Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution MA

Overview

• Are you interested in advancing your knowledge of contemporary conflict studies, and developing the skills and qualities needed for professional conflict and peace practice?
• Do you want to spend a year studying in a stimulating academic environment, working with staff who are at the forefront of their field and with students from all over the world?
• Are you looking for a challenging learning experience, solving real-world problems, addressing complex ethical dilemmas, undertaking independent research projects, and practicing advanced skills for conflict engagement?
• Would you like to build a portfolio of work that demonstrates your achievement of a set of professional competencies relevant to employment in the peace, conflict and development fields?

The MA in Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution is offered by the internationally recognised Department of Peace Studies and International Development, drawing on over 50 years of experience as a leading centre of peace research and education.

The programme will develop your understanding of the causes and dynamics of conflict and violence in a range of settings. It will support you in making informed judgements about when and how to engage constructively with conflict. You will weigh up the strengths and limitations of different approaches to intervention and consider critical questions surrounding efforts to build peace in different contexts.

Through a diverse programme of study, including a significant applied, practical element, you will develop knowledge and competencies essential to effective, ethically aware and reflective practice within conflict engagement and peacebuilding practice - locally, nationally or internationally.

As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we have been gathering memories and reflections from our large and diverse community of alumni. These will give you a good sense of the many things students take away from our programmes and the diversity of pathways they follow after their studies. Take a look at our memories and reflections.

Career prospects

There is an increasing demand for professional education relating to careers in peace and humanitarian work internationally. You’ll develop the skills required by employers in this area, such as conflict analysis, leadership and decision-making, making you highly employable as a graduate.

The programme is also designed to meet the needs and expectations of early/mid-career professionals looking to take the next step in their career.

Our postgraduate politics courses were ranked 2^nd in the UK for employability in the 2018 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES).

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.