Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research

Master's Programme in Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research, which is organized jointly by Åbo Akademi University in Vasa and the University of Tampere, provides interdisciplinary approaches to research on the complex issues of peace and conflict in the contemporary world.

These approaches aim to facilitate the understanding of the deep roots of wars and conflicts as well as their short and long term consequences. This Master's Programme also studies the preconditions for conflict resolution and peace in local as well as in international and global contexts.

In this Master's Programme peace and conflicts are understood as processes, thus the programme helps to analyze not only the evolution of the conflicts, but also peace building, mediation and negotiation. A variety of approaches, procedures, tools and methods are analyzed in practical context within the Master's Programme in Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research.

The programme aims to prepare students for postgraduate studies, independent research work, as well as for professional activity of various types in the society, ranging from interpersonal to international conflict situations.

• Programme period: autumn semester 2015 (late August) - spring semester 2017 (May)
• Duration: two academic years
• Coordinating unit at the University of Tampere: Tampere Peace Research Institute (TAPRI) in cooperation with the School of Management and the School of Social Sciences and Humanities
• Extent: 120 credits/ECTS credits
• Specialization: Administrative Science, History, International relations, Peace and Conflict Research, Psychology or Social Anthropology

Master’s Degree Programme in Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research provides interdisciplinary approaches to research on the complex issues of peace and conflict in the contemporary world. These approaches aim to facilitate the understanding of the deep roots of wars and conflicts as well as their short and long term consequences.

This Master's Programme also studies the preconditions for conflict resolution and peace in local as well as in international and global contexts. After the first year of study in the programme, students will choose their spezialisation field from the following: Peace and Conflict Research, History, Psychology, Social Anthropology, International Relations or Administrative Science.

Students who select Peace and Conflict Research, History, Psychology, Social Anthropology or International Relations as their specialization field will graduate with the degree of Master of Social Sciences, students specializing in Administrative Science will graduate with the degree of Master of Administrative Sciences. The programme cooperates with the Master’s programme at Åbo Akademi University in Vasa which concentrates on Developmental Psychology issues in the field of peace, mediation and conflict research.

Number of study places

• A maximum of 15 students are admitted to the programme in the University of Tampere. The number includes the applicants from within the University of Tampere.

Eligibility- A successfully completed BA degree (or equivalent) in an area appropriate for the content of the Master's Degree Programme- Fluency in English sufficiently advanced for academic studies. For requirements, please see "Language requirements" below. In addition, previous studies, relevant work experience as well as other merits and qualifications will be taken into account. Mastering of second foreign language is a merit.The Bachelor's degree or equivalent must be completed by the time the programme begins. If the degree is not completed by the end of the application period, an applicant can be accepted to the programme on the condition that s/he sends the degree certificate to the School office by the end of July. A successful applicant will, in this case, first receive a notification on conditional acceptance and later an official letter of acceptance once the degree certificate has reached the School office. Applicants with a Master’s degree will be admitted to the programme only for well-founded reasons.Language requirementsApplicants must submit evidence of good command of English for academic purposes. We accept the following language tests:- TOEFL, Test of English as a Foreign Language; 90/Internet-based, 575/paper-based- IELTS (Academic), International English Language Testing System; 6.5 with no individual score below 5.5- PTE (Academic) 62Other acceptable ways of indicating English language proficiency:- A Bachelor's degree in English in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States, excluding MBA degrees and online degrees, with the applicant having stayed in the respective country when studying for the Bachelor's degree.- Secondary education in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States.Admission procedureStudent selection is made on the basis of application documents; there is no entrance exam.Students are selected to the programme from those applicants who fulfil the official admission criteria. The following selection criteria are taken into account in the selection process:- motivation to study specifically in this programme; demonstrated interest in and commitment to peace, mediation and conflict research (evidenced in the motivation letter and CV)- relevance of, and performance in, the applicant’s previous studies- English skills- relevant work experience as well as other merits and qualificationsAnnouncement of results and rectification procedureAdmissions results will be announced by 30 April, 2015. All applicants will be informed about the admissions results by mail or e-mail. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 575 TOEFL iBT® test: 90