Social Sciences

Masters of Arts in Peace and Conflict Management Studies

The Masters of Arts in Peace and Conflict Management Studies is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in peace studies, conflict resolution, conflict management, and peacebuilding. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, humanitarian work, and international development.

Core areas include peace studies, conflict analysis, conflict resolution, mediation, negotiation, peacebuilding, transitional justice, human rights, humanitarian assistance, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical peace and conflict management applications.

The programme is offered by Multimedia University of Kenya, Kirinyaga University, and Kaimosi Friends University, with Kenyatta University as a college. KU offers MA Peace and Conflict Management through its School of Humanities and Social Sciences with full-time and part-time modes at City Centre and Nyeri campuses.

Students develop competencies in conflict analysis, mediation, negotiation, peacebuilding, transitional justice, and research. The programme includes coursework, field placements, simulations, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years (4 semesters). KU postgraduate humanities fees are estimated at KES 130,000/year. MMU postgraduate fees are estimated at KES 120,000/year. Entry requires Bachelor's degree in relevant field with Upper Second or Lower with 2 years experience.

Graduates pursue careers as peacebuilding officers, conflict resolution specialists, humanitarian workers, mediation officers, and researchers in government, NGOs, UN agencies, and international organisations.

Skills Required

Conflict Analysis and Mapping
Mediation and Negotiation
Peacebuilding and Reconciliation
Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Recovery
Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law
Humanitarian Assistance and Crisis Response
Dialogue Facilitation and Conflict Transformation
Early Warning and Conflict Prevention
Gender, Peace and Security
Peace and Conflict Research Methods

Key Subjects

Peace Studies
Conflict Analysis
Conflict Resolution
Mediation and Negotiation
Peacebuilding
Transitional Justice
Human Rights
Humanitarian Assistance
Gender, Peace and Security
Peace and Conflict Research Methods

Certifications

UN Peacebuilding Certification
USIP Peacebuilding Certification

Specializations

Conflict Resolution

Focuses on conflict resolution, mediation, negotiation, arbitration, dialogue, restorative justice, and resolving conflicts through peaceful means.

Peacebuilding

Examines peacebuilding, post-conflict reconstruction, reconciliation, statebuilding, DDR, and building sustainable peace after conflict.

Transitional Justice

Covers transitional justice, truth commissions, prosecutions, reparations, amnesty, DDR, and addressing past atrocities and human rights violations.

Humanitarian Assistance

Focuses on humanitarian assistance, crisis response, IDPs, refugees, humanitarian law, coordination, and providing assistance in conflict and crisis.

Mediation and Negotiation

Examines mediation, negotiation, facilitation, track I and track II diplomacy, peace processes, and mediating and negotiating peace.

Conflict Prevention

Covers conflict prevention, early warning, risk assessment, prevention strategies, peace education, and preventing conflicts from escalating.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 216,000
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Peace Studies
Conflict Analysis
Conflict Resolution
Mediation and Negotiation
Peacebuilding
Transitional Justice
Human Rights
Humanitarian Assistance
Gender, Peace and Security
Peace and Conflict Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Peace Theory and Conflict Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines peace theory, positive and negative peace, structural violence, Galtung, conflict theory, conflict types, causes, dynamics, actors, conflict mapping, and understanding peace and conflict.
Conflict Resolution and Transformation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers conflict resolution, mediation, negotiation, arbitration, dialogue, restorative justice, conflict transformation, and resolving conflicts through peaceful means.
Mediation and Negotiation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines mediation, facilitation, track I and track II diplomacy, peace processes, peace agreements, negotiation theory, and mediating and negotiating peace.
Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict Reconstruction
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers peacebuilding, post-conflict reconstruction, reconciliation, statebuilding, DDR, peace dividends, and building sustainable peace after conflict.
Transitional Justice and Human Rights
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines transitional justice, truth commissions, prosecutions, reparations, amnesty, DDR, human rights, IHL, and addressing past atrocities and human rights violations.
Humanitarian Assistance and Crisis Response
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers humanitarian assistance, crisis response, IDPs, refugees, humanitarian law, coordination, humanitarian principles, and providing assistance in conflict and crisis.
Gender, Peace and Security
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines UNSCR 1325, women peace and security, gender-based violence in conflict, women in peacebuilding, and integrating gender in peace and security.
Conflict Prevention and Early Warning
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers conflict prevention, early warning, risk assessment, prevention strategies, peace education, and preventing conflicts from escalating.
African Conflicts and Regional Security
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines African conflicts, regional security, IGAD, ECOWAS, AU, cross-border conflicts, terrorism, and understanding conflicts and security in Africa.
Peace and Conflict Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers peace research methods, conflict analysis, qualitative and quantitative methods, participatory methods, and conducting peace research, preparing students for their thesis.
Governance, Democracy and Peace
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines governance, democracy, elections, devolution, corruption, governance and conflict, and the relationship between governance and sustainable peace.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a peace and conflict management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Conflict Resolution
Focuses on conflict resolution, mediation, negotiation, arbitration, dialogue, restorative justice, and resolving conflicts through peaceful means.
Peacebuilding
Examines peacebuilding, post-conflict reconstruction, reconciliation, statebuilding, DDR, and building sustainable peace after conflict.
Transitional Justice
Covers transitional justice, truth commissions, prosecutions, reparations, amnesty, DDR, and addressing past atrocities and human rights violations.
Humanitarian Assistance
Focuses on humanitarian assistance, crisis response, IDPs, refugees, humanitarian law, coordination, and providing assistance in conflict and crisis.
Mediation and Negotiation
Examines mediation, negotiation, facilitation, track I and track II diplomacy, peace processes, and mediating and negotiating peace.
Conflict Prevention
Covers conflict prevention, early warning, risk assessment, prevention strategies, peace education, and preventing conflicts from escalating.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MA Peace and Conflict Management Studies programme begins with morning lectures on peace studies, conflict analysis, or conflict resolution. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical peace and conflict management applications. Peace studies sessions cover peace theory, positive and negative peace, structural violence, Galtung, peace education, and understanding peace. Conflict analysis sessions examine conflict theory, conflict types, causes, dynamics, actors, conflict mapping, and analysing conflicts. Conflict resolution sessions cover conflict resolution, mediation, negotiation, arbitration, dialogue, restorative justice, and resolving conflicts through peaceful means. Mediation sessions examine mediation, facilitation, track I and track II diplomacy, peace processes, peace agreements, and mediating peace. Peacebuilding sessions cover peacebuilding, post-conflict reconstruction, reconciliation, statebuilding, DDR, and building sustainable peace. Transitional justice sessions examine truth commissions, prosecutions, reparations, amnesty, DDR, and addressing past atrocities. Human rights sessions cover human rights, IHL, Geneva Conventions, humanitarian law, and protecting rights in conflict. Humanitarian assistance sessions examine humanitarian assistance, crisis response, IDPs, refugees, coordination, and providing assistance in conflict. Gender, peace and security sessions cover UNSCR 1325, women peace and security, gender-based violence in conflict, and integrating gender in peace and security. Conflict prevention sessions examine early warning, risk assessment, prevention strategies, peace education, and preventing conflicts from escalating. Simulations provide hands-on experience with mediation, negotiation, crisis scenarios, and peace process simulations. Field placements provide hands-on experience with peace organisations, NGOs, government departments, and community peacebuilding. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering peace research methods, conflict analysis, and data analysis. Guest lectures from university faculty, NCIC officials, UN advisors, AU experts, and international peace scholars provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's ethnic conflicts, electoral violence, terrorism, cross-border conflicts, and regional instability create high demand for qualified peace and conflict professionals.
KU offers MA Peace and Conflict Management with established humanities faculty and multiple campus options.
Career opportunities with government, NCIC, NSC, UN agencies, AU, International Alert, USIP, and international peacebuilding organisations.
Programme addresses Kenya's peacebuilding, conflict resolution, national cohesion, and regional security needs.

Against it

Programme requires humanities, social science, or related background, which may exclude some graduates.
Peacebuilding positions are often project-based with donor funding, affecting job security.
Field placements in conflict areas may pose safety risks.
Category listed as ICT & Computing appears to be a data classification error; the programme is in humanities and social sciences.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public120k to 216k

120k at Multimedia University of Kenya216k at Kenyatta University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU 216K/yr (humanities.ku.ac.ke). MMU ~120K/yr (mmu.ac.ke). Private: unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UN Peacebuilding Fund supports peacebuilding capacity building. USIP supports peacebuilding education. International Alert supports peacebuilding professional development. The programme's peace and conflict focus attracts UN, government, and international peacebuilding funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UN Peacebuilding Fund
USIP Peacebuilding Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate peace and conflict studies at recognised universities.
UN Peacebuilding Fund
GrantKsh 300,000
UN Peacebuilding Fund supports peacebuilding globally, providing funding for postgraduate research in peace and conflict management.
USIP Peacebuilding Funding
FellowshipKsh 400,000
USIP supports peacebuilding education globally, providing fellowships for postgraduate study in peace and conflict management.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts graduates from peace studies, social sciences, political science, sociology, international relations, history, law, public administration, education, and related fields. KU requires Upper Second or Lower with 2 years experience. Two-year programme with full-time and part-time modes.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, conflict analysis, mediation exercises, policy briefs, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering peace theory, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, transitional justice, and humanitarian assistance, conducted at end of each semester.
Simulation and Field Placement Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Assessment of mediation simulations, negotiation exercises, field placements, peacebuilding projects, and practical work.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a peace and conflict management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kenyatta University offers MA Peace and Conflict Management through its School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate peace and conflict management training. NCIC promotes national cohesion in Kenya, and UN Peacebuilding and AU support peace and security internationally.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University offers MA Peace and Conflict Management through its School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate peace and conflict management training.
National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC)
Professional accreditation
NCIC promotes national cohesion and integration in Kenya. Graduates may benefit from NCIC knowledge and networking for peace and conflict management roles.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Peacebuilding Officer
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages peacebuilding programmes, overseeing peace projects, reconciliation, community dialogue, and supporting peacebuilding and conflict management.
Conflict Resolution Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Provides conflict resolution expertise, overseeing mediation, negotiation, dialogue, and supporting conflict resolution and transformation.
Humanitarian Worker
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides humanitarian assistance, overseeing crisis response, IDPs, refugees, and supporting humanitarian assistance in conflict and crisis.
Mediation Officer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Conducts mediation, overseeing mediation processes, dialogue facilitation, peace processes, and supporting mediation and negotiation.
Policy Analyst — Peace and Security
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Analyses peace and security policy, overseeing policy research, analysis, advocacy, and supporting peace and security policy development.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches peace and conflict studies in universities, conducting research and training future peace and conflict professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as peacebuilding officers, conflict resolution specialists, and humanitarian workers in government, NGOs, and UN agencies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for peace research, survey analysis, conflict data, and research data analysis.
NVivo
SoftwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for peace research, interviews, focus groups, conflict analysis, and qualitative data analysis.
ArcGIS
Software
GIS software for conflict mapping, spatial analysis, early warning, and mapping and analysing conflict data.
KoboToolbox
Software
Data collection platform for field research, conflict surveys, peace surveys, and collecting research data in the field.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Peace studies is just about stopping fights.
The programme involves conflict analysis, mediation, peacebuilding, transitional justice, human rights, humanitarian assistance, and research, covering comprehensive peace and conflict management.
This programme is only for those working in conflict zones.
The programme is relevant for anyone working in governance, development, humanitarian, community relations, and international relations, not just conflict zones.
There is limited demand for peace and conflict professionals in Kenya.
Kenya's ethnic conflicts, electoral violence, terrorism, cross-border conflicts, and regional instability create high demand for qualified peace and conflict professionals.
Peace and conflict studies is not a serious academic field.
Peace and conflict studies is a rigorous interdisciplinary field with peer-reviewed journals, scholarly societies, and significant policy influence globally.
Conflict resolution is about imposing solutions.
Conflict resolution is about facilitating dialogue, building consensus, empowering parties, and finding sustainable solutions, not imposing solutions.
A master's in peace and conflict is redundant after a political science degree.
The master's provides specialised conflict analysis skills, mediation expertise, research capability, and career progression to senior peacebuilding and conflict management positions.