MA Conflict Transformation and Social Justice
Belfast, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
14 Aug 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 23,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international fee
Key Summary
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
Student Experience
This programme offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding both conflict transformation and social justice. Students will meet experts from three different schools 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. Students are encouraged to independently seek voluntary placements with local community groups,
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 emphasise 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 the opportunity to attend events with visiting world-leading researchers, diplomats and/or practitioners.
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.
Career Development
Our graduates find employment in NGOS, civil sector organisations, in policy research, law, advocacy, government, peace journalism, and conflict mediation settings.
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.
Our MA can help you gain the skills and knowledge that can lead to meaningful work in 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 policy making, teaching, policing, religious ministry, advocacy, and journalism.
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 policy making, 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 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 from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
Course Structure
Students may enrol on a full-time (9 months) 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.
Core Modules
- Dissertation (60 credits)
- APPROACHES TO RESEARCH DESIGN (20 credits)
Optional Modules
- Inequality and Emotions (10 credits)
- Comparative Human Rights (20 credits)
- A Sociology of Extremism in the Global Age (20 credits)
- Global Migration, Diaspora and Citizenship (20 credits)
- Social Divisions, Conflict and Change in Northern Ireland: New Sociological Research (10 credits)
- Religion, Power and Peacebuilding (20 credits)
- Transitional Justice (20 credits)
- Cultural Policy: International Perspectives (20 credits)
- Social Injustice (20 credits)
- Global Concepts and Practice of Conflict Transformation and Social Justice (20 credits)
- Global Political Economy (20 credits)
- Contemporary Security (20 credits)
- Anthropology of Conflict: Ireland and Beyond (20 credits)
- Conflict Intervention (20 credits)
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.