University of Exeter Approves Deal to Train Saudi Military Personnel and Officials

The University of Exeter has approved an educational agreement with Saudi Arabia to train senior government officials and military officers, internal administrative documents show.

As part of the contract, faculty members from the Russell Group institution will teach a Master of Arts in applied security and strategy, also known as an MStrat, at the National Defense University in Riyadh. The course will serve as the academic module for the Saudi institution’s global strategy and strategic leadership initiative. The three-year program is scheduled to begin in the 2026–27 academic year, with an estimated annual intake of about 20 students. The contract is anticipated to bring in millions of pounds for the university.

The Saudi Arabian institution hosting the course operated as the Saudi Armed Forces Command and Staff College until two years ago. Exeter’s promotional descriptions for the degree state that it combines theoretical study with practical execution, designed for professionals within state governments, armed forces, and international bodies.

Institutional minutes reveal that Exeter’s university council sanctioned the deal in February, and the university senate gave its endorsement the following month. The council designated details of the transaction as strictly confidential and commercially sensitive.

The news emerges as the institution encounters internal opposition regarding planned staff reductions. Exeter has drawn criticism from alumni, scholars, and public figures over plans to eliminate 150 jobs, mainly in humanities, social sciences, and the arts. Commenting on the agreement, a spokesperson for the local branch of the University and College Union said members were “horrified but hardly surprised” by the contract, alleging that university management prioritized “flogging military training to despotic regimes” over protecting academic staff. The union representative added that higher education institutions should focus on protecting human rights and freedom of speech rather than pursuing revenue of this nature.

Addressing the criticism, a University of Exeter spokesperson pointed out that the security degree has been offered through the university’s Strategy and Security Institute since 2012. The spokesperson stated that the program regularly instructs British military personnel sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, alongside international Chevening scholars supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The university representative further stated that educational programs for military professionals have long formed a component of bilateral defense ties between the UK and Saudi Arabia. The spokesperson emphasized that international academic proposals are reviewed on ethical and educational grounds through an administrative process distinct from university budgeting.

Background

UK universities frequently negotiate commercial consultancy and training contracts with foreign states. These proposals are subjected to internal institutional reviews to evaluate legal, ethical, and national security considerations prior to approval.

Similar initiatives have encountered opposition at other institutions. Earlier this year, academics at the University of Cambridge raised concerns over a proposal from its Judge Business School to deliver leadership and innovation management training to the Saudi Ministry of Defence.

The Exeter deal also comes alongside broader state-sponsored defense initiatives in British academia. The UK government recently launched a £182 million defense universities alliance involving 35 founding institutions, including Exeter, intended to expand defense research and technical skills across higher education.