Master in Geopolitics and Strategic Studies
Graduate School of Economics and Political Science
- Direction
- Prof. Dr. Jacobo García Álvarez, Prof. Dr. Manuel Hidalgo Trenado
- Language
- English
- Attendance
- On-campus
- Credits
- 90 ECTS
- Campus
- Madrid - Puerta de Toledo
- Applications
-
Closed
☛ Places available: 40
- Departments
- Social Sciences Department, Humanities: History, Geography and Art Department, International Law, Ecclesiastical Law and Philosophy of Law Department
CONTACT
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APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
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- Inicio
ATTENTION: TEACHING MODALITIES FOR 25/26 ACADEMIC YEAR
First year: attendance on-campus
Second year: attendance online (except for internships)The Carlos III University of Madrid’s Master in Geopolitics and Strategic Studies is an official qualification with an academic and interdisciplinary orientation aimed at training specialists to understand and analyze the main trends, conflicts and challenges of contemporary world politics and international relations from a spatial, critical and integrative approach. The Master aims to provide solid and rigorous theoretical and methodological tools, as well as in-depth knowledge of global and regional geopolitics and strategic studies. On completing the Master, the student will be qualified to work as an analyst either in academia or in the sectors that require the expertise and skills of specialists in international relations.
Apart from the opportunity to continue a career in academia, the Master’s degree offers graduates a wide range of professional opportunities such as: journalists and communication professionals specialized in international affairs; researchers in think tanks oriented to international, geopolitical and strategic affairs; civil servants in public organizations in the fields of diplomacy, strategic intelligence and national and international defense and security; employees of international organizations related to security and defense policy, international cooperation and development, resolution and management of territorial conflicts (e.g., EU, UN, NATO, OSCE, NGOs, etc.); analysts in companies and institutions specialized in political, economic and risk assessment at the international level; etc. In addition, the Master aims to offer professionals who already work in these sectors a unique opportunity to continue their training thanks to its specialized and cutting-edge program.
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🎥 │ Master in Geopolitics and Strategic Studies
📥 │ Information material: poster | tri-fold brochure
│THE MASTER IN NUMBERS
- ☛ Maximum 40 students per class
- ☛ Maximum 10 University scholarships of €6.000 to contribute to tuition fees
- ☛ 100% of UC3M professors and 67% of external professors with a PhD
- ☛ UC3M is ranked 35 in the QS Ranking Top 50 Under 50, which includes the world's 50 top universities founded over the last 50 years
- CURRICULUM
- CURRICULUM
Year 1 - Semester 1
INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL GEOPOLITICS Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Fundamentals of Geopolitics: concepts, theories and territories 6 C Strategic studies, security and defense 6 C Geoeconomics, globalization and development 6 C METHODS AND TECHNIQUES OF GEOPOLITICAL AND STRATEGIC ANALYSIS Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Methods of geopolitical and strategic analysis 6 C Workshop on mapping and graphical representations 3 C Workshop on Geopolitical and Strategic Reports 3 C Year 1 - Semester 2
WORLD REGIONAL GEOPOLITICS
Electives (to choose 3)Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Geopolitics of Europe 6 E Geopolitics of the Americas 6 E Geopolitics of the Middle East and North Africa 6 E Geopolitics of Spain and its neighbouring areas 6 E 1st TERM
Conflicts, problems and geopolitical challenges of today's world (to choose 2)Subjects ECTS TYPE Language International Terrorism 3 E Population, international migrations and geopolitics 3 E International Law of territories 3 E 2nd TERM
Conflicts, problems and geopolitical challenges of today's world (to choose 2)Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Geopolitics of the environment and natural resources 3 E Borders, nationalisms and identities 3 E Organized crime and cyber threats 3 E Year 2 - Semester 1
General subjects Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific ** 6 C OPTION A*
Conflicts, problems and geopolitical challenges of today's worldSubjects ECTS TYPE Language Geopolitcs of Russia and the Post-Soviet Space ** 6 E OPTION A*
World regional geopoliticsSubjects ECTS TYPE Language Geopolitics of SubSaharan Africa ** 6 E OPTION B* Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Internships 12 E vacio Master's Thesis Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Master's Thesis 12 C vacio * Students must choose one of the two options (A o B)
** The three subjects of the second year Geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific, Geopolitics of Russia and the Post-Soviet Space and Geopolitics of Sub-Saharan Africa will be taught, starting in the 24/25 academic year, in online mode.
