Counter Terrorism Risk Management Postgraduate Certificate - PgC

Our Postgraduate Certificate in Counter Terrorism Risk Management will be awarded on successful completion of 60 credits. Each module is worth 20 credits:

The Terrorism Threat Landscape

You will analyse different types of terrorism threats and how terrorism trends such as tactics, targets and motivations have developed over time. You will also explore the scope and requirements of UK counter terrorism legislation and policies with a focus on the UK’s counter terrorism strategy, CONTEST, and The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act (also known as Martyn’s Law).

Terrorism Risk Assessment & Mitigation

We will equip you with advanced knowledge and analytical tools for assessing terrorism-related risks based on the current terrorist threat landscape aligned to the scope and requirements of UK counter terrorism legislation and policies, considering proportionate, ethical, and evidence-based mitigation strategies.

Counter Terrorism Risk Management Plan

The Counter Terrorism Risk Management Plan module brings everything together. You will use your advanced knowledge of terrorism threats alongside practical risk assessment and mitigation tools to create and justify a full counter terrorism risk management plan for a real or simulated setting in accordance with The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act.

On successful completion of the programme, you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of contemporary terrorism threat landscapes, including extremist ideologies and attack methodologies.
2. Interpret and apply the legal and regulatory requirements including The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act (Martyn’s Law) and related UK counter terrorism legislation and policies.
3. Critically evaluate advanced counter terrorism risk management models and frameworks.
4. Conduct complex and defensible terrorism risk assessments for venues, events and organisations.
5. Analyse threats, vulnerabilities and impacts to inform proportionate counter terrorism risk management decisions.
6. Design and justify protective security measures that reflect professional standards, proportionality, accessibility and organisational context.
7. Develop integrated counter terrorism risk management plans informed by multi-agency principles and consideration of inclusivity and sustainability.
8. Demonstrate advanced ethical, legal, and professional judgement in high-risk and uncertain security environments.
9. Communicate complex counter terrorism risk assessments and recommendations effectively to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Our Postgraduate Certificate in Counter Terrorism Risk Management is delivered through short, intensive in‑person teaching blocks, supported by scheduled online sessions, so you can balance your studies with your professional and personal commitments.

Each module runs over 12 weeks, starting with a short, intensive in‑person teaching block in the first week, before moving to scheduled online sessions for the remainder of the module.

We offer high-quality and flexible learning at Cardiff School of Management through a mix of teaching methods, including lectures, workshops, tutorials, case studies, field visits and group work.

Lectures provide core theoretical frameworks, while workshops, case studies and practical exercises develop advanced critical thinking, analysis and problem‑solving skills. You will apply theory to real‑world and simulated scenarios, including legal and regulatory requirements arising from The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act (Martyn’s Law).

Field trips take place during the second and third modules, Terrorism Risk Assessment & Mitigation and Counter Terrorism Risk Management Plan. These visits, combined with your own professional experience, will help shape your assessments and support you in applying theory, as well as the legal and regulatory requirements of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act (Martyn’s Law), to real world practice.

This blend of teaching methods ensures active engagement and the development of crucial skills for careers in events management and beyond. As a postgraduate student, you will be encouraged to take more responsibility for your own learning and evaluate your own learning needs to become an active and independent learner.

You will be academically supported by your Programme Director and module leaders throughout your studies. If you are an international student, additional study skills workshops and support tutors are available via our Global Engagement team to help you master academic writing, presentations, report writing and more.

Assessments across the programme are carefully designed to help you reflect on your studies and apply your learning meaningfully within your own professional practice.

For each 20-credit module the assessments will be equivalent to 4,000 words of written work. Our Postgraduate Certificate in Counter Terrorism Risk Management uses a range of different assessment methods, including written reports, presentations, risk management plans and a viva.

Our assessments focus on real‑world challenges and support you to transfer your learning into your current or future working environment. To facilitate this process, the assessments for the second and third modules will be based on an event that you will either be familiar with (at your place of work) or a simulated event.

You will be supported throughout the programme with academic writing, research skills, presentation skills and assessment preparation.

Our Postgraduate Certificate in Counter Terrorism Risk Management is designed to enhance your employability and support career progression if you are working, or aspiring to work, in security‑sensitive environments.

As the regulatory and threat landscape continues to evolve, particularly with the introduction of Martyn’s Law (The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act), organisations increasingly need professionals with specialist expertise in counter terrorism risk management. This programme is designed to meet that demand.

Graduates develop advanced knowledge and applied skills in terrorism threat assessment, risk analysis, mitigation planning and regulatory compliance. These capabilities are highly transferable across a wide range of sectors where public safety, security and resilience are priorities.

Typical career pathways include roles within event and venue management, private security, local authorities, transport and infrastructure, hospitality, facilities management, higher education and public‑sector organisations.

Our programme supports progression into roles such as counter terrorism or security risk advisor, event or venue security manager, protective security coordinator, compliance and governance lead, operational resilience officer or consultant specialising in terrorism risk assessment and mitigation. It is particularly valuable for professionals seeking to take on greater responsibility for security decision‑making, policy implementation and stakeholder communication.

A key strength of the programme is its practice‑led, professionally aligned curriculum. You will complete applied assessments based on real‑world scenarios and develop counter terrorism risk management plans that can be directly translated into workplace practice. This provides you with tangible evidence of competence and enhances professional credibility with employers, regulators and clients.

Applicants should meet at least one of the following:

• An undergraduate degree awarded by another approved degree awarding body (normally 2:2 or above).
• A non-graduate qualification which is deemed to be of a satisfactory standard for the purpose of postgraduate admission.
• Be able to evidence significant experience (minimum of 2 years) of working in the events, venue and/or security-related sectors (students will be assessed as to their suitability through interview, and where necessary the taking of references).

International Students

In order to establish proficiency in the English language, overseas applicants whose first language is not English will normally be required to provide evidence of a minimum IELTS score (or equivalent) of 6 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in all components, or an academic qualification, gained since 2016 through the medium of English from a recognised institution. Candidates will be required to provide such evidence as part of the admissions process. Please refer to the current English Language Requirements for International Applicants.

Cardiff School of Management is committed to an Equal Opportunities Policy under which all applicants and students are treated equally regardless of gender, ethnic or national origin, disability, sexuality, age, beliefs or sporting ability. Each applicant is considered on their academic merits and their ability to demonstrate an interest and ability in the subject area. The School is committed to high standards of academic performance. Each applicant must meet suitable criteria.

How to Apply

Applications for this course should be made direct to the University via our self-service facility. For further information please visit our How to Apply pages.

If you are interested in using credit from another institution or have obtained qualifications and/or experience to study for a course at Cardiff Met, you can find further information on this as well as information on how to apply on the RPL page.

For general enquiries, please contact the Admissions Team on 029 2041 6010 or email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk.

For course specific enquiries, please contact the Programme Director, Dr Dewi Jaimangal-Jones:

• Email: djaimangal-jones@cardiffmet.ac.uk
• Tel: 029 2041 6321