from outside the UK with the possibility of Distance Learning.

Teaching and Research

The School of Law and Criminology's academic provision is led by well-respected cutting-edge legal scholars, committed to supporting our students, our academics have internationally recognised research profiles in the fields of Global Business and Human Rights, World Trade Law, International Law, Telecommunications and Cyber Law, Media Law and European Union Law. The School’s teaching is research and practitioner informed with an approach that is inspired by the communitarian and ethical values of the University.

The teaching and learning strategy of the award requires approximately 33 hours contact per taught research-focused module (99 hours in total) and 12 hours per student of supervision for the 120-credit research project/dissertation.  In essence, for the taught modules delivered during the first term of study, students will be required to devote up to 6 hours per week or one day per week to the learning through contact aspects of the course.

Teaching and Learning on the course is in blended learning format with online asynchronous lectures and synchronous student-led research, used seminars interspersed with monthly learning consolidation workshops, face to face or online, depending on student location and convenience. 

UK/Channel Island Tuition Fees

2025/26

Tuition fees for Home students are £9,500

Funding

We offer a number of scholarships and loans to help fund your postgraduate studies. Visit our scholarships pages for more details.

EU/Non EU International Tuition Fees

2025/26

Tuition fees for EU/Non-EU International students for 2025/26 are £15,250

Please be aware that the UK’s departure from the EU may affect your tuition fees. Learn more about your fee status and which tuition fees are relevant to you.

Careers

Students who complete this course will be well placed to pursue careers in policing, intelligence, security services and the wider law-enforcement network. However, the course will also prepare students to pursue a range of careers outside the security sector. The research skills built on this course will allow students to pursue careers in a range of sectors including, policy development, the civil service, local and national government, media, the third sector to list but a few.