200 Years of Research, Education, and Academic Rigour
Throughout Sandhurst's history, many great scholars have shaped the development of those that have led the British Army in peace and in war - including John Narrien, Michael Faraday, John Adair, Richard Holmes, John Keegan, and Christopher Duffy. This is a legacy of academic rigour that continues today in the Faculty for the Study of Leadership, Security, and Warfare, where scholars ensure future leaders attending the Royal Military Academy get the very best professional military education, underpinned by high quality research.
The Faculty for the Study of Leadership, Security, and Warfare comprises three academic departments: War Studies, Defence and International Affairs, and Communication and Applied Behavioural Science.
Department of War Studies
The Department of War Studies develops an understanding of the strategic, operational, and tactical levels of war to prepare officer cadets for warfighting in the twenty-first century operating environment. Using historical and contemporary examples the War Studies course unpacks the theoretical underpinnings of war, examines the ever-changing character of warfare, and assesses the conduct of operations. Our curriculum considers the variety of military means, doctrine, training, organisation and differing dimensions of combat performance to help the next generation of officers understand war's complexities by focusing on theories of warfare, conventional warfighting, and counter irregular operations. The Department of War Studies also supports Exercise "Normandy Scholar," which uses complex wartime scenarios from the 1944 Normandy Campaign to train cadets in the core competencies of tactical planning, leadership, and combat decision making; all critical to officers in the British Army today.
Drawing on their wide range of expertise in historical and contemporary war War Studies academics contribute to the support and conceptual development of the wider Field Army through the planning and execution of doctrinal development and battlefield studies around the world; from the Falkland Islands to South Africa, and all across Europe. Through international defence engagement, academics have delivered courses on counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, and warfighting to partner-nations in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
High quality research is at the heart of War Studies support to the British Army, maintaining its legacy of being on of the premier intellectual hubs for the study of operational military history and contemporary warfighting in the United Kingdom. Our team's monographs, articles, edited volumes, media engagement and podcasts continue to make a significant contribution to the field and underpin our research-centred approach to the education of the British Army's officer corps.
Department of Defence and International Affairs
The Department of Defence and International Affairs develops and deepens insight and critical analysis to help officer cadets better understand the political, diplomatic, legal, economic, geopolitical and strategic factors that shape the context in which both they and the British Army operate.
Courses delivered by the department evaluate the causes, drivers, catalysts, impact and trends of conflict. They assess the means by which conflict can be resolved and managed both nationally and internationally, and analyse the context and delivery of security, defence, and foreign policies that support the national interests of the United Kingdom and its allies. The department is also responsible for delivering Law of Armed Conflict instruction, and, also supports defence engagement in delivering international courses to security sector officials and service personnel around the world, policy insights, and support within NATO.
The Department is highly active in terms of research, producing a significant number of monographs, articles, conference papers for universities, think tanks, and for security sector and international organisations each year. This research output underpins the courses delivered by the department. Faculty members have also been seconded to wider Defence and other government departments both in the UK and on operations, where their expertise has been used directly in the support of government policy. This experience benefits course delivery by linking theory to operational conduct.
Areas of active research within the department include: NATO, European Security, Professional Military Education, Intelligence Operations, Defence Diplomacy, International Humanitarian Law, Military Investigations, Northern Ireland, the Russian War in Ukraine, US Foreign Policy, Indo-Pacific Geopolitics, Terrorism and Counterterrorism, Human Security, Civil Affairs, Military Aid to Civilian Authorities, Emergent Technologies, and the Law of Armed Conflict.
Department of Communications and Applied Behavioural Science
The Communication and Applied Behavioural Science team aims to develop officer cadets understanding and application of leadership, communication, and behavioural concepts, equipping them with the cognitive and interpersonal skills required to lead effectively both on operations and in barracks. This is achieved through a syllabus of seven topics taught across three terms.
In the Junior Term, cadets study "Leadership," focusing on understanding and adapting their personal leadership styles, applying emotional intelligence, and motivating teams. In "Thinking Skills," cadets develop critical thinking techniques to solve complex military problems and make effective decisions, while learning to recognise and mitigate the impact of cognitive biases and heuristics. In "Ethical Decision Making," cadets explore the moral implications of their decisions, focusing on the impact of working in high-stress environments and which factors may contribute to unacceptable behaviours.
The Intermediate Term covers "Cultural Awareness," introducing cadets to different models, tools, and techniques to develop their ability to operate effectively in multicultural and multinational environments. In "Conflict Resolution," cadets develop interpersonal skills to deescalate conflict through building rapport, influencing others effectively, and mastering negotiation techniques.
In Senior Term, "War Amongst the People," teaches cadets how to build relationships and operate effectively with others, including non-governmental organisations, the media, and local populations. These lessons are brought together in Exercise "Dynamic Understanding," which validates all departmental training throughout the year, immersing cadets in a complex contemporary operating environment scenario to gain an understanding of the situation, problem-solve, and then influence others. The final course topic is "Personnel Management," where cadets learn to recognise the challenges faced by soldiers, and understand how to support them effectively.
Qualifications and AHEP Accreditation
The academic courses taught by the Faculty of Leadership, Security, and Warfare at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst receive accreditation under the Army Higher Education Pathway (AHEP). AHEP provides opportunities for those who successfully pass out from Sandhurst to achieve a Bachelor's Degree in Leadership and Strategic Studies from the University of Reading's Henley Business School. If an individual already has a degree on joining, AHEP allows for the attainment of a Master's Degree instead.
At Sandhurst and Beyond...
Faculty academics also contribute to development courses later in an officer’s career. Several times a year staff work with Officer Tutors from the ETS in delivering the Military Analysis courses that are designed to unpack in depth defence policy and the art of war. Many academics also support regimental and formation battlefield studies, and frequently contribute to the work of other government departments, defence doctrine, higher formation exercises and international defence engagement.
In recent years individuals have been seconded as mentors to the Afghan National Army Officer Academy in Kabul. These experiences provide our academics with unique insights that help to give their teaching at Sandhurst both edge and currency.