✎ | Voluntarily, any student who wishes may enroll more credits ects of the minimum required in the syllabus.
(C) Compulsory: 36 ECTS
(E) Elective courses: 42 ECTS
Master's Thesis: 12 ECTS
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(1) Elective courses will only be offered if there is a minimum of 5 enrolled students.
(2) The number of internships will depend on the existing agreements and the places offered by collaborating entities each academic year (see Partnership tab). Likewise, the selection of students for internships must take into account the specific requirements and criteria stipulated in the corresponding agreements.
OLD PROGRAM STUDENTS
Year 2 - Semester 1
Subjects ECTS TYPE Language Master’s Thesis Seminar 6 C This subject belongs to the old curriculum, and will no longer be taught in 2024/25.
course Programs
- QUALITY
GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION
☛ First year offered: 2018
PROGRAMME’S QUALITY ASSURANCE
The Academic Committee of the Master’s programme complies with the SGIC-UC3M and it is responsible for the follow-up, analysis, review, assessment and quality of the program, it contributes with proposals to improve the program and produces the “Memoria Académica de Titulación” (Programme Report).
FACULTY AND COURSE PLAN
Graduate Profile and Competences
- CURRICULUM
- FACULTY
In line with its multidisciplinary approach, the Master's program brings together an outstanding group of specialists, mainly from the Department of Social Sciences (especially in the area of Political Science), Humanities (especially in the area of Geography) and International Law of the Carlos III University of Madrid.
In addition, many external experts participate in the Master’s program, including, among others, professors from other universities and national or international research centers, as well as analysts belonging to think tanks and other renowned public and private entities in the fields of geopolitical and strategic studies.
UC3M FACULTY
- DOMÍNGUEZ DE OLÁZABAL, ITXASO
Department of Social Sciences
Adjunct Professor
PhD in Human Sciences: Geography, Anthropology and African and Asian Studies
FUNDACIÓN ALTERNATIVAS
Brief CV
- GAMIR ORUETA, AGUSTÍN
Department of Humanities: History, Geography and Art
Associate Professor
PhD in Geography
Brief CV
- GARCÍA ÁLVAREZ, JACOBO
Department of Humanities: History, Geography and Art
Full Professor
PhD in Geography
Brief CV
- GUERRERO LOZANO, VANESA
Department of Statistics
Associate Professor
PhD in Mathematics
Brief CV
- HIDALGO TRENADO, MANUEL
Department of Social Sciences
Associate Professor
PhD in Political Science
Brief CV
- MANERO SALVADOR, ANA
Department of International Law, Ecclesiastical Law and Philosophy of Law
Full Professor
PhD in Law
Brief CV
- MANUEL VALDÉS, CARLOS
Department of Humanities: History, Geography and Art
Associate Professor
PhD in Geography
Brief CV
- PUENTE LOZANO, PALOMA
Department of Humanities: History, Geography and Art
Lecturer in Geography
PhD in Humanities
Brief CV
- SOJKA, ALEKSANDRA
Department of Social Sciences
Postdoctoral Researcher - Juan de la Cierva Incorporation Programme
PhD in Social Sciences
Brief CV
- VACAS FERNÁNDEZ, FÉLIX
Department of International Law, Ecclesiastical Law and Philosophy of Law
Associate Professor
PhD in Law
Brief CV
- ZIDEK, NIKOLINA
Department of Social Sciences
Adjunct Professor
PhD in Political Sciences
EXTERNAL FACULTY
- BORREGUERO SANCHO, EVA
Associate Professor of Political Science
PhD in Social and Political Sciences
UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID
- CAMACHO URTIAGA, ANA
Journalist and Professor of International Relations
UNIVERSIDAD FRANCISCO DE VITORIA
- CANO LINARES, ÁNGELES
Associate Professor
PhD in Law
UNIVERSIDAD REY JUAN CARLOS I
- DEL MORAL TORRES, ANSELMO
Colonel of the Civil Guard
PhD in Public International Law & International Relationships
Professor of the UNIVERSITY CENTER OF THE CIVIL GUARD
- DÍAZ GALÁN, ELENA CAROLINA
Associate Professor
PhD in Legal and Social Sciences
UNIVERSIDAD REY JUAN CARLOS I
- DURÁN MARTÍN, JOSÉ
