Subject guides / Peace and Conflict Studies
Peace and Conflict Studies
Also appears in programme titles as: Conflict Resolution · Peacebuilding · Security and Conflict
What a peace and conflict studies degree actually is
Wars end, mostly, in negotiated settlements — and peace and conflict studies trains the people who analyse, mediate and rebuild: conflict analysis, peacebuilding, transitional justice, security. It is one of the most established interdisciplinary fields in this catalogue, with dedicated research institutes behind it.
Uppsala (home of the world's most-used conflict dataset) is the academic gold standard; KCL War Studies the security-flavoured heavyweight; Manchester the humanitarian-adjacent route; Notre Dame's Kroc and Georgetown the US peace-and-conflict schools.
What you study — and the bar to entry
Conflict analysis and causes of war, peacebuilding and mediation, transitional justice and reconciliation, and security studies. Uppsala is the most quantitatively rigorous (its data tradition shows); KCL leans strategic; the US programmes weight practice and fieldwork. Entry reads politics, IR, history and field-experienced practitioners; no hard quantitative bar outside Uppsala's methods core.
Where it leads
UN peace operations and DPPA, mediation-support and peacebuilding NGOs, foreign ministries' conflict units, humanitarian organisations, transitional-justice bodies, and conflict research. Field credibility is currency here — the strongest careers braid the degree with real time in or near conflict-affected settings.
Who it suits — and who it does not
A good fit if you are…
- Practitioners from conflict-affected regions formalising field experience — the archetypal funded profile
- IR and politics graduates specialising into peacebuilding and mediation
- Diplomats and humanitarian staff moving into conflict-specific roles
Probably not the right degree if…
- Applicants who want pure security/defence careers — parts of this field are avowedly critical of them
- Those expecting fast deployment: peacebuilding careers build slowly
- Anyone uncomfortable holding academic rigour and moral commitment together
Where to study it: the programme map
Five verified programmes: Uppsala (the data-tradition gold standard), KCL and Manchester (one-year UK), and the US peace schools (Notre Dame Kroc with full funding, Georgetown).
| University | Official programme title | Length | Tuition (intl) | Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilkent UniversityTürkiye | MA in International Relations | 24 mo | USD 18,400/yr | — |
| Charles UniversityCzechia | International Security Studies (MISS) | 24 mo | EUR 7,000/yr | — |
| Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human RightsSwitzerland | LLM / MAS in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights | 12 mo | CHF 18,000 | — |
| Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human RightsSwitzerland | LLM / MAS in International Crimes, Justice and Human Rights | 12 mo | CHF 18,000 | — |
| Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID)Switzerland | Master in International History and Politics | 24 mo | CHF 8,000/yr | — |
| Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID)Switzerland | Master in International Relations / Political Science | 24 mo | CHF 8,000/yr | — |
| Georgetown UniversityUnited States | Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution | — | USD 93,772 | — |
| Jagiellonian UniversityPoland | International Security and Development (ISAD) | 24 mo | EUR 4,500/yr | — |
| King's College LondonUnited Kingdom | Conflict, Security and Development MA | 12 mo | GBP 38,300/yr | — |
| Korea UniversitySouth Korea | MA in International Studies – International Peace & Security | 24 mo | KRW 14,366,000/yr | — |
| LUISS Guido CarliItaly | Master's Degree in International Relations | 24 mo | EUR 15,000/yr | — |
| Malmo UniversitySweden | Political Science: Global Politics, Master's Programme (Two-Year) | 24 mo | SEK 220,000 | — |
| Nanyang Technological UniversitySingapore | MSc (Strategic Studies) | 12 mo | SGD 15,800 | — |
| Nanyang Technological UniversitySingapore | MSc (International Relations) | 12 mo | SGD 15,800 | — |
| Norwegian University of Life SciencesNorway | MSc in International Relations | 24 mo | NOK 80,000/yr | — |
| Scuola Superiore Sant'AnnaItaly | International Master in Human Rights and Conflict Management | 12 mo | EUR 7,500 | — |
| Seoul National UniversitySouth Korea | Master of International Studies – International Cooperation | 24 mo | USD 6,500/yr | — |
| Tampere UniversityFinland | Master's Programme in Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research | 24 mo | EUR 12,000/yr | — |
| Tampere UniversityFinland | Master's Programme in Security Governance | 24 mo | EUR 12,000/yr | — |
| Tampere UniversityFinland | Master's Programme in International Security | 24 mo | EUR 12,000/yr | — |
| Trinity College DublinIreland | MSc International Politics | 12 mo | EUR 22,520/yr | — |
| Universidad Carlos III de MadridSpain | Master in Geopolitics and Strategic Studies | 24 mo | EUR 17,550 | — |
| University of BolognaItaly | International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs | 24 mo | — | — |
| University of CanterburyNew Zealand | Master of International Relations and Diplomacy | 12 mo | NZD 51,000 | — |
| University of InnsbruckAustria | Master's Programme Peace and Conflict Studies | 24 mo | EUR 1,453/yr | — |
| University of LimerickIreland | MA Peace and Development Studies | 12 mo | EUR 18,600/yr | — |
| University of ManchesterUnited Kingdom | MA Humanitarianism and Conflict Response (HCRI) | 12 mo | GBP 30,700/yr | — |
| University of ManchesterUnited Kingdom | MA Peace and Conflict Studies | 12 mo | GBP 28,900/yr | — |
| University of MelbourneAustralia | Master of International Relations | — | AUD 48,992/yr | — |
| University of Notre DameUnited States | Master of Global Affairs (International Peace Studies) | 24 mo | USD 69,110/yr | All admitted students receive full-tuition Kroc Scholarships. |
| University of OtagoNew Zealand | Master of International Studies | 12 mo | NZD 49,875/yr | — |
| University of St. GallenSwitzerland | Master in International Affairs and Governance (MIA) | 18 mo | CHF 7,115/yr | — |
| University of SydneyAustralia | Master of International Relations | — | AUD 54,100/yr | — |
| Uppsala UniversitySweden | Master's Programme in Peace and Conflict Studies | 24 mo | SEK 228,000 | — |
| Victoria University of WellingtonNew Zealand | Master of International Relations | 12 mo | NZD 38,302/yr | — |
Every row verified against the official programme page; oldest verification 16 Jul 2026. Nothing here is a paid placement.
