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Queen's University Belfast

Conflict Transformation & Social Justice

Overview
Aim
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.

Why Queen's?
Location of Belfast: globally-significant locale for conflict and peace research; access to institutions, community projects, case studies for students' own work.

Only MA actively facilitating study and research that combines cultural and creative aspects of conflict transformation and social justice together with their socio-legal, institutional and inter-state contexts.

Only MA in the field to be interdisciplinary across all the humanities and social sciences in order to offer a fully rounded and multilevel analysis of the subject whilst offering optional modules for specialisation.

Teaching in advanced research methods, with particular emphasis on methodologies appropriate for research in the fields of conflict transformation, social justice and societies in transition

Annual master-class with visiting world-leading researchers

Peer group seminars across the Faculty in qualitative research methods

Participation in interdisciplinary, small research seminar groups on related topics of specialisation, e.g. 'shared space'; 'divided cities'

Opportunities to conduct new empirical research in the field

Opportunities to complete assignments with direct policy relevance

Entry requirements

Normally at least a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in an Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences discipline or another cognate subject area. Applicants with a 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University may be admitted if they hold a Masters degree, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University or if they have 3 years' relevant working experience in the field of conflict transformation, youth work, social justice or related experience in community engagement or public service delivery.

International Qualifications
For information on international qualification equivalents please select Your Country from the list on our International Students website.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes. Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this programme, our partner INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability to entry to this programme.

Please visit the links below for more information:
English for University Study - an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level

Pre-sessional English - a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English

Duration

1 year full-time or 2 years part-time.

Learning and Teaching
Morning / Afternoon / Evening

Careers or further progression

Career Prospects
The MA programme provides our graduates with the skills to pursue a wide range of careers in the private, public and voluntary sectors, both domestically and internationally. In addition, the learning and intellectual environment provided by the Institute will prepare students for Doctoral study. We increasingly find that undergraduate degrees alone are insufficient to commandsecure appropriate employment. Postgraduate taught degrees are used to top-up learning and employability skills, and enhance knowledge and information. Some employers are less interested in the topic of the postgraduate degree and more in the advanced study skills and employability skills it furnishes. 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 and written
Working under time constraints and to deadlines
Presentation skills

Occasionally, the knowledge content and study and employability skills garnered in a postgraduate degree lend themselves to specific careers. Possible careers facilitated by the MA in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice include:
Work in the third sector, charities and civil society
Work in the fields of conflict transformation, peace and reconciliation, and conflict resolution
Social and community work, dispute resolution and counselling
Policing
Community development in divided communities and conflict zones
Work in international aid agencies and non-governmental organisations in the fields of peace and development, human rights, religion and conflict, victims, trauma, refugees, emergency relief and the like

In addition to traditional students who are looking for a postgraduate degree to either top up skills or as a route into a specific career, postgraduate degrees are increasingly used by professionals and practitioners looking for continuing professional development in their field. The MA in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice acts as useful continuing professional development for the following careers:
Policing
Teaching
Social and community work
Clergy and religious ministry
The victims sector
Counselling

Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes alongside sterling integration with business experts helps our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.

Further enquiries

Dr Neil Jarman
Adviser of Studies
Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation and Social Justice
Tel: 028 9097 3609
Email: ctsj@qub.ac.uk
WWW: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/isctsj

Subjects taught

Course Details

Students will study and critically examine the key conceptual, moral, legal, political and cultural issues that relate to conflict, conflict transformation and social justice. This will relate to the fields of political science, law, sociology, history, anthropology, English, drama and psychology.

Students are required to complete three compulsory taught modules as well as teh triple weighted dissertation (60 CATS):
Global Concepts and Practices of Conflict Transformation and Social Justice (20 CATS);
Conducting Research in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice (20 CATS);
Making Knowledge Work (20 CATS)

In addition to the compulsory modules, students take 60 CATS points of optional modules from existing programmes delivered by the following Schools: Social Sciences, Education and Social Work; History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics; Arts, English and Language; Law and Management.

A student cannot take more than 40 credits in any School. Where a student wishes to take more than 40 credits in a particular School, it is recommended that they apply for the Masters programme in that School.

The taught modules are delivered during two 12 week semesters.

Assessment method

Examination and continuous assessment. The Programme will also be complemented by a non-assessed Personal Development Programme (PDP) which will enhance graduate study.

Application date

Postgraduate Taught

In general, there are no closing dates for the majority of courses (those with closing dates will be highlighted in the Course Finder). However we advise you to apply as early as possible, particularly for those courses where there is a high demand for places. Early application is also important for international applicants to allow sufficient time to obtain a student entry visa.

Postgraduate Research

There is no standard closing date. You should however check both the Universitys website and refer to the relevant School/Institute webpage for information on deadline dates for postgraduate funding applications, as these will also determine when your application for admission should be submitted.