Master of Peace and Conflict Studies

1 year

48 units

In person or online

Why study this program

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.

The learning experience

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.

Student's perspectives

"I was drawn to the program’s career-oriented structure. The chance to connect with practitioners, gain real-world work experience, and earn a globally recognised master’s degree all within such a short period was compelling."

– Master of Peace and Conflict Studies student Matthew Beaver.

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 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.

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.

Dr Charlotte Grech-Madin

Dr Charlotte Grech-Madin is a Research Fellow and Lecturer at the ANU Coral Bell School. Her research focuses on peace and conflict, international security, protection of civilians, environmental security and humanitarian protection.