SPbU SPbU
  • For Partners
  • Job Opportunities at SPbU
  • Contacts
  • Library
  • RU
  • 中文
  • About SPbU
    • The University Board of Trustees
    • History
    • Administration
    • International Cooperation
    • The University in Persons
    • Museums and Collections
    • Green Campus
    • About St Petersburg
    • Pirogov Clinic
    • Academic and Research Departments
    • University Giftshop
    • For Alumni
    • By-laws and Regulations
    University Introduction
  • Admission
    • Educational Programmes
    • Admissions Procedure
    • Documents Required
    • Independent Aspirantura Studies
    • International Admissions Office
    • Preparatory Course
    • Recognition of Foreign Educational Credentials
    • Tuition
    • Visa Support
    How to Apply
  • Education
    • Student Life
    • Internship
    • Accessible Environment
    • Accommodation
    • Clinics
    • Courses Taught in Foreign Languages
    • Heads of the Academic Offices
    • Online Courses
    • Scholarships and Grants
    • Services
    • Useful Information for International Students
    • Students Exchange Programmes (SEP)
    • Career Centre
    • International Student Club
    • Medical Services
    Russian Education System
  • Research
    • Research Park
    • M. Gorky Scientific Library of SPbU
    • Funding Opportunities
    • Research Internship Programme
    • Research Repository
    • Council of Young Scientists
    • Journals at SPbU
    • University Spin-offs
    • Intellectual Property
    • Visiting Professors
    • Pure System
    Resources Overview
  • News and Events
Educational Programmes
  • Educational Programmes
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
    • Doctoral
    • Clinical Residency Programmes
    • Additional Educational Programmes
    • Russian Language Programmes
  • Admissions Procedure
  • Documents Required
  • Independent Aspirantura Studies
  • International Admissions Office
  • Preparatory Course
  • Recognition of Foreign Educational Credentials
  • Tuition
  • Visa Support
Admission Educational Programmes Graduate

Strategic and Arms Control Studies

41.04.05 In English

Level of education Master

Type of instruction Full-time

Duration 2 years

Programme description

The master's programme focuses on the study of issues associated with the use of military force in international relations: the military strategy of countries; armed conflicts; and the impact of scientific and technological progress on the development of military strategy. Special attention is paid to the analysis of international issues in arms control, such as: the functioning of international regimes; limitation, reduction, prohibition and non-proliferation of arms; and the activities of international organisations in this field. The academic programme is aimed at training non-military experts with the necessary knowledge to work in government agencies, international organisations, research centres and the media that are somehow related to the solution, study or coverage of military-political issues in present-day international relations. During training, special attention is therefore paid to the study of: the role and significance of military force in international relations and world politics; the forms and methods of its use by states and non-state actors to achieve various goals; the features and prospects of its development; and its influence on the development of society.

Main Courses
  • Strategy and Politics in the 19th–21st Centuries
  • General Principles and Methods of Strategic Analysis
  • Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control
  • Arms Control, Non-Proliferation and Disarmament
  • Military Innovations and Strategy
Our advantages

It is the first and the only programme on strategic and arms control studies in the Russian Federation at the moment. The programme is unique in that it provides an in-depth study of current military-political issues. During training, master’s students acquire the knowledge and skills that are necessary for analytical and practical work in national and international organisations which work to find solutions to various military-political issues, namely:

  • possession of the categorical apparatus necessary for research in the fields of military strategy, defence policy and international security policy
  • basic project planning and implementation skills
  • principles of strategic analysis
  • strategic forecasting skills
  • skills in information and analytical activities in the field of defence policy
  • knowledge of the key issues in the spheres of defence and security policy
  • basic knowledge of the technical aspects of modern weapon and military equipment development
  • knowledge of basic national and international legislation in the sphere of non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control
  • a sophisticated understanding of research and analyses in the field of military strategy
  • knowledge of industry-specific terminology and minimum essential technical aspects of military-political issues
  • the ability to apply acquired specific knowledge in different practical environments
Accreditation

The programme is internationally accredited by the Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency Hannover (ZEvA), the Certificate dated 12 March 2018.

International relations

Master’s students have an opportunity to gain experience of exchange education at field-specific faculties of top universities in Europe, America and Asia within the framework of international academic exchange programmes at St Petersburg University, in particular:

  • The Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (Germany)
  • The Technische Universität Dresden (Germany)
  • Helmut Schmidt University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg (Germany)
  • Leibniz University Hannover (Germany)
  • Sciences Po (France)
  • The École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (France)
  • The Hague University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands)
  • The University of St. Gallen (Switzerland)
  • The University of Bologna (Italy)
  • The Prague University of Economics and Business (the Czech Republic)
  • The University of Southern California (the USA)
  • The Université de Montréal (Canada)
  • The Universidad de Montevideo (Uruguay)
  • Qingdao Binhai University (China)
  • Peking University (China)
Career opportunities

Professional activities:

  • Analytical and research activities (in information and analysis centres, consulting companies and research institutions)
  • Journalism
  • Civil service

International Admissions Office

Tuition

Create Your Personal Account

The programme descriptions for the 2025/2026 academic year are currently being updated. Information regarding admissions for the 2025/2026 academic year is available on the St Petersburg University Admissions Committee website.

SIMILAR PROGRAMMES

BRICS Studies

Master

Lawyer in the Field of Sports Law (Sports Lawyer)

Master

Translation and Business Communication in Atomic Energy

Master
  • For Applicants
  • International Admissions Office
  • History of SPbU
  • Museums and Collections
  • Personal Account
  • Additional Programmes
  • Educational Programmes
  • Preparatory Course
  • Russian Language Programmes
  • For Partners
  • Clinics
  • Distributed Ledger Technologies Center of SPbU
  • Event Initiation
  • Language Testing Centre
  • Research Park
  • Multifunctional Payment Assistant
  • The Mediation Centre
  • University giftshop
  • For Students
  • Library
  • Accessible Environment
  • Blackboard
  • Timetable
  • Student's Personal Account
  • Accommodation
  • Internships
  • Students exchange programme and Freemover programme
  • Useful Information For International Students
© St Petersburg University, 2025
7-9 Universitetskaya Embankment, St Petersburg, Russia, 199034
By-laws and Regulations Contacts

This information resource may contain archival materials mentioning individuals or legal entities included in the register of foreign agents by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, as well as organizations recognized as extremist and banned on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Educational Programmes Russian Language Programmes Preparatory Course
International Admissions Office Contacts