Description
The Professional Master's in Security & Defense at UNIVGA is an advanced 2-year university program (120 ECTS — Bac+5) that trains senior executives and experts in security-defense: security directors, strategic analysts, defense advisors to elected officials, senior officers, high-ranking officials of the armed forces and police, security mission officers with international organizations (UN, AU, ECCAS, G5 Sahel, European Union).
Designed for professionals in active employment holding a Bac+3 (Professional License in Security, Law, Political Science, career military), this Master's program combines the rigor of academic research training with the operational requirements for strategic leadership roles. Delivered 100% online with personalized support.
Why a Master's in Security & Defense?
Africa is undergoing a profound transformation of its security architecture: gradual withdrawal of European operations, strengthening of South-South cooperation, expansion of international private security, professionalization of African armies, and an increase in hybrid threats (cyber, disinformation, foreign interference). Public institutions, major industrial players, embassies, and international organizations are seeking executives capable of analyzing, conceptualizing, and managing complex security systems.
Pedagogical structure of the curriculum
First year (M1) — Theoretical and methodological deepening. Theories of international relations and strategic doctrines, advanced geopolitics of African conflict zones, international law of armed conflicts and international criminal law (ICC, ad hoc tribunals), research methodology in political science, economic intelligence and strategic monitoring, sociology of security organizations, strategic English and professional writing.
Second year (M2) — Senior executive specialization and thesis. Strategic management of security in companies (group security policy, governance, ISO 28000 audit), strategic crisis management and organizational resilience, analysis of terrorism and counter-insurgency strategies (COIN, CT-CVE models), defensive cybersecurity and influence operations, AI and surveillance systems (predictive analysis, algorithmic biases, legal framework), professional ethics and human rights in conflict zones. The program concludes with a supervised professional research thesis, presented orally via videoconference before a mixed academic jury (academics + practitioners).
Career opportunities
Director or security manager in large corporations (mining, energy, banking, telecommunications), strategic analyst in consulting firms or think tanks, defense advisor to elected officials or ministers, senior officer in charge of prospective studies, security mission officer for international organizations (UN DPKO, OCHA, AU, ECCAS), security expert for humanitarian NGOs in crisis zones (ICRC, MSF, ACF), senior consultant in economic intelligence, trainer in defense schools. Possible continuation to a doctorate (political science, strategic studies) or war school.
Suitable for working professionals
UNIVGA meets the needs of executives in active employment (90% of our M2 audience). Platform accessible 24/7, recorded virtual classes, dedicated thesis mentor, personalized support for the defense. Ideal for senior officers, police commissioners, security directors in office, embassy security attachés, and high-ranking officials wishing to validate a recognized Master's degree.
What you will learn
The Complete Training Manual
The complete educational content of "Professional Master's Degree in Security & Defense", in PDF format and accessible offline so you can revise wherever you are.
- All Program Lessons
- Key points and concrete examples
- Application exercises
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Questions d'approfondissement
- Glossary
Admission Requirements
Required documents — Master's Training
Admission file to be compiled
Required documents for all levels:
Additional document — Access to Master / MSc (Bac+3 required)
Any diploma equivalent to a Bac+3 issued by a recognized institution will be reviewed by the administration for equivalence validation.
File Verification & Validation
All documents transmitted will be subject to a Administrative review. Your file will be officially approved or rejected after examination. Payment of tuition fees for degree programs will only be made after your application has been approved.
Document transmission
Online - Pre-registration Form
Submit your documents directly through our secure online form.
📝 Pre-registration FormIn person — UNIVGA Group Headquarters
Libreville, Nzeng-Ayong Neighborhood, Chantier Moderne — top floor, door on the right of the tiled building opposite Plaisance.
Payment methods
Tuition fees can be paid in several ways:
To find out the precise payment details suitable for your situation, please contact UNIVGA administration directly.
Contact AdministrationTraining start
Given the nature 100 % Digital courses generally begin 1 to 3 business days after payment confirmation. This time frame allows the administration to prepare your file and create your student account.
