Royal College of Defence Studies
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Former names
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Imperial Defence College |
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| Motto | "To prepare senior officers and officials of the United Kingdom and other countries and future leaders from the private and public sectors for high responsibilities in their respective organisations, by developing their analytical powers, knowledge of defence and international security, and strategic vision." |
| Type | Senior Military College |
| Established | 1927 |
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Parent institution
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Constituent college of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom |
| Commandant | Sir Tom Phillips |
| Students | Max. 90 |
| Location |
Seaford House, London, United Kingdom Coordinates: 51°29′56.91″N 0°9′5.12″W / 51.4991417°N 0.1514222°W |
| Campus | Urban |
| Website | www |
The Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) instructs senior officers of the Armed Forces and Civil Service in defence and international security matters at the highest level, to prepare them for the top posts. It forms part of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. There are many overseas attendees.
In 1922 a cabinet committee under Winston Churchill, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, recommended the formation of the College. The college was founded in 1927 as the Imperial Defence College and was located at 9 Buckingham Gate until 1939. Its objective at that time was the defence of the Empire. In 1946, following the end of World War II, the college reopened at Seaford House, Belgrave Square and members of the United States forces started attending courses. It was renamed the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1970 and in 2007 the Queen and Prince Philip visited the college.
The RCDS Mission is:
RCDS forms a part of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. In fulfilment of its mission, the college runs one course a year, from September to July. Each course is attended by a maximum of 90 full-time members, around one-third from UK and two-thirds from overseas. Attendees are military officers of Colonel/Brigadier or equivalent rank but also include civil servants, diplomats, police officers and representatives from the private sector. All have been selected to attend the course on the strength of their potential to progress to a high position within their profession.
The course composition has been progressively widened to include members from over 40 different countries. Graduates of the college are entitled to the post-nominal letters rcds, while prior to 1970, the post-nominal letters idc was used.
Since 2001, course members have to option to study in a joint programme that leads to a MA in International Security and Strategy from King's College London.
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