Conflict Transformation and Social Justice

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 masterclass 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, eg 'shared space'; 'divided cities'
• Opportunities to conduct new empirical research in the field
• Opportunities to complete assignments with direct policy relevance

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. The modules on offer will be streamed and students will have an opportunity to choose a stream in which they would wish to specialise. Students will take modules from one of the following:

Stream 1: Conflict Transformation

Stream 2: Asserting Social Justice, Inclusion and Rights

Stream 3: Religion, Society, Peace-building and Conflict

Students are required to complete three compulsory taught modules:

• Global Concepts and Practices of Conflict Transformation and Social Justice (20 CATS);
• Conducting Research in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice (20);
• Making Knowledge Work (20); as well as the triple-weighted dissertation (60).

In addition to the compulsory modules, students take 60 CATS points of optional modules from existing programmes delivered by the following Schools: English; Creative Arts; Law; Politics, International Studies and Philosophy; History and Anthropology; Psychology; and Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work. Within each stream students must take modules from at least two Schools.

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.

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.

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 click 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

There are a number of Research Awards available for international applicants who wish to undertake full-time research at Queen's. Details can be found below however please be aware that closing dates apply.

Please check eligibility criteria for each award and note specific residency and citizenship criteria may apply. If you are successful for funding, awards may cover your tuition fees and make a contribution towards your maintenance.

University Studentships

University Studentships are available for application by all postgraduate research students from the UK, EU, ROI, Overseas. The award will cover the payment of tuition fees and a maintenance allowance of £13,590 per annum (for 20011-12). Click on the title link above for further information.
Please be aware that Univeristy studentship allocation will not be announced until the end of January 2012

Research Funding Available for UK and EU Applicants
There are a number of Research Awards available for applicants from the UK or EU countries* who wish to undertake full-time research at Queen's. *Please check eligibility criteria for each award by clicking on the links below. If you are successful for funding, awards may cover your tuition fees and make a contribution towards your maintenance. For DEL and AHRC studentships please note that specific residency and citizenship criteria apply.

Depending on eligibility EU applicantsfor DEL and AHRC may be eligible for a Fees Only award (which covers tuition fees only) or a Full award which covers tuition fees and maintenance. A Fees Only DEL or AHRC Award may be available for those applicants who do not satisfy the criteria

Research Funding

The DEL and University Studentships rates have still to be confirmed for 2012-13 entry. For 2011/12 the maintnenace payment was £13,590 per annum (pa).

DEL Research Studentships

DEL Research Studentships are available for full-time PhD Study.

UK residents*: may be eligible for a Full award which covers tuition fees and maintenance.
EU residents*: may be eligible for a Fees only award which only covers tuition fees (there is no maintenance)
*NB there are also citizenship / nationality criteria applicable.

DEL CAST Studentships

DEL CAST awards are for specific research projects in collaboration with an industrial sponsor in the following Schools - School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences , School of Pharmacy , School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering , School of Planning, Architectures and Civil Engineering , School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science , School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and the School of Mathematics and Physics .

These studentships cover fees, maintenance allowance and may also include a contribution from an industrial collaborating body.

UK residents*: may be eligible for a Full award which covers tuition fees and maintenance.

EU residents*: may be eligible for a Fees only award which only covers tuition fees (there is no maintenance)*NB there are also citizenship / nationality criteria applicable.

University Studentships

University Studentships are available for application by all postgraduate research students whether home, EU or International.

This Studentship will cover the payment of full tuition fees and a maintenance allowance of £13,590 pa (2011-12 rate). Please click on the title link above for further guidelines.

Limited University Studentships for 2012-13 are now available. Please contact the appropriate School for further information.

2012-13 AHRC Competition now open

Students who want to apply for postgraduate research (PhD) or taught study (Masters) in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences may apply via Queen's for AHRC funding. For details of the application process, including f urther details re areas, eligibility criteria etc please click on the link AHRC Studentships

Depending on eligibility EU applicants for AHRC may be eligible for a Fees Only award (which covers tuition fees only) or a Full award which covers tuition fees and maintenance. A Fees Only AHRC award may be available for those applicants who do not satisfy the criteria concerning three years residency in the UK.

Arts and Humanities Research Council Awards (AHRC) Other Scholarships Available - Sir Robert Hart, Musgrave, Larmor University, O'Reilly Studentships, Entente Cordiale Scolarships, DARD Awards and Travel Scholarships.
Other places to look for funding - directories and guides listing sources of funding includes: EGSA, Leverhulme, J Rowntree Foundation etc.

School Funding Opportunities at Queen's
Some Schools in Queen's may have studentships / bursaries available outside the centrally allocated awards. Applicants should ensure that they check the School websites for details of available School funding.

North-South Postgraduate Scholarships 2011-12
The scholarships are being offered by Universities Ireland, which promotes collaboration between universities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and the Joint Business Council of the Confederation of British Industry (NI) and the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, which promotes North-South business cooperation. For 2011-12 entry there will be four - six scholarships available.

These scholarships worth 15,000 (approx. Stg £12,500) each are available to students undertaking a recognised Master's or the first year of a PhD programme (taught or research) in the other Irish jurisdiction. Dublin Institute of Technology is also a partner in this scheme.

Two - four of the scholarships will be in areas of study of particular relevance to business and industry, and will be co-sponsored by Universities Ireland and two - four individual companies in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. Two scholarships will be in another area (particularly humanities and social sciences) and will be funded by Universities Ireland alone. These scholarships must be taken up for the academic year 2012-2013.

These scholarships are open to all students (regardless of their nationality or birthplace) currently registered at an Irish or Northern Irish University or Dublin Institute of Technology (or those who have graduated from such an institution within the past five years).

The scheme is also open to Irish or Northern Irish-born students currently registered at (or who have graduated, within the past five years from) a British University (ie a University in England, Scotland or Wales) who wish to relocate to the Irish jurisdiction they were not born in to undertake a Master's, or the first year of a PhD programme

The closing date for applications is Friday 25th May 2012 (5pm).