MA Peace and Conflict Studies

• Study at one of the UK’s Top 5 Universities for Social Sciences (Times Higher Education 2024).
• Develop a sound understanding of peace interventions (e.g. conflict resolution, mediation, peacekeeping, peacebuilding) and their mixed outcomes.
• See peacebuilding and peace formation in action on an academically and culturally enriching international field trip.
• Benefit from a programme developed by one of the world’s most prominent peace scholars, Professor Oliver Richmond, at a university with a long tradition of peace related scholarship.

With peace processes collapsing into war in many places around the world, there has never been a more important time to study how and why peace processes succeed or fail. With the help of award-winning academics, our Peace and Conflict Studies master's course will build your understanding of that process.

You will learn about the challenges of resolving conflicts and preventing their recurrence, focussing particularly on contexts which have been affected by conflict since the end of the Cold War.

This course has a particular focus on the actors responsible for building peace, from grassroots agents to intergovernmental organisations like the United Nations. It will also empower you to critically evaluate the very notion of peace itself from postcolonial, gender and global justice perspectives.

Throughout the course you will develop skills in critical enquiry, conflict analysis, critical thinking, presenting research and team work.

At the point of completion, you will be well placed for a career in international and regional organisations, policy analysis, the NGO and international NGO sector, foreign ministries and development agencies.

Full entry requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English should meet the following language requirements:

• IELTS Academic test score of 7 overall, including 7 in writing with no further component score below 6.5
• TOEFL IBT 100 with 25 in writing and no further score below 22 in each section. TOEFL code for Manchester is 0757
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 76 overall, with 76 in writing and no further score below 70

Pre-Sessional English Courses

We will consider applicants who do not meet these scores but you will be required to complete a pre-sessional English language course at the University of Manchester prior to the start of the course.

To be considered for a pre-sessional English language course for this programme we require the following minimum IELTS (Academic) scores:

6 Week Pre-Sessional Course : IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and no more than one sub-skill of 6.0.

10 Week Pre-sessional Course : IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 or above in each sub-skill

If you have not yet completed your current academic study and are interested in studying a pre-sessional course, you must hold an IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test certificate to ensure that you are eligible for a separate visa for the English language course.

Career opportunities