COURSE CURRICULUM

The M.Phil. in International Peace Studies at Trinity College Dublin is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time postgraduate program structured around taught modules and an independent research dissertation. Teaching is delivered over two terms, from September to December and January to April, after which students complete a dissertation of 15,000–20,000 words on an approved topic under academic supervision. The program has two core modules: The Politics of Peace and Conflict and Research Methods, which provide foundational knowledge and analytical tools for studying peace and conflict issues. In addition, students select four elective modules from a wide range of options to meet credit requirements. These electives typically include topics such as armed conflict and peacebuilding, the United Nations and conflict resolution, human rights in theory and practice, gender and peace, forced displacement, religion and conflict, and NGOs in theory and practice, including internship-based learning. Students may also take up to two modules from the related M.Phil. in Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies, allowing for broader interdisciplinary engagement. Those who complete the taught modules but do not submit a dissertation may receive a Postgraduate Diploma. Overall, the program combines theoretical, methodological, and applied learning to develop a deep understanding of peacebuilding and conflict resolution in global contexts.