Application strategy and funding routes
Uppsala (SEK 228,000, Swedish Institute) is the research-credibility pick; KCL and Manchester the one-year Chevening-compatible UK routes; Notre Dame's Kroc is exceptional — all admitted students receive full-tuition scholarships — and Georgetown the Washington option (Fulbright). Applicants from conflict-affected countries have a strong, direct scholarship narrative; name the process (a peace deal, a truth commission) you would contribute to.
Which scholarship funds which programme
Computed from each scheme's published rules (destination, level, course length) — not a guarantee; list-based schemes still require checking the official list.
- Bilkent University — study destination outside the scheme
- Charles University — study destination outside the scheme
- Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights — study destination outside the scheme
- Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights — study destination outside the scheme
- Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID) — study destination outside the scheme
- Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID) — study destination outside the scheme
- Georgetown University — study destination outside the scheme
- Jagiellonian University — study destination outside the scheme
- King's College London
- Korea University — study destination outside the scheme
- LUISS Guido Carli — study destination outside the scheme
- Malmo University — study destination outside the scheme
- Nanyang Technological University — study destination outside the scheme
- Nanyang Technological University — study destination outside the scheme
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences — study destination outside the scheme
- Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna — study destination outside the scheme
- Seoul National University — study destination outside the scheme
- Tampere University — study destination outside the scheme
- Tampere University — study destination outside the scheme
- Tampere University — study destination outside the scheme
- Trinity College Dublin — study destination outside the scheme
- Universidad Carlos III de Madrid — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Bologna — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Canterbury — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Innsbruck — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Limerick — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Manchester
- University of Manchester
- University of Melbourne — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Notre Dame — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Otago — study destination outside the scheme
- University of St. Gallen — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Sydney — study destination outside the scheme
- Uppsala University — study destination outside the scheme
- Victoria University of Wellington — study destination outside the scheme
- Bilkent University — study destination outside the scheme
- Charles University — study destination outside the scheme
- Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights — study destination outside the scheme
- Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights — study destination outside the scheme
- Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID) — study destination outside the scheme
- Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID) — study destination outside the scheme
- Georgetown University — study destination outside the scheme
- Jagiellonian University — study destination outside the scheme
- King's College London — study destination outside the scheme
- Korea University — study destination outside the scheme
- LUISS Guido Carli — study destination outside the scheme
- Malmo University
- Nanyang Technological University — study destination outside the scheme
- Nanyang Technological University — study destination outside the scheme
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences — study destination outside the scheme
- Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna — study destination outside the scheme
- Seoul National University — study destination outside the scheme
- Tampere University — study destination outside the scheme
- Tampere University — study destination outside the scheme
- Tampere University — study destination outside the scheme
- Trinity College Dublin — study destination outside the scheme
- Universidad Carlos III de Madrid — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Bologna — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Canterbury — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Innsbruck — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Limerick — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Manchester — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Manchester — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Melbourne — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Notre Dame — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Otago — study destination outside the scheme
- University of St. Gallen — study destination outside the scheme
- University of Sydney — study destination outside the scheme
- Uppsala University
- Victoria University of Wellington — study destination outside the scheme
Frequently asked questions
Why is Uppsala so highly regarded?
It hosts the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, the dataset most of the world's conflict research runs on. Studying there means learning from the people who built the field's empirical backbone.
Is there work after this degree?
Yes, but it rewards field credibility over credentials alone — the strongest graduates paired the degree with real conflict-adjacent experience. Enter with, or plan to get, time in the settings you want to work on.
Which scholarships fit?
Chevening/Commonwealth for KCL and Manchester; Swedish Institute for Uppsala; Notre Dame Kroc funds all admits; Fulbright for Georgetown.
Related fields
Sources
Official programme pages (linked per row above) · official scholarship rules and participating-programme lists · university admission regulations. Every data row records its source URL and verification date; stale rows are re-checked or removed.
Global Study Prep is independent and not affiliated with any university or scholarship programme. Programme details change — always confirm on the official page before applying.