Master of Peace Studies & International Relations

Peace and Conflict Theory

Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

Peace and conflict theory, Galtung's conflict triangle, structural and cultural violence, positive and negative peace, conflict types, conflict causes, conflict dynamics, Africa's conflicts, Kenya's conflicts, and applying peace and conflict theory

International Relations Theory

Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

IR theory, realism, liberalism, constructivism, critical theory, postcolonial IR, international system, power, anarchy, cooperation, Africa in IR, Kenya's IR, and applying IR theory

Conflict Analysis, Resolution and Peacebuilding

Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

Conflict analysis, conflict resolution, mediation, negotiation, facilitation, peacebuilding, post-conflict reconstruction, DDR, transitional justice, Kenya's peacebuilding (NCIC, county peace committees), and applying conflict resolution and peacebuilding

Diplomacy and Foreign Policy

Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

Diplomacy, diplomatic practice, foreign policy analysis, Kenya's foreign policy, non-alignment, bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, economic diplomacy, Kenya's relations (China, US, EU, neighbours), and applying diplomacy and foreign policy

International Security and Terrorism

Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

International security, human security, national security, terrorism, Al-Shabaab, radicalisation, violent extremism, counter-terrorism, AMISOM/ATMIS, WMD, cybersecurity, Kenya's security challenges, and applying security analysis

International Organisations and Regional Integration

Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

International organisations, UN system, AU, IGAD, EAC, COMESA, regional integration, EAC integration, peace and security architecture, Kenya's role in regional organisations, and applying international organisations analysis

Humanitarian Assistance and Refugee Studies

Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

Humanitarian assistance, refugee studies, UNHCR, Kakuma and Dadaab camps, internally displaced persons, humanitarian principles, humanitarian-development nexus, Kenya's humanitarian challenges, and applying humanitarian analysis

Gender, Conflict and Peacebuilding

Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

Gender and conflict, UNSCR 1325 (Women, Peace and Security), sexual violence in conflict, women in peacebuilding, gender-sensitive peace processes, Kenya's gender and conflict, and applying gender and conflict analysis

Research Methods, Ethics and Scientific Communication

Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore

Research methods, research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, research ethics, peace research ethics, NACOSTI research permits, scientific writing, policy brief writing, grant writing, and preparing for the thesis

Thesis

Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore

Original research on a peace studies and IR topic such as role of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission in preventing electoral violence in Kenya — lessons from the 2017 elections, Kenya's mediation in the South Sudan conflict — challenges and outcomes of the IGAD-led peace process, impact of Al-Shabaab terrorism on Kenya's national security and foreign policy — 2011-2023, or effectiveness of humanitarian assistance in Kenya's refugee camps — a case study of Kakuma and Dadaab

Conflict Analysis and Peacebuilding

Focus on conflict analysis, conflict resolution, mediation, peacebuilding, post-conflict reconstruction, transitional justice, Kenya's peacebuilding (NCIC), and developing peacebuilding programmes

Diplomacy and Foreign Policy

Specialisation in diplomacy, foreign policy, Kenya's foreign policy, bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, economic diplomacy, and developing diplomatic expertise

Humanitarian Assistance and Refugee Studies

Specialisation in humanitarian assistance, refugee studies, UNHCR, Kakuma/Dadaab, IDPs, humanitarian-development nexus, Kenya's humanitarian challenges, and developing humanitarian programmes

Regional Integration and African Diplomacy

Focus on regional integration, EAC, IGAD, AU, COMESA, African diplomacy, Kenya's regional role, and developing regional integration programmes

International Security and Counter-Terrorism

Focus on international security, terrorism, Al-Shabaab, radicalisation, counter-terrorism, AMISOM, Kenya's security, and developing security analysis programmes

HELB Postgraduate Loan

Loan

Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited postgraduate programmes

National Research Fund

Grant

Postgraduate researchers in Kenyan institutions

DAAD Scholarship

Scholarship

Postgraduate researchers in STEM fields

DAAD Peace Studies Scholarship

FullKsh 4,000,000Kenyan

Kenyan; Academic excellence; Peace studies/IR programme

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

FullKsh 8,000,000Kenyan

Kenyan; Academic excellence; Financial need; Leadership

AU Peace Research Grant

GrantKsh 1,000,000

African; Peace and security research; Academic merit; Research proposal

HELB Postgraduate Loan

LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

Kenyan citizens pursuing postgraduate studies.

Open Society Foundations Grant

GrantKsh 2,000,000

International; Peace and governance research; Academic merit; Research proposal

Thesis

Research30% of the mark

Original research on a peace studies and IR topic examined by oral defence

Policy Analysis and Research Projects

Project30% of the mark

Conflict analysis project, peacebuilding programme design, policy brief, IR case study, humanitarian assessment, and seminar presentation

Field Attachment and Seminars

Cat15% of the mark

Ministry of Foreign Affairs/UN/NGO attachment assessment, conflict assessment report, policy report, research seminar presentations, and peace/IR exercise

End of Semester Examinations

Exam25% of the mark

Formal written examinations covering peace and conflict theory, IR theory, conflict analysis/resolution/peacebuilding, diplomacy and foreign policy, international security and terrorism, international organisations and regional integration, humanitarian assistance and refugee studies, gender conflict and peacebuilding, and research methods

National Cohesion and Integration Commission

Professional

Promotes national cohesion and manages ethnic conflict in Kenya.

Commission for University Education

Academic accreditationRequired

Mandatory accreditation for university programmes in Kenya.

Policy Analyst

Medium demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 380,000

Analyses peace and security policy, evaluates programmes, develops policy briefs, and works at think tanks, government, NGOs, or international organisations in Kenya

Peacebuilding Officer

Medium demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000

Designs and manages peacebuilding programmes, supports conflict prevention, engages communities, and works at NGOs, UN agencies, or international organisations in Kenya

Humanitarian Programme Manager

Medium demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 420,000

Manages humanitarian programmes, oversees refugee assistance, supports emergency response, and works at UN agencies, NGOs, or international organisations in Kenya

Diplomatic Service Officer

Low demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 420,000

Represents Kenya abroad, manages bilateral relations, supports foreign policy, and works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Kenyan embassies

International Relations Researcher

Low demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000

Conducts IR and peace research, analyses regional dynamics, produces evidence, and works at research institutions, universities, or think tanks in Kenya