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Course Structure

Year one at the University of Kent

You complete the spring term (September-December) in at the University of Kent (Canterbury), where you study two compulsory modules and then choose three optional modules from those listed in the section below.

Compulsory modules (Kent)

  • Pathways to Peace: Approaches to Conflict Resolution | 10 ECTS

    The module (UK: POLI8320) aims to introduce current thinking in the field on conflict resolution, conflict management and conflict transformation, including conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Can protracted violent conflicts be prevented, and how are they brought to an end? Is it possible to deal with the root causes of conflict? How do the wider conflicts in the international system impact on local and regional conflicts, and under what circumstances are conflicts transformed? You explore these questions through theories of conflict resolution, comparative studies, and case studies. This module focuses mainly on international and intra-state conflicts. You also have opportunities to discuss conflicts at other levels, such as the roles of diasporas and the media in conflict and its transformation. By the end of this module, you gain a grounded understanding of the key challenges and most effective approaches to conflict resolution.

    Method of assessment: Essay 1, 2000 words (30%), Essay 2, 4000 words (70%)

  • Research Methods Training | 10 ECTS

    This module (UK: POLI9640) introduces the research design and methods used in the study of Politics and International Relations. The module aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to understand, compare, and evaluate the design and methods used in political and IR research, and to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to design your own research project and make informed choices regarding research methods.

    You focus on the logic behind various types of research design and the key features of different methods used in political and IR research. This module gives you the necessary tools, methods, and approaches to succeed in your essays and dissertation. You cover the key steps needed to write successful postgraduate essays and the MA dissertation (DE: PACS06, UK: POLI9660). The lectures and workshops provide you with these tools, and in the parallel seminars, you address a series of topics necessary for writing your first term papers.

    You cover topics including description and explanation, concept analysis and typologies, the role of theories and theoretical frameworks, delineating a topic and formulating a research question, formulating an argument, the comparative method, case studies and case selection, and historical and ethnographic research.

    Method of assessment: Critical Literature Review, 2500 words (40%), Research Proposal, 2500 words (60%)

Optional Modules (Kent)

Optional Modules (each 10 ECTS) may include the following: Middle Eastern Politics and Society, Analysing World Politics, Conflict Resolution in Practice,  Pathways to Peace: Approaches to Conflict Resolution, Negotiation and Mediation, The Politics of Global Environmental Change, Security In A Changing World, Terrorism and Crimes of the State, Politics and Conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Year two at the University of Marburg

You take three compulsory modules plus the MA dissertation and then choose two optional modules from those taught at the Center.

Compulsory modules (Marburg)

  • Psychology of Peace and Conflict | 6 ECTS

    Social psychology is a central component of Peace and Conflict Studies. In this course (DE: FUK03), you will gain an overview of social psychological perspectives on the emergence, escalation, maintenance, constructive resolution, and post-conflict processing of intergroup conflicts. You will explore topics such as social identity, stereotypes, prejudices and enemy images, collective memory, group-based emotions, political protest, radicalization and terrorism, intergroup contact, trust-building, interactive problem-solving, reconciliation between groups, and forgiveness. Additionally, you will discover the fundamentals of quantitative empirical social research.

    Method of assessment: (1) study achivements ("Studienleistung") oral presentation (45 minutes) or portfolio (approx. 36,000 characters / 20 pages) or preparation; (2) examination ("Prüfungsleistung"): Written examination (60 minutes) or individual oral examination (20-30 minutes)

  • Internship | 12 ECTS

    You will complete your internship (DE: PACS05) in an international context, focusing on conflict transformation, conflict and violence prevention, peace consolidation, or conflict-sensitive development cooperation. This internship will offer you insights into practical work contexts in peace and conflict studies and allow you to gain experience in a potential professional field. You will reflect on the analytical and theoretical skills acquired during your studies within the context of your work, evaluating the problem solutions you encounter using the concepts you have learned.

    Method of assessment: Learning diary (approx. 15,000 characters) or blog posts (approx. 15,000 characters in total)

  • Master Dissertation | 30 ECTS

    In this module (DE: PACS06, UK: POLI9660), you will build on and apply your skills and learning outcomes while engaging in preparatory activities and skills training to aid in the successful writing of your MA dissertation (thesis). You will gain an understanding of academic research and learn to identify and utilize appropriate strategies and techniques for preparing and delivering an individual dissertation. Your thesis, a major assessed element, will focus on a topic within the scope of the MA Peace and Conflict Studies. The overall goal is to guide you through the components of the dissertation, including conducting research, presenting your findings, and writing up your results. The thesis will be co-supervised by Kent and Marburg lecturers.

    Method of assessment: research design (proposal) in the colloquium (1,500 words) and MA dissertation (14,000 words)

Optional modules (Marburg)

  • Current Debates in Peace and Conflict Studies | 6 ECTS

    By working on exemplary current conflict situations, you will develop in this module (DE: PACS01) an in-depth understanding of central questions of peace and conflict studies. This includes the discussion of current conceptual debates in peace and conflict research, such as the critique of liberal peace, the relationship between peace and security, concepts of peace or feminist approaches to peace and security policy. You will also examine methodological issues in peace and conflict studies, including research ethics and mixed-methods approaches to research on conflict dynamics and peace processes.

    Method of assessment: Term paper (approx. 36,000 characters / 20 pages), portfolio (approx. 36,000 characters / 20 pages) or preparation of a podcast contribution of 45 minutes.

  • Security and Violence | 6 ECTS

    In this module (DE: PACS02), you will explore the causes and dynamics of organized violence and approaches to collective security, which are central topics in peace and conflict studies. You will learn that security is not merely the absence of violence and existential threats in social and international contexts. Instead, it is a political construction in which conflict parties present their opponents as threats to their own identity and interests, making peace and security potentially contradictory. You will gain insights into the role of security in violent conflicts, supported by empirical examples. In the module, you will analyze the possibilities and limitations of security policy instruments, such as military interventions and security sector reform, in peace processes. Additionally, you will examine feminist perspectives that argue against reducing security to military measures or state security. Particular attention will be paid to the security of vulnerable and marginalized groups.

    Method of assessment: Term paper (approx. 36,000 characters / 20 pages), portfolio (approx. 36,000 characters / 20 pages) or preparation of a podcast contribution of 45 minutes.

  • Mediation and Civil Conflict Management | 6 ECTS

    This module (DE: PACS03) provides you with a practical understanding of non-violent conflict resolution. You will examine various forms of mediation and civil conflict resolution in depth, exploring both their conceptual and practical applications in diverse contexts. Additionally, you will be introduced to the theoretical and empirical aspects of mediation, including its theoretical foundation and meta-studies on mediation effectiveness.

    Method of assessment: Term paper (approx. 36,000 characters / 20 pages), portfolio (approx. 36,000 characters / 20 pages) or preparation of a podcast contribution of 45 minutes.

  • Peace and Development | 6 ECTS

    This module (DE: PACS04) examines the relationship between peace and sustainable development. You will reflect on international development cooperation in the context of peace, democracy, and security, as well as your own values in this regard. You will explore various approaches, from local to global, to determine whether and how peace serves as a catalyst for economic progress, social justice, political participation, and equitable educational opportunities, and vice versa. Additionally, you will analyze case studies and current challenges to gain insights into innovative approaches and best practices in policy-relevant work and project contexts.

    Method of assessment: Term paper (approx. 36,000 characters / 20 pages), portfolio (approx. 36,000 characters / 20 pages) or preparation of a podcast contribution of 45 minutes.

The descriptions of the individual modules are based on the legally binding module descriptions and module handbooks at the University of Kent and the University of Marburg.