Program Page
Program Duration

1 year

Program Credit

48 units

Program Delivery Multi-Modal

In person or online

For millions of people worldwide, violent conflicts or the threat of violent conflicts, are a daily reality and their impact can be felt at the local, regional and international levels. The Master of Peace and Conflict Studies is a world-leading program that equips students with the knowledge and skills to understand why conflicts occur, how to mitigate their impact, and how to resolve them and prevent them from reoccurring. Located in Canberra at the Australian National University, you will have the opportunity to learn from leading academics, practitioners and policymakers. As a result, this degree allows for both breadth and depth of learning.

     The program covers:

  • Critical debates in Peace and Conflict Studies
  • Conflict resolution
  • Peacebuilding
  • Statebuilding
  • Conflict Analysis
  • Reconciliation
  • Transitional Justice
  • The impact of climate change
  • Humanitarian assistance
  • Atrocity prevention
  • Ethics of Peace and War
  • Women, Peace and Security
  • Tensions and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.

Flexible learning

  • This is a one-year program with both full-time and part-time study options available.
  • You can elect to study in-person or online.

Skill development and employability 

In addition to exploring cutting-edge debates in the field of peace and conflict studies, the Master of Peace and Conflict Studies puts a strong emphasis on skill development by:

  • Exposing you to a range of activities and assessment methods (such as simulations, policy briefs, and conflict analysis workshops) to help you develop core skills.
  • Allowing you to undertake an internship (see below).
  • Inviting you to take part in a ‘meet the practitioners series’ where you will exchange with leading practitioners and policymakers.

Access to esteemed academic mentors

You will be paired with an academic mentor from the prestigious Department of International Relations who will be available to provide advice on your studies and future career plans.

Choose excellence

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

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.

Whether you want to work in the United Nations, government, NGOs, think tanks, or academia, this program 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.

 Examples of career options include:

  • International mediator
  • Diplomat
  • UN special advisor
  • Humanitarian aid program coordinator
  • Foreign policy adviser
  • Peace officer
  • NGO director
  • Foreign aid worker
  • Human rights officer
  • Senior research fellow

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.

Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (Advanced)

The Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (Advanced) is a 1.5 year full-time (72 units) program that enables students to undertake a 24 unit independent research project, with appropriate research training, to develop deep expertise in a particular dimension of Peace and Conflict Studies.

Part-time options available.

If you have any questions or queries, please email bell.postgrad@anu.edu.au