Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding MA

Course overview

Our MA in Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding will introduce you to the key challenges faced when security and development issues converge, and what this means for the reconstruction of war-affected societies. This course is ideal if you're interested in exploring the complexities of societal conflict and peacebuilding around the world.

By bridging themes of conflict, liberal styles of governance and aid policy, you’ll analyse the ways in which security, development and humanitarian actors adapt to instability. You’ll also examine the significance of globalisation for the emergence of internal conflict, and for the development of trans-border economics and the political dynamics they support.

Furthermore, this course gives you the opportunity to study regionally differentiated responses to conflict in – for example – Africa and Asia, and to discuss issues relating to humanitarian conditionality, containment and the role of international organisations and NGOs in peacebuilding.

Our academics are widely recognised as leading experts in their field. The teaching on this course is research-led and supported by our Centre for Global Security Challenges. This comprises 60 experts from around the University of Leeds focusing on six research themes – environment, health, gender, conflict, terrorism, and global order.

Your learning will also benefit from the cutting-edge research which takes place within our Centre for Global Development and the Leeds University Centre for African Studies. Both are leading research centres which address the politics of global challenges.

The course directly addresses the increasing merging of development and security issues in international stabilisation policies, and the challenges involved in reconstructing war-affected societies. It also explores the difficulties and controversies inherent in international activities aimed at building peace and stability within societies. It will equip you with the skills and knowledge required for employment in the expanding field of humanitarian response and social reconstruction, providing a strong foundation for people interested in future advanced study, as well as practitioners wishing to study relevant issues in more depth.

You’ll benefit from a course that occupies a bridging position within politics and international studies and – through the wide range of optional modules – draws upon the School's rich diversity of approaches and experience.

Security at Leeds

This course is part of a suite of three postgraduate courses in the School of Politics and International Studies with a focus on security issues. You may also be interested in our specialist MA Global Security Challenges and MA Terrorism and Insurgency.

Course highlights

This course features research-led teaching in the crosscutting, dynamic fields of conflict, peacekeeping, development and security. It is directly informed by the innovative research that occurs in the leading Centre for Global Security Challenges, and the interdisciplinary Centre for Global Development.

Our research culture is one of open academic enquiry, which embraces normative and empirical approaches in the study of conflict, development and security.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) or a non-UK equivalent in a social science, humanities, or another related discipline (that includes a minimum of five social science and humanities modules).

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Politics and Society (6 weeks) and Language for Social Sciences and Arts: Politics and Society (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional and our 10 week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

Career opportunities

This course provides you with ideal preparation for a career in the international political arena. It equips you with critical thinking, research and communication skills and in-depth knowledge sought after by employers.

Recent graduates have gone on to work in the UK and overseas in charities, non-governmental organisations, think tanks and beyond. For example, some of our graduates have progressed to career experience in organizations such as the Home Office; Hudson Institute; Macmillan; The Mines Advisory Group; and the Delegation of the European Union to Uganda, among others. Many also pursue further study by commencing PhD research.