Peace and Conflict Studies PgCert, PGDip, MA 2022/23 entry

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Course code:

AHT033 (MA)
AHT034 (PGDip)
AHT035 (PGCert)

Study options:

8 months (PG Cert)
16 months (PG Dip)
24 months (MA)

Location:

Coventry University (Coventry)

Starting:

September 2022

 

Fees:

£10,600 (MA) | £7,066 (PG Dip) | £3,533 (PG Cert)

Find out more

Faculty:

Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Get in touch

Dr Heather Baggaley
Postgraduate Programmes Manager

+44 (0) 2477659059


study.ctpsr@coventry.ac.uk

Course code:

AHT033 (MA)

Study options:

8 months (PG Cert)
16 months (PG Dip)
24 months (MA)

Location:

Coventry University (Coventry)

Starting:

September 2022

 

Fees:

£16,950 (MA) | £11,300 (PG Dip) | £5,650 (PG Cert)

Find out more

Faculty:

Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Get in touch

Dr Heather Baggaley
Postgraduate Programmes Manager

+44 (0) 2477659059


study.ctpsr@coventry.ac.uk

The content of this course for September 2022 entry is still being updated.
The information on these pages relates to September 2021 entry and is for guidance only. Please revisit this course page for updated information.

Overview

The MA in Peace and Conflict Studies at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, is rooted in Coventry’s history as a ‘City of Peace and Reconciliation’. This is the Centre’s most established postgraduate course. It provides students from all over the world with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of issues, theories and practices relating to peace and conflict. you will be taught how to apply theory and draw on case studies to aid peacebuilding in complex situations. The programme is designed to enhance the skills and abilities of people seeking to achieve and strengthen peace in their local communities and around the world.

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The MA is a blended learning course – a mixture of distance and face-to-face study – allowing you the flexibility to integrate your studies with work and personal commitments. We also provide the opportunity to study through our fast-track (APEL*) route which can allow you to gain accreditation for your prior experience and learning, taking into account what you have achieved in your career so far.

Qualifications available:

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies (8 months by blended/distance-learning).
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Peace and Conflict Studies (16 months by blended/distance-learning).
  • Full Term MA Peace and Conflict Studies (24 months by blended/distance-learning).
  • Fast-Track MA Peace and Conflict Studies (16 months with APEL by blended/distance-learning, omitting the PG Dip stage).

*Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) is the process by which Coventry University awards credits towards a qualification based on a student’s prior learning and experience in, for example, their career, previous qualifications and other, relevant life experience. For this course, Coventry University is able to award a third of the credits of the qualification based on a student’s reflection on the outcomes of their prior experience and learning, providing a fast-track option and an opportunity to complete a master’s degree in 16 months rather than 2 years. For more information on our APEL route or this course, contact the Postgraduate Programmes Team at study study.ctpsr@coventry.ac.uk or on +44 (0) 2477659059.

Why Coventry University?

An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.

COVID-19

The University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

Global ready

An international outlook, with global opportunities

Employability

Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeed

Student experience

All the support you need, in a top student city

What our students say...

The workshop allowed me to meet people from different backgrounds, different religions and different ways of knowing conflict… all sharing their life experiences.

Cephas Makosa, MA Peace and Conflict Studies

Course information

The MA in Peace and Conflict Studies at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations is rooted in Coventry’s history as a ‘City of Peace and Reconciliation’. This multidisciplinary programme provides you with the opportunity to learn about the complex nature of peace and conflict in the 21st century. You will be taught how to apply theory and draw on case studies to aid peacebuilding in complex situations. The programme enhances the skills and abilities of people seeking to achieve and strengthen peace in their local communities and around the world.

As well as being active researchers in this dynamic field, our current teaching team has a wealth of experience as practitioners in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Our team provides a highly interactive and supportive learning environment, focusing on the skills and knowledge that should help to enhance your understanding, practice and career. This programme helps you to develop key skills and attributes for a wide variety of careers, which could include anything from work on the ground in a local context to policy making on a global stage.

