Offering a fascinating insight into this complex and rapidly changing field, the MSc will develop your operational and vocational skills in negotiation, conflict mediation, conflict-sensitive programme design and management, soft power, human security, inclusive diplomacy, and community peacebuilding.
Conflict prevention is built on the principle that, through skilled negotiation and mediation, the most intractable of differences can be settled peacefully. The most effective forms of conflict prevention and peacebuilding balance political with social needs and place a greater focus on local perspectives. They consider the important role played by young people and women, as well as taking into account social factors such as health and the environment.
This custom-designed, interdisciplinary MSc examines this specialised field through the lenses of human security, social justice, and diplomacy. You will gain the latest knowledge in areas such as conflict analysis, prevention, resolution and transformation, community-driven reconstruction, and peace processes in the context of contemporary conflicts and broader humanitarian interventions.
Using a range of innovative teaching techniques we incorporate the latest research, delivered by a combination of academics and practitioners – many of whom are recognised as world-leading experts in their field. You will have opportunities to develop operational and vocational skills in conflict mediation, humanitarian intervention, everyday negotiation, conflict-sensitive programme design, the use of peace indicators, participatory approaches to peacebuilding, and gender-sensitive approaches to security. You may choose to also explore these in the optional field trip module.
Your theoretical understanding and research skills are brought together in the MSc dissertation, while the innovative Humanitarian Intervention Simulation module gives you a chance to bring your knowledge and skills to life in a simulation of a conflict situation.
The MSc is likely to appeal to graduates who have a career in government, inter-governmental organisations, NGOs, humanitarian organisations, or academia in mind, and to mid-career practitioners looking to enhance their practical skills while placing them within a broader theoretical perspective.
Course structure
Core modules:
Defence, Development and Diplomacy in Conflict: Evolving Actors, Factors and Paradigms introduces key concepts around defence, development and diplomacy, and conflict, peace and security. It situates these concepts within the broader context of changing political structures, actors, conventions and paradigms and equips you with the conceptual tools to understand the changing character of conflict and its implications for peace as security in the modern world.
Conflict Prevention and Sustainable Peace discusses, at an advanced level, frameworks and concepts underpinning approaches to the prevention of violent conflict and the promotion of sustainable peace from macro to micro levels of intervention.
Peace Processes and Everyday Political Negotiation uses case studies to examine theories and concepts that underpin effective peace processes, and analyse factors that affect the outcome. You will investigate the role of mediators and facilitators (external and within communities), explore styles of political negotiation in conflict situations and their impact on everyday life and analyse the positive and negative factors that impact on negotiation.
Consolidating Peace after Violence studies the complex and inter-related issues of post-war recovery and reconstruction through a sustainable peace building lens. It also explores the links between state stabilisation, the establishment of good governance and building sustainable peace and security. In doing so, the course interrogates the classifications of failed and fragile states, the policies they give rise to, and their results.
The Capstone Exercise: Humanitarian Intervention Simulation provides you with an opportunity to test the knowledge and skills learned during the taught modules in a simulated conflict setting. Where appropriate, external practitioners such as development or humanitarian agencies may be engaged in the exercise.
The Dissertation is a substantial piece of independent work in a related area of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. The 12,000-word dissertation is the culmination of the MSc, bringing together elements of learning from across the course.
In recent years, optional modules have included:
Capturing and Counting Peace and Conflict
Conflict Analysis
Conflict Mediation
Curating Human Remains
Conflict Sensitive Programme Management
Contemporary Challenges in the United Nations Peacekeeping
Teaching is centred around the School of Government and International Affairs, a vibrant learning community that is home to multiple research centres, including the Durham Global Security Institute.
The MSc is largely delivered via lectures, seminars or tutorial groups, and active learning sessions including discussions, student presentations, Q&A sessions, and role plays. Core modules are built around 300 hours of learning, a large proportion of which is made up of independent reading, preparation, and written assignments. Each module includes a minimum of 20 hours of class contact, which gives you the opportunity to review course material in group discussions. Many optional modules are delivered through an innovative Continuous Professional Development (CPD) format. Run over the course of several days, CPD modules combine small-group tutorials with practical exercises, to demonstrate how the latest research can be applied to real-world situations.
The dissertation is an important part of the course. To support you in this, you will be appointed a dissertation supervisor based on a broad match with your dissertation topic. As well as providing dissertation-specific support and guidance, you can also contact your supervisor for general academic support.
To keep learning up-to-date and relevant, we place great importance on integrating new and innovative research into the curriculum. In addition, we deliver regular seminars and lectures which are available for all postgraduate students. These events provide opportunities to engage with contemporary issues in political and international studies.
Assessment methods vary depending on the modules studied. Most are assessed by essays, with others including examinations, presentations, a reflective journal, reports, article reviews and policy briefs. As the course progresses, we provide ongoing feedback through formative assessments to help you to recognise your strengths as well as identify any areas that may require improvement.
The course culminates in a 12,000-word dissertation which is conducted and written up as an independent piece of work with support from your appointed supervisor. The dissertation is worth one-third of your final mark.
The tuition fees for 2024/25 academic year have not yet been finalised, they will be displayed here once approved.
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).
Our courses focus on developing self-aware, thoughtful and ambitious global citizens with the skills and knowledge to secure rewarding and stimulating careers inside and outside of politics.
This is underpinned by additional employability support from the University through its careers programme, through employment-related events and by maintaining the alumni network which stretches across the globe.
Our postgraduates achieve successful careers in a wide range of fields including local and national government, diplomacy, newspaper and broadcast journalism, the charity sector, business and finance, publishing, law, manufacturing, teaching and academia, and the armed forces.
Former postgraduate students have taken up roles with leading employers including the House of Commons, Clifford Chance, Accenture, British Airways, Ernst and Young, British Telecom, Goldman Sachs, PwC, the Royal Navy, House of Fraser, Channel 4, HSBC, Teach First, Durham University, Black Rock and the Audit Commission.
For further information on career options and employability, student and employer testimonials and details of work experience and study abroad opportunities, please visit our employability web pages.
Department information
School of Government and International Affairs
Part of the School of Government and International Affairs, politics and international relations at Durham is centred around the areas of political theory, comparative politics, international relations and political economy. Our academic staff have a genuine passion for politics and are leading experts in the study of these areas, as they exist across Europe, East Asia, the Middle East and the wider Muslim world, Africa and America.
We are a research-led School offering high quality learning in essential quantitative and qualitative research methods alongside in-depth study of key areas of political and international theory. These include Comparative Institutions and Political Behaviour, Environmental Politics, Global Security and Peacebuilding, International Political Economy and International Relations.
The learning and research community is vibrant and active and is one of the biggest groups at the University comprising a postgraduate body of nearly 50 different nationalities. Our institutes and research centres support key research agendas by organising guest lectures, running regular paper presentations and acting as focal points for networking.
We believe that in a democracy, active citizenship requires awareness and participation and the ability to comprehend public debate. Our vision is to offer a study of politics that not only includes but goes beyond career preparation to consider how to be better human beings and good citizens.
Over 80% of SGIA research outputs were rated 'Internationally Excellent' or 'World Leading' (REF 2021)
Facilities
The School of Government and International Affairs is based in the modern Al Qasimi Building. The modern structure is set in its own grounds not far from the historic centre of Durham, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Facilities include spacious environments for both learning and socialising and the building is also home to the renowned Global Policy Institute, the Institute of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and the Durham Global Security Institute.
Apply
Find out more:
Apply for a postgraduate course (including PGCE International) via our online portal.
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