Commander of the Civil Guard
Professor of the UNIVERSITY CENTER OF THE CIVIL GUARD
- FRERES, CHRISTIAN
Senior Expert - Humanitarian Action Office
SPANISH AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
- FUENTE COBO, IGNACIO
Colonel of Artillery
Analyst of the SPANISH INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
- MARCU, SILVIA
Senior Scientist
PhD in Geography
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
- PALACIO OTEYZA, VICENTE
Director of the Foreign Policy Observatory
PhD in Philosophy
FUNDACIÓN ALTERNATIVAS
- PARDO DE SANTALLANA, JOSÉ MARÍA
Colonel of Artillery
Analyst of the SPANISH INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
- PONTIJAS CALDERÓN, JOSÉ LUIS
Colonel of Artillery
Former Analyst of the SPANISH INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
PhD in Applied Economics
Brief CV
- RODRIGO LÓPEZ, TOMASA
Head of Big Data Projects
BBVA RESEARCH
- ROMANILLOS ARROYO, GUSTAVO
Lecturer in Geography
Ph.D. in Geography
UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID
- SANTOS SÁNCHEZ, CRISTINA
Adjunct Professor
PhD in Humanities
UNIVERSIDAD DE CASTILLA-LA MANCHA
- SEIJO, FRANCISCO
Adjunct Professor
PhD in Political Science
IE UNIVERSIDAD
- TOYGÜR, ILKE
Senior Associate Analyst
PhD in Political Science
CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (CSIS)
- DOMÍNGUEZ DE OLÁZABAL, ITXASO
- ADMISSION
- ADMISSION
Application
The request is made electronically through our application. Before starting the admission process, please, read the following information:
Admission requirements
To be admitted to the Master in Geopolitics and Strategic Studies, candidates must hold a degree issued by a higher education institution in Spain or in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) which gives access to Master’s level studies in the issuing country.
Holders of a degree from a university in a non-EHEA country may also be admitted to the Master without having their degrees recognised upon verification of the same education level by the University. This option does not in any way imply the recognition of the degree for purposes other than admission to this Master’s program.
Students in the last year of their Bachelor’s studies may also apply for admission; their application will be considered upon confirmation that they have successfully completed their Bachelor’s studies.
Priority will be given to students holding a Bachelor’s degree in social or human sciences, such as Political Science, Sociology, Journalism and Communication, International Studies, Global Studies, Economics, Geography, History and Humanities, Defence and Security Studies or other related Bacherlor’s degrees Nevertheless, any other applicant with a high motivation and adequate capacity will be considered. Moreover, candidates from the Diplomatic Corps, International Cooperation Organizations, Intelligence Services, Armed Forces, and State Security Forces who are in possession of a title equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree (including officers who have graduated from the General Military Academy, of the Academy of the Civil Guard, etc.) may apply.
Admission criteria
Admission to the program will be based on the decision of the Master’s Academic Committee, which will assess the potential of each candidate based on the following criteria:
ADMISSION CRITERIA WEIGHTING Academic record of the student’s bachelor’s degree 50% Level of English language higher than at least the minimum required to gain access to the Master - (B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference )* 10% Professional experience 10% Qualifications obtained in core subjects to take the Master 10% Motivation, interest and letters of recommendation 10% Other 10% * Other official certificates that are usually admitted to demonstrate B2 level or higher levels in English, such as those provided by Trinity College London or the Official School of Languages of Spain, may also be accepted.
If the Committee considers it appropriate, a personal or electronic interview may be carried out.