Qualifications available:

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies (8 months by blended/distance-learning).
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Peace and Conflict Studies (16 months by blended/distance-learning).
  • Full Term MA Peace and Conflict Studies (24 months by blended/distance-learning).
  • Fast-Track MA Peace and Conflict Studies (16 months with APEL by blended/distance learning, omitting the PG Dip stage).

 

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Course Specification
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Modules

Overview

This programme is studied in three stages: Postgraduate Certificate (60 Masters Level credits); Postgraduate Diploma level (120 Masters level credits); and Masters (180 Master level credits). Students start by successfully completing the Certificate level, then successful completing the Diploma and then finish by successfully completing the full Master’s degree, with the option to stop, pause or continue at each stage.

Year One comprises the three modules of the Postgraduate Certificate stage and the first two modules of the Postgraduate Diploma stage.

At the beginning of the year, you will have the opportunity to attend a short residential workshop focusing on the Peace, Conflict and Security in the 21st Century module. A second workshop is offered at the beginning of the Postgraduate Diploma stage focusing on the Project Design and Planning module. Whilst not mandatory, attendance at the workshops is strongly advised as they provide a chance to hone your practical skills, network with professionals from across our postgraduate courses and meet our wider Centre team including leading academics and our PhD community.

The Postgraduate Diploma stage comprises four modules. Two of these modules are studied by all students but the remaining two will be determined by the study pathway that you undertake. The study pathways allow you to begin to focus in depth on a smaller number of key topics and issues, as follows:

Students following the Identity and Culture Pathway will study:

  • Religion, Peace and Conflict
  • Gender, Violence and Justice

Students following the Peace and Development Pathway will study:

  • Comparative Peace Processes
  • Environment, Conflict and Sustainability

Modules

  • Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert)

    Our Postgraduate Certificate stage focuses on the key concepts and theories which underpin contemporary peace, conflict and security issues. You will study three modules:

    • Peace, Conflict and Security in the 21st Century:This module develops your critical understanding of the key concepts of peace, conflict and security and examines your application to contemporary problems. You will be presented with insights from a range of disciplines on both the causes and consequences of conflict and the practices which aim to address the problem of violence in all its forms.
    • Philosophies of Non-Violence and Reconciliation: This module explores a range of philosophies and traditions of non-violence and reconciliation. It extends the exploration of violence and its impacts reviewed in ‘Peace, Conflict and Security in the Twenty-First Century’. The module examines the meanings of ‘peace’, ‘justice’ and ‘power’, interrogating the inherent ethical dilemmas contained in the pursuit of peace. Approaches to peace-making, including pacifism, just war thinking, transitional justice and forgiveness, as well as the liberal peace thesis, are reviewed.
    • Peacebuilding: Theories into Practice: This module consolidates, extends and synthesises your understanding of peacebuilding as a broad range of approaches and practices that emerge from the theoretical perspectives examined in Philosophies of Non-violence and Reconciliation which seek to prevent, end, and transform violence and conflict. Drawing from relevant case and field evidence, the module evaluates peacebuilding practices from the individual to international levels. The module will encourage you to critically examine and reflect on a range of key issues that arise in developing ethical and effective processes and practices of peacebuilding including gender, religion, culture, underdevelopment and poverty, and displacement.

  • Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) - Part 1

    • For all students - Project Design and Planning: This module enables students to understand aspects of project design and funding proposal development in a variety of contexts such as development, social work, security, NGOs and beyond.
    • For students on the Identity and Culture Pathway - Religion, Peace and Conflict: The module will provide you with the opportunity to learn about the impact that core theological and ethical themes within the world’s living religions can have on attitudes to peace and conflict. It will also help you to develop the skills to investigate and encourage you to critically analyse the impact that religious ideas have on contemporary conflict situations and the practice of peacebuilding.
    • For students on the Peace and Development Pathway - Comparative Peace Processes: The module enables you to develop the theoretical and analytical capacity to evaluate and critically engage with the relationship between types of conflicts, the manner in which they are settled, and the problems of promoting sustainable post-settlement peace processes. This module aims to examine a range of regional conflicts exploring the manner in which a formal peace agreement came about, and encourages you to identify the range of peacebuilding initiatives involved in the efforts to deepen the peace and promote reconciliation during the post-peace settlement period.

