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Violence, Conflict and Development – (M.Sc.)
School of Oriental and African Studies
Faculty of Law and Social Sciences
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- University Website
- City government site
- Student experiences about the UK - STeXX.eu
| Application Deadline: | June 30 | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 6,885 - ≈ € 15,788 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | London / United Kingdom / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 12 months | Start Date: | September |
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| Languages: | English | ||
Location of School of Oriental and African Studies
The Violence, Conflict and Development programme attracts applicants with a variety of academic and working backgrounds. We welcome those who have worked in the field of development and/or conflict, but we also welcome applications from students without relevant work experience who can demonstrate a strong interest in the major themes of the programme and a strong first degree, preferably in a social science.
The degree has been developed to meet the needs of people working, or hoping to work, in international agencies, humanitarian organisations, and NGOs.
As the pioneering programme of its kind internationally, this MSc programme develops detailed empirical knowledge and analytical skills for understanding the complex linkages between violent conflict and development, both historically and today. It enables students to explore these linkages both within specific country and regional contexts and in the context of global interdependencies and the ways these affect peace, war, and non-war violence.
The programme introduces students to competing analytical approaches. It is multi-disciplinary though shaped by a particular interest in political economy. It encourages deep case study knowledge. And it offers students the ability to tailor their choice of optional courses and dissertation research to their own interests.
The MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development draws on the exceptional expertise at SOAS in different disciplinary understanding of development challenges and processes as well as the strong commitment among all teaching staff to area expertise. Staff teaching on this programme are research active and have a range of links to international organisations.
The programme is of interest for development practitioners, activists, and students with a scholarly interest in the patterns of violence internationally, in how violence affects development, and in how the uneven processes of development themselves may both generate violence and generate mechanisms for containing violence.
Highlights include:
- Exploration of the long history of theories of human violence
- Relationships between violence and long-run historical change
- The concept of a continuum of violence
- The relevance of historical and more recent evidence that the process of structural change involved in ‘development’ is inherently conflictual and often violent
- To what extent democratisation is a mechanism for securing perpetual peace
- The challenges of understanding gender based violence
- Whether abundant natural resources, or high levels of inequality, or clear markers of religious or ethnic difference are clear sources of violent conflict
- How highly localised violent conflicts are connected to processes of global economic development
- The challenges of post-conflict reconstruction and ‘war to peace transitions’
- The role of NGOs in causes of, dynamics of, and responses to conflict
- Explaining the prevalence of high levels of non-war violence
- Explanations of the political economy of – and alternative perspectives on – terrorism
Contents
There are four main components to this degree: three taught courses and a 10,000 word dissertation. All students take a core course, Political Economy of Violence, Conflict and Development. They then select one of three ‘development’ courses: Political Economy of Development; Theory, Policy and Practice of Development; or Anthropology of Development. Through these courses, students build their analytical skills and their knowledge of the main issues and debates in Development Studies. A distinctive feature of the core course is that students put together a group case study presentation.
Specialisation
Students also take optional courses (one full unit course or two half-unit courses). By tying these to their individual dissertation topic, students design their degree to suit their own interests and career development goals.
Core Courses
All students take Violence, Conflict and Development. Then select either Political Economy of Development or Theory, Policy and Practice of Development or Anthropology of Development. The dissertation is compulsory.
- Political economy of violence, conflict and development - 15PDSC003 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Political economy of development - 15PDSC002 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Theory, policy and practice of development - 15PDSC001 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Anthropology of Development - 15PANC090 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Dissertation in Development Studies - 15PDSC999 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Optional Courses - Development Studies
Students may choose optional courses (one full course or two half courses) from the list below. Please check to ensure that any course in which you have a special interest is running in the year that you wish to study. In addition, access to relevant courses in other departments may be negotiated subject to the agreement of both Convenors.
- Agrarian change and development - 15PDSH026 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Aid and development - 15PDSH027 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Borders and development in the age of globalisation - 15PDSH023 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Civil society, social movements and the development process - 15PDSH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Development practice - 15PDSH013 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- East Asia and globalisation - 15PDSH025 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Famine and food security - 15PDSH022 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Fundamentals of research methods for Development Studies - 15PDSH017 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Gender and development - 15PDSH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- HIV and AIDS, culture and development - 15PDSH021 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Industrial globalisation and development - 15PDSH024 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Issues in forced migration - 15PDSH015 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Migration and mobility in the Middle East and North Africa (masters) - 15PDSH028 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Migration and policy: perspectives from the global South - 15PDSH029 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Political and economic development of Latin America - 15PDSH016 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Problems of development in the Middle East and North Africa - 15PDSH019 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Security - 15PDSH020 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- The politics of natural resources management - 15PDSH031 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- The working poor and development - 15PDSH030 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Understanding economic migration - 15PDSH032 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- War to peace transitions - 15PDSH018 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
Open Options in Other Departments
Economics Department
- Economic development in Africa - 15PECC203 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Economic dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region - 15PECC334 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Economic problems and policies in modern China - 15PECC035 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Economic development of modern Taiwan - 15PECH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Politics and International Studies Department
- Government and politics in Africa - 15PPOC205 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Government and politics of modern South Asia - 15PPOC003 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Government And Politics Of Taiwan - 15PPOH005 ( Unit) - Not Running 2010/11
- State and development in Asia and Africa - 15PPOC017 (1 Unit) - Full Year
School of Law
- Alternative dispute resolution - 15PLAC104 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Human rights in the developing world - 15PLAC111 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- International protection of human rights - 15PLAC119 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Justice, reconciliation and reconstruction in post conflict societies - 15PLAC123 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Law & governance in the developing world - 15PLAC125 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Anthropology and Sociology Department
- Food, Body and Society - 15PANH041 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Cannot be taken with 15PANH042 Food, Development And The Global Economy
- Food, Development and the Global Economy - 15PANH042 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Cannot be taken with 15PANH041 Food, Body And Society
- Therapy and Culture - 15PANH027 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
History Department
- History of Environment and Globalisation in Asia and Africa - 15PHIH023 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test if you come from a non-English speaking country.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
More informationRequirements
Applicants should have a first or good second class honours bachelors degree from a UK university, or equivalent, in a subject appropriate to that of the programme to be followed. As an approximate comparison, an equivalent BA from a US university would have a Grade Point Average of either 3.3 or 3.5 depending on the awarding university. If an applicant does not have a bachelors degree in an appropriate field s/he may be required to complete a qualifying year or a one year diploma before entering the masters programme. Relevant work experience may also be taken into consideration. Individual courses may have specific entry requirements, so you are advised to consult the postgraduate prospectus for further information.
English language requirements
In order to ensure that SOAS students have a sufficient standard of English to study effectively, we require overseas students to submit evidence, during the application process, of their current level of proficiency.
Score for Unconditional Entry
- IELTS: Overall 7+ with at least 7 in all sub scores
- TOEFL: iBT105+ with at least 25 in all sub scores
- Pearson Test of English - Academic: Score of 75 or above with at least 70 in all sub scores
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Bachelor's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 7.0 |
| TOEFL Internet-based: | 105 |
Funding details
Scholarships and BursariesThere are some scholarships and bursaries available for postgraduate students. These are very competitive and early application is advised.
Loans
Another way to fund your studies is through educational loans. Some high street banks offer loans for education. The other option is a career development loan. Before taking out a loan ensure that you understand what the repayments will be and that you will be able to afford them.
Professional and Career Development LoansA Professional and Career Development Loan is a bank loan for UK students designed to help you pay for your course. Repayments start one month after you complete your course. You can borrow between £300 and £8,000. The bank will approve your loan according to your credit rating.
US Federal LoansEligible US students can apply for Stafford Federal Loans, Federal Plus and private loans to cover their tuition and maintenance costs.
The Registry Fees and Scholarship section can also certify student registration for other loans, such as Canadian educational loans.
Please contact:
- Registry Fees Section if you have any queries on educational loans or fees for degree courses.
- Noel Connaughton for fees information for occasional courses, certificates and diplomas.
- CEFIMS for fees information for distance learning courses.
Other Sources of Funding
Useful funding information can also be found at:
- Hotcourses Scholarship Search
- HERO funding information for research students
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