Does the MA Peace and Conflict Studies include fieldwork in conflict-affected settings?

No. The MA Peace and Conflict Studies does not place students in conflict-affected fieldwork. Field-based research is something working practitioners may pursue independently with appropriate safety planning and institutional support; the MA prepares you for it methodologically rather than in place of it.

Is the MA Peace and Conflict Studies recognised by international organisations?

The MA Peace and Conflict Studies is a UK Master's degree taught in London, a major hub for international peacebuilding and humanitarian organisations. Graduates have moved into senior roles at INGOs, multilateral bodies and human-rights research organisations.

Can I take the MA Peace and Conflict Studies part-time?

Yes. The MA Peace and Conflict Studies can be taken over two years part-time, with online and distance modes designed for working practitioners. Most working students complete the dissertation in the second year.

What kind of dissertation do MA Peace and Conflict Studies students produce?

Past MA Peace and Conflict Studies dissertations have ranged from peace-process design analysis to transitional-justice case studies and gender-and-conflict research. The 12,000–15,000-word dissertation is on a question of your choice, with named supervisor matched to your topic.

What fees, scholarships and instalments are available?

Fees for the MA Peace and Conflict Studies vary by mode, intake and student status. LSJHML offers automatic scholarship review for every applicant, instalment plans and a small humanitarian-sector scholarship pool. Contact admissions for the current schedule.

MA Peace and Conflict Studies in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA Peace and Conflict Studies at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for working peacebuilding practitioners, conflict analysts, humanitarian programme staff and Bachelor's graduates pursuing senior-track roles. The course is built in dialogue with the International Crisis Group, the United Nations Association and Amnesty International.

You will work through advanced conflict analysis frameworks, peacebuilding practice at programme-design level, transitional justice and reconciliation work, and produce a 12,000–15,000-word dissertation on a peace and conflict question of your own.

Key Features

UK Master's degree — one year full-time or two years part-time, with online and distance routes available.
Advanced conflict analysis module — structured analytic techniques, conflict-mapping, early-warning at Master's depth.
Peacebuilding programme design module — theory of change, logical framework, monitoring and evaluation.
Transitional justice module covering truth commissions, ICC prosecutions, reparations, memorialisation.
International humanitarian law module — Geneva Conventions, customary IHL, contemporary application.
12,000–15,000-word dissertation on a peace and conflict question, supervised by a working practitioner or academic.

What You Will Learn

The MA Peace and Conflict Studies is structured around the working life of a senior peacebuilding practitioner or conflict researcher — analyse the situation, design the response, lead the programme, account for the outcome. You finish able to analyse a conflict using advanced frameworks, design a peacebuilding programme to industry standard, and write a Master's dissertation grounded in evidence.

Advanced conflict analysis — structured analytic techniques, conflict-mapping, early-warning frameworks.
Peacebuilding programme design — theory of change, logical framework, monitoring and evaluation.
Transitional justice — truth commissions, prosecutions, reparations, memorialisation in comparative perspective.
International humanitarian law — Geneva Conventions, customary IHL, ICRC standards, current debates.
Reconciliation and reintegration — DDR, community-based reconciliation, dealing with the past.
Gender, peace and security — Women, Peace and Security agenda, sexual violence in conflict, current frameworks.
Conflict-sensitive research methods — mixed methods, ethics for vulnerable populations, GDPR.
Dissertation research design — research question, methodology, fieldwork or document-based research.

Who This MA Is For

Working peacebuilding practitioners with two-plus years' experience moving into senior programme or analysis roles.
Humanitarian programme staff in conflict-affected contexts wanting structured Master's-level credentialing.
Bachelor's graduates in peace and conflict studies, IR, human rights or related disciplines aiming at senior-track entry roles.
Career-changers from military, civil service, journalism or NGO work moving toward peacebuilding-specialist careers.

Career Pathways

The MA Peace and Conflict Studies supports progression into senior peacebuilding, humanitarian and conflict-research roles across UK and international organisations. Typical post-MA destinations include:

Human Rights Researcher (Amnesty, HRW — senior or specialist role)
Peacebuilding Programme Officer (senior INGO or multilateral role)
International Development Adviser (senior conflict-affected programme role)
Policy Advocate (senior UK or international advocacy role)
Humanitarian Programme Manager (senior role in conflict-affected setting)
Conflict Analyst (senior think tank, INGO or multilateral early-warning role)

The MA also supports doctoral research in peace studies, IR or human rights, or progression into senior diplomatic or international civil service roles.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant professional experience.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience and intended specialism.
Two academic or professional references.
Applicants without a related undergraduate degree may be considered with significant industry experience and a written sample.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.