Overview

Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) – Part 2

The Postgraduate Diploma stage continues in Year Two with two further modules:

  • Project Management in Practice (for all students)
  • Gender, Violence and Justice (for students on the Identity and Culture Pathway)
  • Environment, Conflict and Sustainability (for students on the Peace and Development Pathway)
Masters (MA)

The final stage of the MA is a dissertation on a subject of your own choice, supervised by a subject expert from the Centre, for Trust, Peace and Social Relations.

A final workshop is offered at the beginning of the Research Design in CTPSR module, to provide training in research methods and prepare students for their dissertation.

Modules

  • Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) - Part 2

    • For all students - Project Management in Practice: This module helps you to understand how projects are implemented and managed. This will cover a variety of project management tools and approaches to measure progress such as success indicators, milestones and deliverables.
    • For students on the Identity and Culture Pathway- Gender, Violence and Justice: This module encourages you to develop a solid theoretical and practical understanding of violence, conflict, peace and justice from a gender perspective. You will be asked to explore the relationship between gender and militarism and how masculinities and femininities are constructed in times of war and post-conflict transition. You will also be offered opportunities to acquire a deeper understanding of the gendered nature of violence in conflict and particularly of the conflict related sexual violence. In doing this you should develop knowledge of transitional justice responses to gender-based violence and critically reflect on the concept of gender Justice. Finally, you will be asked to study the UN framework on “Women, Peace and Security” which originated with the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) and you should build an understanding of its policy implications on the national and international level and implemented on the ground.
    • For students on the Peace and Development Pathway - Environment, Conflict and Sustainability: This interdisciplinary module examines the complex interactions of natural resources, environment, conflict, development and peace on land and at sea. It looks at key theories and concepts in the area such as ‘resource curse,’ ‘extractivism,’ ‘environmental justice’ and ‘political ecology.’ It also analyses specific conflicts and identifies challenges and opportunities for equitable natural resource governance towards sustainable peace and development. The module will provide you with analytical tools from multiple perspectives including politics, sociology, political economy and geography to encourage critical reflection about contemporary debates on resource conflict, natural resource governance and environmental peacebuilding.

  • Masters (MA)

    • Research Design in CTPSR: This module is designed to enable you to learn how to carefully design and plan your research. You will be asked to identify the appropriate methodology and methods for your chosen project, will be taught the difference about distinct types of research questions, which should help you to gain an understanding of research ethics.
    • Dissertation in CTPSR: This module is designed to enable you to write an extended piece of written work entailing independent study and the use of appropriate research techniques and source materials – your dissertation. The dissertation may consist of a critical evaluation of literature, of a reassessment of evidence, of an evaluation of particular approaches or techniques, or of a limited piece of original or applied research. The dissertation should build on the foundation provided by the Peace and Conflict Studies taught modules and may involve either the fuller development of subject matter and techniques encountered in the taught programme or the exploration of new areas and techniques appropriate to the overall programme of study.

Module Disclaimer

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

In more detail...

