Protective Security and Resilience MSc/PGDip/PGCert

Postgraduate

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This course focuses on complex security-related challenges faced by law enforcement, governments and businesses, how these can be understood and how they can be mitigated to help keep people safe.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Part-time

Duration

2 years part-time (UK only)

Course code

TPST001 - MSc
TPST002 - PgDip
TPST003 - PgCert

Start date

September 2025
January 2026

How to apply

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Course overview

Protective security and resilience is an important and influential consideration in the counter terrorism, security and resilience disciplines, particularly in relation to public spaces, venues and critical infrastructure protection.

This course is designed to help you to:

gain advanced knowledge and practical tools in protective security and resilience, directly applicable to government and organisational security roles
engage in a holistic, 'whole systems' approach to addressing physical, cyber and personnel risks through innovative, research-led teaching
benefit from flexible delivery tailored for working professionals, enabling career progression and enhanced expertise through peer learning and operational insights.

Qualifications available:

Postgraduate Certificate in Protective Security and Resilience (8 months)
Postgraduate Diploma in Protective Security and Resilience (16 months)
Master’s in Protective Security and Resilience (24 months)

The three qualifications are sequential: you start by completing the certificate level, then the diploma and finish by completing the full master's degree, with the option to stop, pause or continue at each stage.

Fast-Track Protective Security and Resilience MSc – RP(E)L (16 months)

We also provide the opportunity to study through our fast-track RP(E)L (Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning) route which allows you to gain credits for your prior experience and learning, including what you have achieved in your career so far. Please see the Entry Requirements section for more information.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 9th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

Comprehensive multidisciplinary approach: Gain a deep understanding of protective security and resilience as a multidisciplinary academic field, addressing key security challenges and their business benefits.
Global and sector-wide perspectives: Learn about the mechanisms and processes for enhancing protective security and resilience across public, private, third, and academic sectors at the international level.
Research-driven risk management: Develop and apply research-informed risk assessments and management methods to various security scenarios, equipping you with practical, actionable skills.
Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills: Enhance your ability to locate, gather and critically review diverse research sources, gaining the information to construct coherent arguments and solutions.
Project management and organisational expertise: Improve your organisational skills, including time management, project planning and the ability to design and execute research projects effectively.

What you'll study

This course covers key principles, cutting-edge research and practical insights in protective security. You'll gain specialist knowledge and tools for government roles, learning through a 'whole systems' approach to physical, cyber and personnel risks. The course integrates significant operational and academic expertise, offering innovative, research-led teaching. You will also have the opportunity to benefit from extensive peer learning, combining theory, concepts and practice to enhance your expertise in protective security and resilience.

Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
Master’s (180 credits).

Modules

Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) - all modules below

Introduction to Protective Security and Resilience: Core Concepts, Principles and Challenges – 10 credits

This module aims to provide you with a strategic understanding of the core concepts, principles and challenges of protective security and resilience. It is designed to provide a foundation for further exploration in later modules on how governments, businesses and individuals can protect their information, assets, people and reputation from a range of security threats.

The Elements of Protective Security – 20 credits

This module critically explores the core elements of protective security, including the discovery, understanding and managing of risk; building resilience; organisational aspects, management and leadership; and metrics and models. The module utilises detailed case studies to stimulate thinking and discussion - seeking to do so in a manner that allows for interoperability across different contexts and types of organisations.

Specialist Areas – Insights and Implications for Practice 1 – 10 credits

This module aims to deliver specialist insight on a series of current security and resilience challenge topics and their implications for practice. It covers pressing topics such as cyber, maritime, AI, state threats, radicalisation and social movements.

Specialist Areas – Insights and Implications for Practice 2 – 20 credits

This module aims to deliver specialist insight on a series of current security and resilience challenge topics and their implications for practice. This module covers pressing topics such as political and single-issue extremism, terrorism, dis/misinformation, threats to critical national infrastructure and people in public life.

Compulsory

Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) – all previous modules plus:

Physical and Cyber Protective Security and Resilience – 10 credits

Insider Risk and Personnel Security – 20 credits

This module aims to provide you with an in-depth understanding of insider risk and personnel security. It is designed to provide you with an understanding of the types, and behaviours of insiders, the origins of insider risk and appropriate mitigation strategies. This module builds on research on counterproductive work behaviour, case histories, and key issues such as trust, drawing out principles and practices of good personnel security.

Compulsory

Modules

Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) – all previous modules plus:

Behavioural and Psychological Factors – 20 credits

This module is designed to provide you with theoretical and practice-based knowledge and understanding of the psychological and behavioural concepts, processes and models that can be utilised in understanding, countering and mitigating security threats. It is concerned with developing a critical understanding of the psychological and behavioural aspects of positive and negative security culture and how these impact on the resilience of that organisation against hostile or otherwise risky acts, and the safety and security of its employees, visitors, assets and reputation.