Language requirements
Check the general language requirements required to study a Master’s at UC3M, depending on whether it is in Spanish, English or bilingual.
students with foreign university degrees
Once admitted to the Master’s, students with university degrees issued by a higher education institution belonging to an educational system outside the EHEA, must provide, for enrolment, the diploma, legalized by diplomatic procedures or by means of The Hague Apostille. They must also submit the transcript of records, with the grade point average, duly legalized.
More information about Legalization of Foreign Documents.
If needed, documents must be accompanied by an official sworn translation into Spanish.
- ENROLLMENT
TUITION FEES*
Reservation fee: €800
- it will be paid once the student receives notification of admission to the master’s, and deducted from the first tuition payment
- the reservation fee will only be refunded if the master program is cancelled
60 ECTS in the first academic year:
- EU students: €7,800 (€130/ECTS credit)
- Non EU students: €11,700 (€195/ECTS credit)
NOTE: the indicated public prices do not include in any case, neither the ECTS corresponding to the Formative Complements that the student must take (only master's degrees with previous Formative Complements), nor the cost of issuing the master’s degree certificate.
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* Current fees for the 24/25 academic year, pending approval by the Community of Madrid for the 25/26 academic year.
Additional information
- You may enrol on the master’s degree after completing the admission process and receiving formal confirmation of your acceptance.
- When performing the enrolment you can choose between Full-time enrolment or Part-time enrolment.
- The email address provided upon enrolment will be used for formal communications; students are therefore kindly requested to check their mail regularly.
- Pursuant to the regulations of the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, a student failing to pay any part of the fees will not be admitted and the enrolment process will be terminated. In cases of cancellation of enrolment due to non-payment, the University may demand the payment of the pending amounts for enrolment in previous academic courses as a prior condition of enrolment.
No diploma or certificate will be issued if a student has any outstanding payments.
- ADMISSION
- SCHOLARSHIPS
UC3M SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/2025
CALL AM01-24/25* │ RESOLVED
For the academic year 2024-2025 a call has been published for a maximum of 11 scholarships for payment of the net enrolment fees for students accepted into the Master’s, with the following provision:
- 11 scholarships of €6,000
To apply, you must have completed the application for admission to the Master’s.
Application deadline: May 31, 2024
Partial resolutions:
- first partial resolution: published on 8/3/2024
- second partial resolution: published on 23/5/2024
- third partial resolution: published on 19/7/2024
* The number of grants and amounts specified in the call, may vary depending on the conditions of the candidates who apply to them, can be even deserted as assessed by the Selection Committee for each program.
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General information on scholarships
For more information on specific scholarships of interest awarded by UC3M and by other agencies or organisations.
- PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- PARTNERSHIPS
COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS FOR INTERNSHIPS
The UC3M has signed a number of agreements of collaboration to allow students to undertake internships (the internship is not compulsory; it is one of the Master’s electives). Partner entities and institutions include among others the following ones:
- MINISTERIO DE ASUNTOS EXTERIORES, UNIÓN EUROPEA Y COOPERACIÓN (GOBIERNO DE ESPAÑA)
- CENTRO DE INTELIGENCIA CONTRA EL TERRORISMO Y EL CRIMEN ORGANIZADO (MINISTERIO DEL INTERIOR)
- CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTÍFICAS - INSTITUTO DE ECONOMÍA, GEOGRAFÍA Y DEMOGRAFÍA
- REAL INSTITUTO ELCANO DE ESTUDIOS INTERNACIONALES Y ESTRATÉGICOS
- INSTITUTO HEGOA DE ESTUDIOS SOBRE DESARROLLO Y COOPERACIÓN INTERNACIONAL (UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAÍS VASCO)
- FUNDACIÓN ALTERNATIVAS
- FUNDACIÓN CAROLINA
- ESGLOBAL
- POLÍTICA EXTERIOR
- EL ORDEN MUNDIAL
- CASA ÁRABE
- MISIONEROS DE ÁFRICA
- FRIEDRICH NAUMANN FOUNDATION MADRID
The number of internships will depend on the existing agreements and the places offered by collaborating entities each academic year. Likewise, the selection of students for internships must take into account the specific requirements and criteria stipulated in the corresponding agreements.