  • You can complete an MA in 16 months with accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL). For those with 5 years+ working experience, you could gain one third of your Master’s degree credits in recognition of what you’ve already achieved, through our APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning) route.
  • Complete a Postgraduate Certificate in 8 months or a Postgraduate Diploma in 16 months. Our course can be studied at Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma Master's Level, with the opportunity to stop, pause or progress between stages. Whilst most complete a full Master’s degree with us, many students choose to pause after the first or second stage, graduating and continuing their careers with ‘PGCert’ or ‘PGDip’ after their name.
  • Study wherever you are, whilst working. We can provide the flexibility of studying online and through short residential workshops where you can meet, network and learn with peers in a diverse range of roles around the world.
  • An international network of professionals. Access to a current network of practitioners working in roles related to peacebuilding internationally, as well as the large team of researchers and practitioners working in the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations.
  • A distinctive, international course led by world-leading experts. This course views peace studies as an activist discipline, which looks more holistically at peace than other similar courses.
  • Delivered by active international researchers. Our courses are global, from the content of the programme and the staff leading them, to the diverse backgrounds of our participants.
  • Inspired by our city. Our courses are founded in and inspired by the heritage of Coventry, the UK’s City of Peace and Reconciliation. Further, our courses are developed by Coventry University, ranked 15th in the Guardian’s University Guide (2020) and Times Modern University of the Year 2014, 2015 and 2016.
How you'll be taught

The course combines residential workshops in Coventry with interactive online learning, making it perfect for people who need to integrate their studies with family or work commitments.

Online modules are provided through the virtual learning environment (Moodle) to help facilitate communication between staff and students, and between students. You will have access to Coventry University’s library, including its digital resources and library support for distance learners.

Extensive coursework feedback and support from the programme team will be provided. CTPSR also has PGT (Postgraduate Teaching) Ambassadors who can provide more general support.

How you'll be assessed

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include exams, individual assignments or group work elements.

Teaching contact hours

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

What our students say...

Although it’s distance learning, the course was delivered in such a way that I felt connected to the Centre, it was thought-provoking and participatory.

Rukhshanda Naz, Student MA Peace and Conflict Studies

Entry Requirements

All applications will be evaluated individually with admissions decisions made by CTPSR. Admission decisions are based on the entry criteria elaborated below and an evaluation of the required application documents. Ordinarily, the minimum entry criteria for each stage (PGCert, PGDip & MA) of the Peace and Conflict Studies programme are as follows:

Applicants should hold a 2:2 or above degree (or equivalent international grade/qualification), from a recognised University, preferably in a social science subject (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Security Studies, International Relations, Politics, Peace and Conflict Studies, Development Studies, etc.).

For non-UK applicants, the entry requirement is English language proficiency at IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. Where applicants do not hold up-to-date IELTS certification, we will look at whether an applicant has previously studied and successfully completed a Higher Education qualification in English. Where an applicant does not hold such a qualification entry will be at the discretion of the Course Director and subject to a review of documentation and an interview. Please call or email our team if you have questions about this requirement – contact details below.

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning:

To be eligible for AP(E)L an applicant must have a minimum of five (5) years evidenced working experience in a relevant field to Peace and Conflict Studies and be operating in a relevant role at the level of mid-management or above at the time of application, or have operated within a relevant role at the level of mid-management or above within 12 months of the time of application. An eligible applicant seeking AP(E)L will be assessed by a portfolio and admissions interview, alongside their capacity to complete the programme successfully.

For further information on eligibility and the application process please email  study.ctpsr@coventry.ac.uk.

How to Apply

Prior to submitting an application please ensure you have the following supporting documents ready to upload:

The documents above are required to make an initial application, however further documentation may be requested from applicants in cases where additional information is required to support course entry decisions.

*this must be sent directly by the referee to study.ctpsr@coventry.ac.uk. Please ensure you read the guidance which can be found under the entry requirements section, particularly if you wish to apply for Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL – Please see section ‘Entry Requirements’ above).


For further information:

Dr Heather Baggaley

Postgraduate Programmes Manager

+44 (0) 2477659059

All applications will be evaluated individually with admissions decisions made by CTPSR. Admission decisions are based on the entry criteria elaborated below and an evaluation of the required application documents. Ordinarily, the minimum entry criteria for each stage (PGCert, PGDip & MA) of the Peace and Conflict Studies programme are as follows:

Applicants should hold a 2:2 or above degree (or equivalent international grade/qualification), from a recognised University, preferably in a social science subject (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Security Studies, International Relations, Politics, Peace and Conflict Studies, Development Studies, etc.).

