Defence and Security Systems Development — two-year Master's Programme

This is an interdisciplinary, international Master’s programme at the intersection of social sciences and engineering. The programme has been developed in close collaboration with public authorities and companies in the defence and security sector in order to provide you with knowledge about how technical systems are integrated with people and organisations in order to deal with a complex threat environment.

Defence and Security Systems Development is a two-year programme that leads to a Degree of Master of Science in Systems Science for Defence and Security. The programme is intended for those who have attained a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or s bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 180 credits, including a minimum of 90 credits in the field of defence, crisis management and security.

Future career opportunities

This programme has few counterparts in Europe and meets the needs of what is in part a new professional category of individuals who support communications between developers and users of defence and security systems. Your early career as a graduate of the programme will probably involve a central role in development projects, while later in your career you will be suited to leadership roles governing your organisation’s programmes and processes.

Jobs are available with your national public authorities or companies operating in the defence and security sector, as well as at your national municipal and regional levels of society, or with companies operating in critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, communications and transport.

Examples for possible professional roles after graduation:

• Usability manager
• Usability analyst
• Usability engineer
• Interaction designer
• Interaction modeler
• Requirements manager

Later in your career you are probably working in a senior position within your organization controlling or developing business processes, development programs and collaborations.

The programme meets entry requirements for national and international third-cycle studies.

About the programme

The programme provides you with an understanding of systems with the capability to contribute to or affect a society’s defence and security, how these are developed and used, and how technical and social components interact within these systems.

The main field of study is Systems Science for Defence and Security, an interdisciplinary subject with a sociotechnical perspective that utilises systems analysis as its primary problem-solving strategy. Methods and theories will also be borrowed from fields such as social science and engineering.

You will study the prerequisites for developing, procuring and using technology and materials that provide defence and security capabilities. The needs of the state are crucial in deciding which systems are to be delivered and the requirement specifications that are to be met. Consideration must be given to the demands of each unique activity – for example, armed conflict and physical environments – but also to traditions, antagonistic threats and international law. The ability to meet needs is often limited by a number of factors, particularly financial and industrial. You will therefore learn to critically review, evaluate, analyse and communicate needs, requirements and technical solutions pertaining to defence and security capabilities.

Cooperation

The Master programme for defence and security systems development has been developed, and is further developed, in cooperation with the following public authorities, companies and organisations:

• BAE Systems AB
• Consoden
• FMV, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration
• The Swedish Armed Forces
• Knowit Defence Technology AB
• The Swedish Coast Guard
• Saab AB
• SME-D
• SOFF

Outline of the programme

The programme combines individual study, lectures and seminars with exercises and the opportunity for work placement. The first year will provide you with a solid theoretical grounding in defence systems, scientific methods and systems development work. During the second year you will enjoy considerable freedom to choose your own specialisation through elective courses, either at the Swedish Defence University or the higher education institutions we collaborate with.

Our teachers conduct active research into defence systems or supporting fields, and the programme is implemented in close collaboration with the defence and security sector. The Swedish Defence University enjoys well-established cooperation with the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) and private-sector stakeholders, which contributes to the practical focus of the programme and provides opportunities for placements at relevant workplaces.

Tuition fees and scholarships for non-EU applicants

Applicants who are not citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland need to pay application and tuition fees.

• Application fee: SEK 900
  
• Tuition fee: SEK 105 000 per year (60 credits)

If you have applied for a course at the university, which requires the payment of fees, you may apply to the university for a scholarship.

Scholarship programmes.

Obtain more information about our Master programme

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