Public Facing Protective Security - 10 credits

This module covers key principles and practices in strategic communication, deterrence communication and crisis communication, and relates these elements to the protection of public places through existing real-life case studies. This module explores what ‘good’ public engagement and communication entails and how it can be assessed, with attention to key facilitators and barriers such as issues of diversity, inclusion and trust.

Research Design – 10 credits

This module explains how to design and plan research that will produce valid and reliable results. You will aim to identify the appropriate methodology and methods for your chosen project and gain an understanding of research ethics in practice.

Compulsory

Master’s (MSc) – all previous modules plus:

Dissertation - 60 credits

This module is designed to enable you to write an extended piece of work entailing independent study and the use of appropriate research techniques and source materials – your dissertation. The dissertation will build on the foundation provided by the taught modules. A major aim of the dissertation is to encourage you to relate concepts and frameworks to empirical evidence and to encourage the critical appreciation of both techniques and evidence.

Optional

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Online weekly ‘live’ lectures/seminars, including case study and scenario formats
Drop-in sessions with tutors/supervisors
Student presentations and group discussions

You will be well supported throughout your studies with a range of support, services and guidance to help you get the most out of your programme.

Coursework feedback and support from the programme team will be provided. The Centre for Peace and Security (CPS) has a team of PGT (Postgraduate Teaching) Ambassadors who provide pastoral and academic skills support. For those writing a dissertation, a supervisor will be allocated who has appropriate knowledge, experience and expertise in your chosen topic of study.

Teaching contact hours

For the full master’s course, you will study modules totalling 180 credits. A typical 10 credit module requires a total of 100 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 4 and 6 teaching hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent study:

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will dig deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods, which will vary depending upon the module, but will include essays and coursework projects.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include individual assignments or group work elements.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

A minimum of a second-class honours undergraduate degree (minimum of 2:2) or equivalent with an appropriate government, military, law enforcement, security or resilience background.

All applications will be evaluated individually with admissions decisions made by CPS. Admission decisions are based on the entry criteria elaborated below and an evaluation of the required application documents. Ordinarily, the minimum entry criteria for each stage (PGCert, PGDip and MSc) of the Protective Security and Resilience programme are as follows:

Applicants should hold a 2:2 or above degree (or equivalent international grade/qualification), from a recognised university.

Prior to applying, please ensure you have the following supporting documents ready to upload:

detailed personal statement
academic transcripts and award certificate of your first degree
English Language certificate e.g. IELTS (if applicable)
reference letter from a current/former tutor and/or line manager
CV
passport copy/scan
RP(E)L form (if relevant).

The documents above are required to make an initial application, however further documentation may be requested from applicants in cases where additional information is required to support course entry decisions.

this must be sent directly by the referee to study.cps@coventry.ac.uk.

For further information please contact our Postgraduate Programmes team at:
+44 (0) 2477659059
study.cps@coventry.ac.uk

Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning:

To be eligible to apply for RP(E)L an applicant must have a minimum of five (5) years evidenced working experience in a relevant field to Protective Security and Resilience and be operating in a relevant role at the time of application, or have operated within a relevant role within 12 months of the time of application.

Recognition of Prior (Experiential) Learning (RP(E)L) is in accordance with the University Academic Regulations.

For further information on eligibility and the application process please email study.cps@coventry.ac.uk.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Fees and funding

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³ and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK	Not available	2025/26 fees TBC 2024/25 fees - £10,600 (MSc) \| £7,067 (PGDip) \| £3,533 (PGCert)

Facilities

As learners on an online programme, there is no expectation of attendance on campus. You will, however, have access to all Coventry campus facilities such as the Lanchester Library and The Hub.

Careers and opportunities

If you are already a practitioner, you will have the opportunity to broaden your professional network, which is very likely to be useful to you in the workplace, whilst also gaining a formal accredited postgraduate qualification, which may be required for further progression in your career.

If you are an individual with an interest in protecting crowded places, critical infrastructure and risk mitigation and resilience, this course can help equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary to enter into jobs within a broad spectrum of organisations. These could include law enforcement, government, private security organisations, international non-government organisations and also academia.

Where our graduates work

Graduates from this course will develop the skills and knowledge necessary to enter jobs within a broad spectrum of organisations, including law enforcement, government, private security organisations, architectural design and development companies, international non-government organisations and academia.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online.

Part-time applications

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Chat with our admissions team

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

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