We unlock the potential of our people, giving them the intellectual edge needed to achieve success on operations and in leadership.
The Defence Academy brings together military personnel, civil servants, and members of the defence industry to learn from some of the world’s leading teachers and trainers, as well as from one another. Here, you will refine your ability to think better and faster than our adversaries, now and in the future.
What we do
The Defence Academy is a world-leading provider of professional defence and security education. Each year, we welcome 41,000 students – including 2,100 from overseas – and help them immerse themselves in an environment that encourages intellectual curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. We help them to work together to challenge their assumptions and biases, explore the latest developments in defence, and learn how, not what to think.
Our cutting-edge portfolio of face-to-face, digital, and blended courses equips students with a greater understanding of:
- Policy
- Strategy
- Operational art
- Planning
- Leadership
- Technical and business skills
- Governance
Our offering is constantly reviewed and refreshed, and thanks to our world-class research efforts, we remain at the forefront of professional defence and security education. What we offer goes beyond the boundaries of defence and is transferable to other organisations, including government and industry.
Whatever your focus, there’s a course for you here at the Defence Academy.
Why study with us?
The Defence Academy has earned global recognition as a leading provider of professional defence and security education, and for good reason.
Studying with us enhances your capabilities and the capabilities of the nation you represent. These strengths endure long after your time at the Defence Academy has come to an end.
Prepare to work hard, think differently, and have your biases and assumptions challenged: here at the Defence Academy, we will help you gain the intellectual edge.
Defence Academy graduates are capable of simplifying complexity, grasping subtlety, and being comfortable with ambiguity – the qualities and skills you need to reach the next stage of your career.
The Defence Academy’s reputation for creating the very best is only partly true – the value of our offering is underpinned the hard work of our students, who make the most of the opportunities we provide and take control of their futures. Our cutting-edge education, far-reaching research, and multicultural learning environments help our graduates become innovative, collaborative, and critical thinkers who are skilled in the art of war, the science of war, and the practical and ethical application of military force.
Defence is a fast-paced environment, and while some principles remain true for centuries, there is often a need for rapid reassessment and new information. We recognise that and keep our offering world-class with the help of cutting-edge research, dedicated teachers and trainers, and international collaboration.
We go to great lengths to continuously update and evolve. By collating, analysing and exploiting existing research, we support our students to overcome and anticipate real world defence challenges. This, alongside the work from our academic providers at King’s College London and Cranfield University, means we rise to meet current and future needs and help our students stay a step ahead.
The Defence Academy also benefits from being part of a global network of knowledge exchange, and so, in turn, do our students. Our collaborations with other defence education and research institutions from around the world help us exchange new information, best practices, and diverse perspectives and help make our educational offering worth travelling across the globe for.
Being a student here means you will live, work, and study beside colleagues from all over the globe. Listening to each other’s experiences, challenging your biases, and turning assumptions on their head is all part of the holistic, multicultural learning experience that will benefit both you and the nation you represent throughout your career.
Building those relationships during your time here means your connection to the Defence Academy’s global community does not end when your studies do. Our rich alumni network spans more than 100 countries and encourages ongoing exchanges of best practice and knowledge.
All over the world, our graduates are leading operations, militaries, and even nations, and their time here at the Defence Academy has helped them gain the edge they need to excel at what they do. After your studies here, you can stay connected as part of our alumni network and continue to collaborate with your classmates – all part of our philosophy of life-long learning.
Every year, 41,000 students complete their studies at the Defence Academy, and continue their careers prepared for modern challenges and operations across functions, capabilities and domains. From nuclear science to French grammar to military ethics, we have the course you need to gain the edge you need for success. Explore our portfolio of courses for:
- UK military
- UK MOD civil servants
- International students
- Industry partners
- Partners across government
