Overview:
In the midst of continual global transformations, cultivating an understanding of intricate political and cultural issues becomes paramount. This knowledge proves invaluable across diverse careers in international politics, security, and numerous non-governmental organizations. The course delves into the intricacies faced by organizations and government agencies when addressing crises such as civil wars and international conflicts. Students benefit from insights shared by diplomatic experts with real-world experience, expanding their knowledge through regular talks by policymakers, activists, and visiting scholars.
This program is particularly pertinent for students aspiring to roles in humanitarian assistance and post-conflict reconstruction. It also caters to candidates interested in studying the politics of aid. The Conflict, Security, and Development program aligns with the objectives of international organizations, emphasizing critical policy research and consultancy.
Through this program, students gain the ability to analyze the growing intersection between 'development' and security.' This critical analysis enhances their understanding of present global security crises and the interconnected responses in humanitarian, developmental, and security contexts, notably the links between aid and politics on the global stage.
Course Details:
The Conflict, Security, and Development course opens avenues for educational opportunities in a field of increasing interest within the academic community focused on development, security, and conflict. Providing a framework for genuinely interdisciplinary study, the program offers case studies and critical analyses of political and social reconstruction in war-affected societies across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Students explore the depth of development and security issues, ensuring:
- Cutting-edge academic inquiry is coupled with policymaking.
- Participation in a dynamic, ever-changing atmosphere of theories
- Expanded understanding of complex political emergencies globally.
- A step ahead in careers related to humanitarian or social reconstruction sectors
As an interdisciplinary department, scholars bring diverse backgrounds in history, anthropology, political science, economics, and beyond. Efforts are made to bridge these disciplines for a comprehensive approach.
The MA in Conflict, Security, and Development comprises 180 credits (or more, depending on universities) with part-time and full-time options. For distance learning, desk-based research is recommended. The course aims to explore conceptual and historical issues surrounding security and development and their manifestation in contemporary international security. By the program's conclusion, students possess an analytical and empirically informed treatment of linkages between conflict, insecurity, and underdevelopment, demanding a dynamic, holistic approach. Postgraduate levels include intensive sessions, dissertations, and research methodologies covering various topics such as comparative civil wars, gender, globalization and development, national security studies, and more.
Some universities may offer a two-week online induction module and a two-week online research methods module for the dissertation, both non-accredited. Course topics, depending on duration and academic setup, hold 15–30 credits, with a 60-credit dissertation.
Available UK universities:
Several prestigious universities offering conflict, security, and development courses include:
- University of Oxford
- King’s College, London
- The London School of Economics
- University of York
- The University of Birmingham
- University of Leicester
- University of Exeter
- Lancaster University
- The University of Leeds
Additionally, more affordable options include:
- University of Sussex
- University of Bradford
- The University of Plymouth
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- Open University
Entry Requirements:
Candidates must recognize the highly competitive nature of the graduate admissions process. Meeting the minimum entry requirements, including IELTS (minimum 6.5 overall, with 6 in each element), TOEFL (100 overall, with 25 in writing and 23 in each skill), or Cambridge Advanced Certificate (CAE) (191 overall; minimum 185 in all skills), does not guarantee a place. English language test reports are recommended to be valid on the course start date.
Academic Qualifications:
A bachelor's degree with a 2:1 (upper second class hons.) or non-UK equivalent in social science, humanities, or related disciplines is encouraged. Relevant experience in conflict management or working expertise will be considered. The application process, which takes about eight weeks, involves assessment by an academic committee. Applicants submit a CV or evidence of professional registration, a 4000-character statement of purpose (SOP), along with all certificates and academic documents, including the language proficiency certificate.