For non-UK applicants, the entry requirement is English language proficiency at IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. Where applicants do not hold up-to-date IELTS certification, we will look at whether an applicant has previously studied and successfully completed a Higher Education qualification in English. Where an applicant does not hold such a qualification entry will be at the discretion of the Course Director and subject to a review of documentation and an interview. Please call or email our team if you have questions about this requirement – contact details below.

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning:

To be eligible for AP(E)L an applicant must have a minimum of five (5) years evidenced working experience in a relevant field to Peace and Conflict Studies and be operating in a relevant role at the level of mid-management or above at the time of application, or have operated within a relevant role at the level of mid-management or above within 12 months of the time of application. An eligible applicant seeking AP(E)L will be assessed by a portfolio and admissions interview, alongside their capacity to complete the programme successfully.

For further information on eligibility and the application process please email study.ctpsr@coventry.ac.uk.

How to Apply

Prior to submitting an application please ensure you have the following supporting documents ready to upload:

The documents above are required to make an initial application, however further documentation may be requested from applicants in cases where additional information is required to support course entry decisions.

*this must be sent directly by the referee to study.ctpsr@coventry.ac.uk. Please ensure you read the guidance which can be found under the entry requirements section, particularly if you wish to apply for Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL – Please see section ‘Entry Requirements’ above).


For further information:

Dr Heather Baggaley

Postgraduate Programmes Manager

+44 (0) 2477659059

study.ctpsr@coventry.ac.uk

 

English as a Foreign Language: This course requires IELTS of 6.5 or above. Pre-sessional English is available if required.

Pre-Sessional English

Our International Student Hub offers information on entry requirements for your country, as well as contact details for agents and representatives should you need more advice.

More detail

What our students say...

The workshop allowed me to meet people from different backgrounds, different religions and different ways of knowing conflict… all sharing their life experiences.

Cephas Makosa, Student MA Peace and Conflict Studies

EU student fees

EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.

For tuition fee loans

EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.

For maintenance loans

EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.

Starts

Fee

September 2022

£10,600 (MA) | £7,066 (PG Dip) | £3,533 (PG Cert) (per year)

UK Scholarships

If you're a truly outstanding undergraduate candidate we may be able to offer you a Coventry University Scholarship. Coventry University Scholarships are awarded to recognise truly exceptional sports achievement and academic excellence.

UK Scholarships

Starts

Fee

September 2022

£16,950 (MA) | £11,300 (PG Dip) | £5,650 (PG Cert) (per year)

Scholarships

If you're a truly exceptional candidate we may be able to offer you a Coventry University Scholarship. Coventry University Scholarships are awarded to recognise truly exceptional achievement and academic excellence.

Scholarships

Career prospects

Graduate Immigration Route visa

Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.

The MA in Peace and Conflict Studies is currently taught by experts in the broad field of peace and conflict studies and is informed by their research, practice and activism. The programme provides students with a deeper insight into theoretical and practical challenges in contemporary peacebuilding.

The course seeks to create a learning community sharing and debating ideas and challenges with academic staff, alumni and current students during the course and long after it has concluded. The course provides practitioners with opportunities to broaden their professional network and draw on the experience of other practitioner students. We consider this to be useful in the workplace and gaining a formally accredited Postgraduate qualification may enhance career progression. This course equips students who have an interest in peace and conflict with the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to work for a broad range of organisations such as international non-government organisations, multi-national government organisations like the United Nations, regional communities such as the European Union or the Economic Community of West African States, faith groups, faith-based organisations, community organisations, the private sector, think tanks and academia.

Disclaimer

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2021/22 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

Tuition fees

The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.

For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.

Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. 

Facilities

Facilities mentioned on this page may not be relevant for every course. Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

Placements and study abroad opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.

Additional costs

This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to), equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas).