The academic year in Uppsala University is divided into two terms – autumn term and spring term. The autumn term runs from late August to mid-January. The spring term begins in late January and ends around the first week of June.

The programme runs over two years of full-time studies, and may lead to the award of a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences with a major in Peace and Conflict Studies. However, there is an opportunity to finalize the programme within one year with the One-year Master Degree in Social Sciences with a major in Peace and Conflict Studies.

The Programme provides a coordinated choice of courses, offering the students joint methodological training and scientific skills that match and deepen the knowledge of related subjects such as Political Science and Eurasian Studies. Through its combined range of courses, and the possibility of joint classes, the program offers an opportunity to follow scientific development in adjacent subject areas and to stimulate students to scholarly exchange.

The Programme is composed of core courses, skill courses and elective courses. Core courses are compulsory and are intended to give in-depth knowledge in causes, conduct and resolution of armed conflict within and between states. Skill courses are supposed to provide students with tools for conducting scientific research. Finally, elective courses are designed as specific studies in subjects relevant to the knowledge of social science problems and processes.

The knowledge is acquired through instruction, private study, seminar discussions and also individual oral and written work. Throughout the programme considerable weight is systematically placed on both written and oral interpretations and presentations, for which proficiency in the English language is essential. The progression in the programme is to lead on to a higher degree of intellectual maturity and greater insight into the complexity of the subject. This, together with the ability to integrate knowledge and skills and independently to formulate and solve problems, will be shown in a final degree project. As part of the learning process, students will acquire knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methodology at the advanced level. 
 

Degrees

The Master Programe in Politics and International Studies with Specialisation in Peace and Conflict Studies leads to a one-year master’s degree or a two-year master’s degree.

Specialisation in Peace and Conflict Studies

The two-year master’s degree requires the obtaining of 120 ECTS points with at least 60 ECTS points being in the area of Peace and Conflict Studies including individual work (Master's Thesis) representing 30 ECTS points.

For the one-year master’s degree 60 ECTS points are required, with at least 30 ECTS being in the area of Peace and Conflict Studies, including individual work (Master's Thesis) representing 15 ECTS points.

Names of degrees with Peace and Conflict Studies as major

The one-year master’s degree is named "Filosofie magisterexamen" in Swedish, and "Degree of Master of Social Sciences (One Year)" in English. The two-year master’s degree is called "Filosofie Masterexamen" in Swedish, and "Degree of Master of Social Sciences (Two Years)" in English.