The University of Exeter has approved plans for a formal partnership with Saudi Arabia to deliver a master’s degree program to senior military officers and government officials, according to confidential council documents reviewed by the Guardian. Under the agreement, which stands to yield millions of pounds for the Russell Group member, Exeter faculty will provide an MA in applied security and strategy—alternatively titled an MStrat—to a group of participants at Riyadh’s National Defense University.
Partnership Details and Program Rollout
The academic program will form the core component of the National Defense University’s global strategy and strategic leadership program. Instruction is scheduled to begin in the 2026-27 academic year, serving approximately 20 individuals annually over a three-year period. Until two years ago, the National Defense University operated under the name of the Saudi Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
Approval for the collaboration moved through internal channels earlier this year. The university council approved the arrangement in February, followed by an endorsement from the university senate the following month. Council minutes explicitly marked the partnership with the National Defense University as strictly confidential and commercial in confidence.
University marketing materials describe the MStrat degree as a blend of academic depth and practical application. The curriculum is targeted at working professionals across armed forces, government agencies, and international organizations, designed to offer a rigorous environment for building strategic expertise. Since 2012, the Russell Group institution has delivered this identical master’s curriculum via its strategy and security institute, counting Ministry of Defence-sponsored British military personnel and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-backed Chevening scholars among its historical alumni.
Did You Know? Until two years ago, the National Defense University in Riyadh was known as the Saudi Armed Forces Command and Staff College, according to university records.
Internal Opposition and Wider Sector Controversies
The agreement has emerged while the institution faces severe criticism from leading writers, broadcasters, academics, and alumni. The backlash follows university plans to cut 150 jobs, primarily concentrated in the humanities, arts, and social sciences departments for which the university is renowned. The Exeter branch of the University and College Union strongly condemned the leadership’s decisions regarding the Saudi contract.
A University and College Union spokesperson stated that managers were more interested in selling military training to despotic regimes than in defending world-class humanities and social sciences teaching. The union representative added that the university should instead focus on protecting freedom of speech, upholding human rights, and ensuring a wide range of courses and a positive student experience.
Similar tensions have surfaced at other major academic institutions. Earlier this year, the Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge proposed providing leadership development and innovation management training to the Saudi Arabia defence ministry, prompting senior academics to condemn the proposal as a betrayal of commitments to freedom of expression. Meanwhile, the UK government announced a defence universities alliance last month, naming Exeter as one of 35 founding members in a £182m initiative designed to connect academia with the armed forces.
University Response and Risk Vetting
Defending the arrangement, a spokesperson for Exeter University emphasized that professional military education has formed part of the UK’s defence relationship with Saudi Arabia for many years through government institutions. The spokesperson stated that partnerships of this type undergo assessment on academic and ethical grounds through a vetting process separate from budget planning, ensuring legal, ethical, and security risks are evaluated before any collaboration proceeds. The university maintains that such external partnerships support its core academic mission and extend the global impact of its faculty expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the Exeter University and Saudi Arabia partnership?
The partnership will deliver an MA in applied security and strategy to a cohort of senior military officers and government officials at the National Defense University in Riyadh.
When did the university approve the agreement?
The university council approved the plans in February, and the university senate endorsed them the following month.
How many students will participate in the program?
The program will be delivered to about 20 individuals per year over a three-year period, starting in the 2026-27 academic year.
How do you view the balance between international university partnerships and domestic academic priorities?
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