Royal College of Defence Studies - RCDS Course

RCDS Course

The RCDS Mission is:

"To prepare senior officers and officials of the United Kingdom and other countries and future leaders from the private and public sectors for high responsibilities in their respective organisations, by developing their analytical powers, knowledge of defence and international security, and strategic vision".

RCDS forms a part of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. In fulfilment of its mission, the college runs one course a year, from September to July. Each course is attended by a maximum of 90 full-time members, around one-third from UK and two-thirds from overseas. Attendees are military officers of Colonel/Brigadier or equivalent rank but also include civil servants, diplomats, police officers and representatives from the private sector. All have been selected to attend the course on the strength of their potential to progress to a high position within their profession.

The course composition has been progressively widened to include members from over 40 different countries.

Since 2001, course members have to option to study in a joint programme that leads to a MA in International Security and Strategy from the King’s College London.