How is your training going?
Each lesson is structured in progressive steps. You must complete the 3 mandatory activities to unlock the next lesson.
The Essentials of the Course
Course + Audio + PDFThe core of your training. Each lesson includes a structured written course, an audio course for immersive listening and a Downloadable PDF to revise at any time, even offline. The content is organized progressively with definitions, concrete examples, and practical illustrations.
Case study
A practical case study is integrated into each lesson with an in-depth explanation section to anchor theory in real-world situations.
Lesson FAQ
5 frequently asked questions answered at the bottom of each lesson to address the most common doubts about the subject matter.
Preparation questions
Questions at the end of the lesson to deepen your own research or prepare for discussions with your academic advisor.
Key Points
10 enrichments 🔓 Required10 carefully selected points to deepen your understanding beyond the essentials of the course. They offer additional perspectives, practical applications, and hands-on advice. The validation of this tab is required to unlock the next lesson.
Setting the Scene
Professional graded simulation 🔓 RequiredYou are placed in an interactive professional simulation. Real decisions are presented to you with immediate feedback and detailed correction. Your grade has been recorded and counts towards your academic progress. Validating this tab is mandatory to unlock the next lesson.
Evaluation
20 varied questions quiz 🔓 RequiredA 20-question quiz with varied formats (multiple choice, true/false, matching, practical case studies, etc.) to validate your mastery of the chapter. Instant results with detailed corrections. This grade counts towards your overall average. Validating this tab is mandatory to unlock the next lesson.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The UNIVGA GROUP is registered with the National Agency for Investment Promotion of Gabon (ANPI-Gabon) and has all the legal registrations: NIF 370669-C, RCCM GA-LBV-01-2020-A10-01945 and CNSS 014-0205895-A. The institution is a professional training establishment recognized by the Gabonese state, authorized by the Ministry of National Education, Civic Instruction and Professional Training (authorization n° 000306/MENICFP/SG/DGFP/DFP). It issues training certificates. The UNIVGA GROUP prepares for the DTS in the relevant fields.
GROUPE UNIVGA issues training certificates, recognized by all its international partners. GROUPE UNIVGA prepares for the DTS in the relevant fields. Bachelor's and professional Master's degrees are diplomas issued by the École Supérieure de Gestion et d'Informatique (ESGI) and prepared with UNIVGA. Bachelor's and MBA degrees are diplomas jointly issued by the AEES and GROUPE UNIVGA.
CINVU (COMSTECH Inter-Islamic Network on Virtual Universities) is a cooperation network among virtual universities. GROUPE UNIVGA has been a member since 2019 (identifier CINVU11GA2019I1156) and sits on its executive committee. This is a membership in a network, not an accreditation of the programs.
The headquarters of the UNIVGA GROUP is located in Libreville, Gabon — Nzeng-Ayong neighborhood, Chantier Moderne, top floor, door on the right of the tiled building opposite Plaisance. Although our teaching is 100% online, we have a physical presence for welcoming students, receiving enrollment documents, and processing tuition payments.
GROUPE UNIVGA is the official and administrative name of the institution, the one that appears on all legal documents, registrations, and ministerial authorizations. «Université Virtuelle du Gabon» (or UNIVGA) is the trade name adopted to reflect the institution’s fully digital nature and to make it easier for the public to identify it. It is therefore the same entity: the administrative name is GROUPE UNIVGA, and the commonly used name is Virtual University of Gabon.
Each lesson is structured in several progressive steps. You begin with the Course Essentials (written text + audio + downloadable PDF), which includes a case study explained in detail, a FAQ, and preparation questions. Then, you complete 3 mandatory activities: Key Points (10 enrichments), Role Play (professional decision simulation), and Assessment (timed quiz). All 3 activities must be completed to unlock the next lesson.
Yes. Each lesson includes an audio course that you can listen to at any time, as well as a downloadable PDF containing all of the written content of the lesson. This allows you to review offline, on the go, or without internet access. The audio content is particularly popular with students who want to learn while mobile.
