Master of Peace and Conflict Studies

1 year

48 units

In person

Why study this program

For millions of people worldwide, violent conflict or the threat of violent conflict, is a daily reality. The Master of Peace and Conflict Studies aims to help you understand why conflicts occur, how to mitigate their impact, and how to resolve them and prevent them from reoccurring. It is a world-leading program thanks to its unique features: in addition to exploring cutting-edge debates in the field of peace and conflict studies, it puts a strong emphasis on skills development. Additionally, the degree offers a distinct focus on both Asia and the Pacific region and on interdisciplinarity. Because it is offered in Canberra, at the leading University in Australia, you will have the opportunity to learn from leading academics in the field but also practitioners and policymakers. As a result, this degree allows for both breadth and depth of learning.

The learning experience

The Master of Peace and Conflict Studies equips students with the knowledge and skills to understand the nature of peace and conflict, the causes and experiences of violence, and the many ways in which national and international bodies can respond to those challenges. The program brings together diverse disciplinary insights, demonstrating how the different ways we interpret peace and conflict can influence what we see, what we respond to, and how we may judge success and failure.

You will be taught by world-renowned research scholars from the prestigious Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, have the opportunity to engage with practitioners, and you will graduate from a world-class university, positioning you firmly in the centre of a global network of leading scholars and policy-makers.

This is a one-year program and both full-time and part-time study options are available.

The program covers:

Issues and concepts in Peace and Conflict Studies
Conflict resolution
Peacebuilding
Statebuilding
Conflict Analysis
Reconciliation
Transitional Justice
The impact of climate change
Atrocity prevention
Ethics of Peace and War
Women, Peace and Security

Internships

A vibrant and exciting internship program is offered for successful students. Students have access to a range of internships with international and local NGOs, Australian government departments, the private sector, embassies and the broader ANU community. Internships are awarded for course credit on a competitive basis and are unpaid. All students also have access to the ANU Internship Program.

Career opportunities

Whether you want to work at the UN, your government, NGOs, think tanks, or in academia, the degree provides exciting career options by equipping you with knowledge and real-world skills to effectively make a difference in the field of peace and conflict studies.

You will have the necessary skills to advance your career in a wide range of fields such as:

International organisations
Diplomatic / Foreign service
Humanitarian organisations
Government and public service
Intergovernmental agencies

International development and aid
Journalism
Think tanks, policy institutes, and research centres
Not-for-profit organisations

World-class academics are your teachers

This program is delivered by the Department of International Relations in the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs and brings together a diverse range of discipline-leading experts who deliver cutting edge research-led teaching.

Dr Eglantine Staunton

Eglantine's research focuses on human protection, in particular, atrocity prevention and the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), norm diffusion, and France's foreign policy.

Associate Professor Nicolas Lemay-Hebert

Nicolas' research focuses on intervention issues in Asia Pacific and beyond. He is particularly interested in local resistance to international interventions and the political economy of interventions.

Dr Maria Tanyag

Maria's work focus on global politics of sexual and reproductive health, global political economy and social reproduction in crisis settings, feminist critiques of post-conflict and post-disaster crisis response.

Associate Professor Cecilia Jacob

Cecilia's work focuses on civilian protection, mass atrocity prevention, and international human protection norms.

Professor Bina D'Costa

Bina's research interests span migration, children and conflict, gender, human rights and justice.

Associate Professor Luke Glanville

Luke's research spans past and present thought and practice regarding international protection against atrocities, refugee protection, refugee exclusion, questions of rights, responsibilities, and prioritisation.

Dr Kirsten Ainley

Kirsten focuses on the history and development of international criminal law, human rights, and humanitarian intervention.

Professor Cian O'Driscoll

Cian's principal area of research is the intersection between normative international relations theory and the history of political thought, with a focus on the ethics of war.

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