The College programme focuses on defence and international security at the grand strategic level. These studies are delivered against a backdrop of international affairs, and conducted over 4 terms:

RCDS Programme

• Term One: the Future Strategic Context and Conflict Prevention examines the principal influences upon, and potential sources, of global instability and conflict, and how conflict might best be prevented or resolved. (This can be taken as a stand-alone option).
• Term Two: the United Kingdom examines from a strategic perspective, including through programmed visits, the impact of contemporary national and international issues on the current and future security, stability and prosperity of the United Kingdom.
• Term Three: Contemporary International Issues examines from a strategic perspective, including on an overseas tour, the impact of contemporary national and international issues on the current and future stability, security and prosperity of key states and regions in the world.
• Term Four: Leadership in the Strategic Environment enhances understanding of the nature, function and qualities of leadership required in the strategic environment to deliver effective performance across the public and private sectors, including in the international arena. (this can be taken as a stand-alone option).
• MA Programme: Master of Arts degree course in International Studies at King's College, London , based on the RCDS curriculum, is also run in parallel with attendance on the full course.

Tour Programme

There are 2 tour programmes:

• The UK Regional Tours in May
• The Overseas Tours in September/October

Visits

There are a number of visits which run throughout the programme. These include visits to various City of London financial institutions, UK Atomic Energy Authority (AEA), Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and various UK Defence Industry sites, HQ NATO and the EU in Brussels, United States (Washington and UN in New York), CHEM and the British Armed Forces.

The RCDS 2009 Course Schematic provides a graphical view of the course schedule.