Each lesson includes a practical case study directly integrated into the course content. It is accompanied by an in-depth explanation section to help you understand how theory applies in a real-world situation. These cases are drawn from actual professional contexts (African and international) and allow you to ground your learning in practice from the very first reading.
The preparation questions at the end of each lesson serve a dual purpose. First, they allow you to deepen your understanding of the course through your own research and personal reflection. Second, for students pursuing a degree, they serve to prepare you for discussions during your videoconferenced course explanation sessions with your academic advisor. By working on them in advance, you will get the most out of each session.
Yes, all mandatory activities (Key Points, Role-Playing, Evaluation) are automatically graded by the platform. You get immediate feedback on your answers with your score and mastery level. This allows you to quickly identify your weaknesses and review the necessary concepts before continuing your progress.
The progressive unlocking system ensures that each student truly grasps the concepts before moving on. The 3 mandatory activities (Key Points, Scenario, and Assessment) verify different skills: comprehension, decision-making, and recall. This rigorous pedagogical model ensures the quality of the course and the value of your training.
For a degree program, you must provide at least: a copy of your Baccalaureate certificate or diploma, a copy of your identity document, and a recent passport photo. Depending on your level of enrollment (Professional Bachelor / Bachelor: proof of Bac; Master: Bac+3 degree; MBA: Bac+3 or Bac+4), additional documents will be required. A student in a bachelor's program can apply for the MBA. A student already holding a master's degree can also reapply. The official duration of the MBA is 12 months. Payment of tuition fees is only made after your file is validated by the administration.
You have two options. You can submit your documents directly online via the pre-registration form at univga.org/preinscription/, or visit the UNIVGA Group headquarters in person in Libreville, Nzeng-Ayong neighborhood, Chantier Moderne (top floor, door on the right of the tiled building opposite Plaisance). In both cases, your documents will be verified before official validation.
UNIVGA accepts several payment methods: Mobile Money, online directly on the website, in person at the Libreville headquarters, or by international transfer. To get the exact details for your payment method, please contact UNIVGA administration directly via the "Contact Us" tab on this page.
Thanks to the institution’s fully digital system, courses typically begin within 1 to 3 business days after your payment is confirmed. This short turnaround time allows the administration to finalize your enrollment, create your student account, and set up your access to the platform with all your courses.
Videoconference sessions are video sessions scheduled according to your personalized academic calendar. They include in-depth explanations of the courses by your educational supervisors, interactive Q&A exchanges tailored to your difficulties, as well as monitored assignments in real-time. Connection links are sent to you by email before each session. This calendar is provided to you upon registration.
Monitored assignments take place via video, under the conditions of a real exam. You complete them within a set time, with the camera on, under the supervision of your educational supervisor. These assessments are scheduled in advance in your academic calendar and complement the platform's automated evaluations to ensure maximum academic rigor.
Your training concludes with an oral defense via video in front of an academic jury. The date is set in agreement with your personal schedule, and you have a complete preparation guide well in advance. You present your final work (report or thesis), followed by questions from the jury. This defense officially validates your course and conditions the awarding of your diploma.
Once your registration is validated, you will receive a personalized academic calendar. It organizes your curriculum by defining the course periods, video conferencing session dates, supervised assignments, and, where applicable, the defense. This calendar ensures a serious follow-up and guided progress, while allowing you the flexibility of online learning—without the constraints of constant live classes.
Yes, enrollment is open year-round thanks to UNIVGA's digital format. Your personalized academic calendar is established from your effective enrollment date, allowing you to start at any time. Each student thus follows an individualized path, independent of others.
Online admission
This training is graduating Your application is being reviewed by our admissions committee before validation and access to the payment platform.
📋 4-Step Procedure
- Fill out your pre-registration form below (approx. 5 min).
- Our committee is reviewing your application under 72 business hours.
- If accepted, you will receive your by email Admission certificate and the link for payment of registration fees.
- You pay your fees and immediately access your training space.
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