Ten Good Reasons to study Peace Studies

10 good reasons

1. We are the world’s largest university centre for the study of peace and conflict. Peace Studies has a staff and student body of more than 400 people and we have a world-class reputation for peace research. We are also one of the UK’s leading politics departments.

2. The distinctiveness of our undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes. While Peace Studies degrees have the study of politics at their core, they are also interdisciplinary and draw on sociology, history, philosophy, international relations, economics, anthropology, development and psychology. Our teaching and research is centred on the analysis of peace and conflict from the international to the local level and the related issues of security, social justice, human rights and development.

3. Our international reputation Academic staff have a global profile and undertake regular media interviews, as well as advising governments, international organisations and nongovernmental organisations around the world. We also host one of the prestigious Rotary International Centres in Peace and Conflict Resolution, of which there are only five worldwide.

4. Our excellent quality of teaching. We use a wide range of teaching methods to prepare you for work after university. Peace Studies scored 24/24 in the last national subject review of teaching quality. All our leading academics are involved in teaching.

5. Our applied approach. We will engage you critically in practical and policy debates, simulations and group exercises, focusing on developing an understanding of key global problems in the 21st century. We host lectures by leading policymakers from international organisations such as the UN and NGOs such as Oxfam. We also host PeaceJam, an exciting and innovative international peace education programme for schools and youths in the UK. Peace Studies students can train as facilitators for this event.

6. The diversity of both our Undergraduate and our MA programmes and the students who take them. We offer eight Undergraduate Programmes and six different MA courses and take roughly 70 new undergraduate, and one hundred new postgraduate students each year. You therefore have every opportunity to focus on those aspects of peace and conflict that are of particular concern to you. The international reputation of Peace Studies means that we attract students from all over the world and with a wide range of different backgrounds. We believe this adds significantly to the quality of academic and social life in Peace Studies.

7. Our cutting-edge research. We have five research centres: the John and Elnora Ferguson Centre for African Studies, the Bradford Disarmament Research Centre, the Centre for Conflict Resolution, the International Centre for Participation Studies, the Centre for International Co-operation and Security; and two research units, the Pakistan Security Research Unit and the Research Unit in South East European Studies.

8. Our high level of student support. During your time at Peace Studies you will be assigned a personal tutor who will provide academic and pastoral support. A dissertation supervisor will work with you to develop your dissertation and  takes over the role of personal tutor. In addition, we are the only politics division in the country that employs a student liaison officer to organise social events, speakers and study trips, and give ongoing support to students.

9. Our friendly atmosphere. Although we have an intake of around 100 MA students per year and a research community of around 100 MPhil/PhD students, Peace Studies prides itself on the accessibility of staff, the close-knit community that develops amongst our students and the promotion of an atmosphere conducive to serious but enjoyable study. The University of Bradford is also one of the most close-knit universities in the UK, and Bradford itself is the most affordable city to live in for students.

10. Employment potential. The international reputation of Peace Studies and the rigour of our courses means that our graduates are attractive to employers in a wide range of fields including business, journalism, the civil service or working for international NGOs or multilateral bodies.