MA Conflict Transformation and Social Justice
Belfast, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 up to 3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
30 Jun 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 21,500 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international fee
Introduction
This is a unique and innovative interdisciplinary programme taught through subject areas that include law, anthropology, English, history, philosophy, politics, psychology, sociology and the creative arts. Module choice within the programme will permit you to build your own personalised portfolio of knowledge and learning within the area of conflict transformation and social justice. You will be taught by academics and practitioners whose expertise is both national and global and who offer research-led teaching in areas of conflict such as South/ Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Southern Europe, South America and Northern Ireland.
Queens University offers the only global interdisciplinary MA programme on Conflict Transformation and Social Justice.
Conflict Transformation And Social Justice Highlights
This programme offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding both conflict transformation and social justice working closely with The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute.
Global Opportunities
- Queen’s currently has over 3,000 international students from 85 different countries. Queen’s is ranked 22nd in the world for international outlook (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020). This programme attracts a diverse range of students both local and international enhancing and enriching the classroom learning experience.
Career Development
- Our graduates find employment in NGOs, civil sector organisations, in policy research, law, advocacy, government, peace journalism, and conflict mediation settings.
World-Class Facilities
- Established in 2016, The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice is an international centre of excellence at Queen’s University Belfast. The Institute fosters collaborations across a range of subject areas which allow the Faculty to address some of the key global challenges faced in seeking to achieve fairness, security, prosperity, social harmony and progress. A flagship for interdisciplinary research in areas of major societal challenge, the Mitchell Institute brings together excellent researchers from a wide range of disciplines to tackle some of the greatest global issues of our age.
Internationally Renowned Experts
- Students are afforded the opportunity to meet both scholars and practitioners of conflict transformation and social justice through a range of modules, masterclasses and events that emphasize both the scholarly and applied elements of conflict transformation and social justice.
- You will be taught by staff with research profiles of international standing, and wide ranges of interest in conflict transformation and social justice both geographically and disciplinary You will have annual masterclasses with visiting world-leading researchers, diplomats and/or practitioners.
Student Experience
- This programme offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding both conflict transformation and social justice. Students will meet experts from three different schools as well as the for Global Peace, Security and Justice, allowing for a broad range of geographical and conceptual/disciplinary insights.
- Location of Belfast: globally-significant locale for conflict and peace research; access to institutions, community projects, case studies for students' own work. Voluntary placements with local community groups are also facilitated as part of this programme.
Career Opportunities
Our MA will equip you with the knowledge and skills to pursue a range of careers in the private, public and voluntary sectors, domestically and internationally, including working in peacebuilding organisations, charities, international development agencies, journalism, social and community work, dispute resolution, counselling, policing, politics and policy development, law, teaching, religious ministry, research, and doctoral study/academia.
Employment after the Course
Our MA can help you gain the skills and knowledge that can lead to meaningful work in a range of fields, all over the world.
You may follow in the footsteps of some of our alumni, who are building careers in restorative justice, equality advocacy, international diplomacy (embassy work), the United Nations, Law school and doctoral programmes, policing, peacebuilding organisations, and organisations working with victims of human trafficking.
Our MA can also be useful as an aspect of continuing professional development for those already working in careers in social and community work, politics and policymaking, teaching, policing, religious ministry, the victims' sector, and journalism
Professional Opportunities
The study and employability skills associated with the MA in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice include:
- Group work
- Independent learning
- The collection and analysis of information
- Research skills
- Problem-solving
- Communication skills: oral, written and presentation skills
- Working under time constraints and to the deadline
Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised by a world-leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
Gallery
Curriculum
Course Structure
Students may enroll on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) basis. Students must complete two core modules (40 CATS points), four optional modules (80 CATS points), and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).
The MA is awarded to students who successfully complete six taught modules (120 CATS points) and a research dissertation (60 CATS points).
Exit qualifications are available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by successfully completing 120 CATS points from taught modules.
Modules
Core Modules
- Dissertation (60 credits)
- Approaches to Research Design (20 credits)
Optional Modules
- Transitional Justice (20 credits)
- Religion, Power and Peacebuilding (20 credits)
- Global Concepts and Practice of Conflict Transformation and Social Justice (20 credits)
- Conflict Mediation and Transformation (20 credits)
- Feminism(s), Gender and Global Politics (20 credits)
- Social Divisions, Conflict and Change in Northern Ireland: New Sociological Research (10 credits)
- Democratic Challenges and Innovations (20 credits)
- Social Injustice (20 credits)
- Conflict Intervention (20 credits)
- Anthropology of Conflict: Ireland and Beyond (20 credits)
- Contemporary Security (20 credits)
- Global Political Economy (20 credits)
- Inequality and Emotions (10 credits)
- Comparative Human Rights (20 credits)
Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:
You will be part of a community of learners within the Institute who are dedicated to understanding conflict and its transformation. Class time includes plenty of opportunities for discussion. You will have annual masterclasses with world-leading experts and be able to attend the numerous public lectures organized by the Institute. You will also meet your lecturers and classmates at monthly brown-bag lunches and other informal events.
Some students may avail themselves of the opportunity to participate in voluntary, non-assessed placements with local peacebuilding organizations.
Personal Development
Our MA can help you gain the skills and knowledge that can lead to meaningful work in a range of fields, all over the world.
Our MA can also be useful as an aspect of continuing professional development for those already working in careers in social and community work, politics and policymaking, teaching, policing, religious ministry, the victims' sector, and journalism.
Assessment
Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:
- Examination
- Continuous assessment
Written feedback is provided on all assessed work. Students also receive oral feedback in the classroom and in one-to-one meetings with lecturers.
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
How do I fund my study?
The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study.
A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Master's courses in all subject areas. Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.
International Scholarships