This programme was launched in 2002. The deadlines for application is April 15th (Nordic applicants),March 1st (international self-financing applicants). For application under the Quota Programme, the deadline is December 1st.

The programme has an international recruitment of students, with a mixture of students from Nordic and non-Nordic countries. All literature, teaching and student work will be in English. Admission is limited.



Aims of the Programme

The MPCT programme has a duration of two years. During the programme the student shall acquire the ability to analyse, and improve their capacity to handle and propose solutions to complicated conflict formations at different levels of society. The programme takes an interdisciplinary approach covering a variety of mandatory courses in social science perspectives on conflict and peace which the student can combine with elective courses/ specialisations such as Peace and (politics of) Identity, Peace and Globalisation, Peace and Health, Peace and Gender, Peace and the UN, Peace Education, Nonviolence, and Human Rights, in addition to courses in research methods. During the first year teaching will be intensive, with an emphasis on course work, group work, papers and oral presentations, and discussions.

The overall theme of this Master's degree programme is the problem of violence and violence reduction. The programme at Tromsø has been designed to provide the student with knowledge and training in reflection on causes and consequences of violence, of problems, circumstances and relations which may increase the possibility of violence, and exploring possibilities of violence reduction under varying circumstances. Although this gives an explicit value-direction to the course of study, the scientific requirements of explicitness about assumptions and methodology, intersubjective verification of finds and validity of conclusions are the same as in other human and social sciences.


Methods of Teaching

The teaching and learning methods will as far as possible be problem based: Taking topics and problems of current interest as our starting point, teaching will be organised as a recurrent cycle of discussion, study, instruction, research and academic production, guided by university academic staff. The academic environment should strongly support students' presentation of their thoughts, arguments and academic products. Theoretical work should develop as a response to their involvement and interest in problems facing humanity today. Thus, the ability to ask pertinent and essential questions and a versatile, problem-solving capacity will be of great importance. Academic advising is an important part of our Master's degree programme, and all students will be appointed an academic adviser in the course of the first year of study. Supervision is to be given both through seminars and individual supervision.


Curriculum

· Integrated peace and conflict studies (introductory and advanced courses).

· Political, historical, economic and legal perspectives on conflicts, war and peace

· Conflict, violence and peace. Perspectives on culture, ethnic relations, socialisation, communication, religion and pedagogy.

· Methodology, research methods and ethics in peace studies

· Specialisation course. The student chooses among a variety of courses offered from research groups in social sciences, social medicine, law and humanistics.

· Master's thesis/ equivalent Master's work

The student chooses a specialisation in line with his or her Master's thesis. The Master's thesis should be independent empirical work, and may be based on a field work.



Admission Requirements and Procedures

The programme is directed at students trained in social sciences or humanities, law or health sciences. Applicants must document at least three years of studies at university level beyond the basic entrance requirement, equivalent to a Bachelor degree or similar. Preference will be given to applicants who can document academic work, experience and interest in topics related to peace and conflict transformation. Applicants must therefore enclose a statement of purpose or personal essay of approximately 2 pages describing their interest and/or experience in this field. The programme will be taught in English and applicants must be able to document adequate proficiency in English. Please find more information about general admission requirements here (Nordic applicants). Information in English is available here

Application deadlines: The application deadline for 2006-2008 for Quota applications is December 1st, 2005, for self financing international applicants March 1st, for Norwegian applicants/applicants meeting the requirements regarding Norwegian profiency, April 15th 2006.

Read here for information concerning scholarships under the Quota Program

The MPCT-programme starts mid-August 2006. The academic year is divided into two semesters, the autumn semester lasting from August till December and the spring semester lasting from January till June.



Application Process

Application information and materials may be obtained from the University of Tromsø, International Student Office, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway Karin Hafstad.

For information about the Quota Programme and application procedures for the Master's degree programme, please contact the Foreign Student Adviser: e-mail: international@adm.uit.no, tel. +47 776 44 968, telefax +47 776 44 900. You will also find information about the University of Tromsø.

Nordic students and students staying in Norway please contact "Opptakskontoret i Studieavdelinga" for application materials.

Alumni

You find information on some of the graduates from the MPCT programme here.

Further Information

You can address questions about the programme directly to Senior Executive Officer Hildegunn Bruland: hbruland@sv.uit.no


Center for Peace Studies,
University of Tromsø, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
Tel: [+47] 776 44 274| Fax: [+47] 776 44 905
E-mail mail@peace.uit.no