Key facts
- Exeter University will partner with Saudi Arabia to deliver an MA in applied security and strategy.
- The program will train senior military officers and government officials at the National Defense University in Riyadh.
- The partnership is expected to generate millions of pounds for the university.
- The MA program is scheduled to start in the 2026-27 academic year.
- The University and College Union (UCU) has criticized the deal due to Saudi Arabia's human rights record.
The University of Exeter has approved a significant partnership with Saudi Arabia to provide advanced training to senior military officers and government officials. The agreement will see Exeter academics deliver a Master of Arts in applied security and strategy (MStrat) to approximately 20 individuals per year at the National Defense University in Riyadh, beginning in the 2026-27 academic year and continuing for three years. This collaboration is anticipated to generate substantial revenue for the university.
The deal has surfaced amid controversy at Exeter, where plans to cut 150 jobs, primarily in humanities and social sciences, have drawn criticism. The University and College Union (UCU) has strongly condemned the Saudi partnership, labeling it as chasing "dirty money" and accusing university management of prioritizing financial gain over defending academic disciplines. The UCU spokesperson stated, "We are horrified but hardly surprised to learn that management at Exeter are more interested in flogging military training to despotic regimes than in defending world-class humanities and social sciences teaching."
Minutes from the university council meeting where the partnership was approved in February, and subsequently endorsed by the senate in March, were marked "Strictly confidential and commercial in confidence." The MStrat program, described by the university as blending "academic depth with practical application," is designed for working professionals in armed forces, government, and international organizations.
UK universities frequently engage in similar consultancy and training contracts with foreign governments, which undergo vetting for legal, ethical, and security risks. Earlier this year, the University of Cambridge's Judge Business School faced similar backlash for proposing leadership development programs for Saudi Arabia's defense ministry. Exeter University is also a founding member of the UK government's defense universities alliance, aimed at strengthening defense research and skills.
In response to the criticism, an Exeter University spokesperson highlighted that the MA in applied security and strategy has been taught since 2012, including to British military personnel and Chevening scholars. They emphasized that professional military education is a long-standing aspect of the UK's defense relationship with Saudi Arabia and that partnerships are assessed on academic and ethical grounds, separate from budget planning. The spokesperson added, "Like universities across the sector, Exeter continues to develop external partnerships and educational activity that supports our academic mission and enables our expertise to have impact in the UK and internationally."