MSc in Strategic Intelligence & Global Risksemlyon business school

The MSc in Strategic Intelligence & Global Risks is a program designed to equip graduates with the skills to anticipate global risks and drive strategic decisions. It focuses on intelligence, cybersecurity, and geopolitical analysis. The program trains future analysts, consultants, and advisors to collect, decode, and act on complex information, transforming raw data into actionable insights for decision-makers. It sits at the intersection of competitive intelligence, risk management, and organizational strategy.

Graduates will be prepared to design and lead intelligence functions within corporations, government bodies, consulting firms, and international organizations. The program develops three core capabilities: anticipating risks, analyzing complex environments, and advising senior leadership under uncertainty.

The curriculum is structured around three progressive study periods, followed by a professional internship and thesis. The program spans 18 months, with 12 months of classes and a 4-6 month internship/work placement. It is taught entirely in English and is based in Paris, with international experiences including a semester in Finland and a seminar in Italy.

The study periods cover:

• Period 1: Strategic Intelligence Foundations (September to December | Paris campus & Turin, Italy): Introduces conceptual and methodological foundations of strategic intelligence, global risk management, knowledge management systems, and organizational cultures for intelligence functions. Includes an international seminar at the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) in Turin, Italy.
• Period 2: Advanced Competitive Intelligence Practices (January to March | Paris campus): Develops advanced skills in intelligence collection and analysis, gathering, processing, and interpreting information across various channels to support strategic decision-making.
• Period 3: Becoming a Strategic Intelligence Professional (April to July | Paris campus & University of Oulu, Finland): Immerses students in the Scandinavian strategic intelligence ecosystem for six weeks at the University of Oulu, Finland, focusing on corporate visits, applied intelligence exercises, and exposure to high-tech innovation and Arctic geopolitics. Covers international law in intelligence contexts, risk anticipation methods, crisis management, and cybersecurity/cyber strategy.

The program concludes with a Professional Thesis and Internship (July to December | Anywhere in the world), where students write a thesis and undertake a 4-6 month professional mission.