Tackle global peace and conflict issues. MSc Conflict, Security and Development will prepare you to support and create peaceful governance in conflict areas by engaging with critical debates on accountability, human rights, and democratisation.
I completed my undergraduate degree in Political Science, but I had always been eager to transition into the field of development. Being offered a scholarship to study Development Policy and Politics therefore felt like a natural next step. The programme builds on my academic foundation while exposing me to practical and policy-oriented dimensions of development. As a youth advocate for gender equality and women’s rights, I was particularly drawn to exploring the gender dynamics within development practice.
Gain practical and academic expertise for impactful careers in international development, government, or NGOs. You'll benefit from international fieldwork, flexible modules, and strong academic support, equipping you to lead in conflict analysis, good governance, and international risk management.
This course will run over 12 months in a full-time-mode. There is also scope to undertake the programme on a part-time basis for Home students. You will study three core modules, complemented by three to four optional modules, as well as a mandatory dissertation.
Begin the first semester with a 20-credit core module exploring key development theories, focusing on the economic, social, and political aspects of international development. Apply these theories to contemporary case studies, developing a critical understanding of development practices. Complement this with a combination of optional modules from the International Development, Politics, and International Relations areas. Assessments will include coursework, written exams, and case studies.
In the second semester, you’ll explore the relationship between conflict and development, analysing conflict dynamics and development interventions through case studies. You’ll also examine post-conflict reconstruction, focusing on peacebuilding and state recovery strategies. These modules equip you with critical frameworks and insights to assess conflict scenarios and post-war recovery in developing regions. You'll complete your credits with optional modules in International Development, Politics, or International Relations, assessed through coursework, exams, and case studies.
During this term, you will be completing assignments and focusing on your 60-credit dissertation, which may be undertaken with individual fieldwork.
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To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
English language requirements If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.
For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:
If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.