Peace and Conflict Studies Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

All mandatory courses are held in English.

There are some optional courses in German.

The aim of the study programme is the interactive communication of knowledge about theories and methods of peace and conflict studies. On this basis, students acquire skills and expertise in the analysis of social and political contexts. The curriculum is focused on approaches that interrogate the causes of violent conflicts and make way for possibilities of transforming these conflicts. It is also focused on the investigation of tangible experiences of peaceful cohabitation and opportunities for the stabilisation and enhancement of non-violent conflict resolution mechanisms. The Peace and Conflict Studies programme focuses on the acquisition of theoretical and methodological skills from various disciplines; on the transfer of knowledge about different concepts, institutions, and instruments of peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and human rights policies; and on the development of analytical and practical skills in constructive conflict management. The programme is designed to enable students to closely analyse complex conflicts from different perspectives; to evaluate political strategies and ongoing projects in the fields of security, peacebuilding, and human rights; and to propose alternative methods of conflict resolution.

Having finished this programme, students know how international organisations function and how peaceful forms of politics can be re-established in contexts once ruled by overt violence. Also, students learn about the means and ends of human rights policies in national and international contexts. Furthermore, they are able to develop constructive strategies to overcome stalemates in social conflicts by analysing their causes and discussing different options of solutions. The Peace and Conflict Studies programme in Magdeburg is characterised by a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates not only traditional theories of international relations but also psychological, sociological, anthropological and linguistic components. This allows graduates to assess conflicts from a variety of important perspectives. However, far from advancing a purely additive attainment of knowledge, the lecturers of the programme particularly aim at conveying methodological expertise.

With regard to a future position in relevant occupational fields, the programme thus endeavours to foster the necessary theoretical aptitude as well as practical capacities. In order to acquire these skills, students are familiarised with socio-scientific methods of investigation as well as with political decision-making processes and mediation techniques that they practise in contexts such as operational simulations and conflict-management seminars. An internship in a pertinent institution is also part of the course.

15 July (in the year previous to planned enrolment for scholarship applicants and in the year of planned enrolment for everybody else)

The programme comprises the following five compulsory modules and five optional compulsory modules:

Module 1: Theories and Approaches of Peace and Conflict Studies

The module is composed of two separate parts: a lecture (4 CP) and an associated tutorial (6 CP). The lecture provides an overview of important theories and approaches pertaining to national and international Peace and Conflict Studies, illustrated by current research areas.

Module 2: Concepts of Securing Peace

This module deals with scientific concepts of securing peace, the advancement of human rights, and democracy and includes reflections on the use of military coercive measures.

Module 3: Conflict Analysis and Theories of Conflict Management

The module is composed of two separate parts: a seminar on Conflict Analysis (6 CP) and a seminar or a lecture on Conflict Management (4 CP). In the seminar (or in the lecture) on theories/approaches of conflict management, the students gain a broad overview of central terms, approaches, and assumptions within the theoretical field of conflict management (i.e. conflict resolution, conflict management, conflict transformation).

Module 4: Applied Conflict Management

This module is usually composed of a block seminar and includes practical elements. Students receive an insight into the methods of conducting negotiation, mediation and moderation techniques, as well as related communication strategies or political planning and consultation processes.

Module 5: Methods in Peace and Conflict Studies

The module is composed of a seminar and a compulsory tutorial which both must be completed. Students can choose between a seminar that gives an overview of different qualitative research methods and a seminar that focuses on the teaching of one method in depth.

Module 6: Regional and Global Order

The module assumes the increasing relevance of governance beyond nation states. Thus, it dedicates itself to the political, economic, and normative creation of order on a global and regional level.

Module 7: Sustainable Development and Resource Management

The aim of this module is to convey knowledge on the anthropogenically caused environmental ramifications of global change, scenarios regarding the limits of growth and global warming in connection with resource scarcity, and the resulting distributional conflicts that not only aggravate the long-existing global North-South constellation but also generate new types of conflict situations (i.e., North-North, South-South).

Module 8: Violence and Media

This module allows for a critical analysis of different forms of legitimation and the mobilisation of direct violence and the cultural, epistemological, or structural violence that is inherent to some discourses.

Module 9: Global Justice

In this module, students will deal with the normative aspects of long-term peacekeeping and conflict management on a global and a national level, especially with questions of substantive and procedural justice.

Module 10: International Module

This module is meant to facilitate the transfer of credits done during international exchanges.

An internship in a pertinent institution is part of the course. Programme advisers will assist students with finding an appropriate internship.

No tuition fees

Currently, the semester fee is 278.90 EUR. It covers services offered by the "Studentenwerk" (student union) and the student representatives. Enrolled students receive the "Deutschlandsemesterticket" for free use of public transport throughout Germany, along with student discounts in the campus cafeteria and more.

A minimum of 992 EUR per month must be budgeted for accommodation, cost of living, health insurance, books, and miscellaneous expenses. In comparison with many other towns and cities, the rental prices in Magdeburg are still relatively low. There are no tuition fees for the majority of programmes, and the semester fee already includes the cost of bus and tram travel within Magdeburg. The following link provides a fair picture of the cost of living in Magdeburg: Finance.

Bachelor of Arts or comparable university degree with at least 30 ECTS in Social Science and above average grades

English level C1

15 July (in the year previous to planned enrolment for scholarship applicants and in the year of planned enrolment for everybody else)

The university provides a limited number of excellence scholarships. Eligible candidates are students in advanced semesters who clearly show above-average results. Scholarships cannot be provided for new students. 

Additionally, you may check the following overview:
Scholarships and funding opportunities for international students.

It is possible to find a part-time job as a research or student assistant at one of the faculties or in the university administration (maximum: 80 hours per month). Other opportunities are student jobs at different companies, restaurants, and shops. Information on how to find a job can be found on our website: Career Service.

The "Studentenwerk" (student union) in Magdeburg manages the on-campus halls of residence (mostly one- to four-room apartments). Currently, the monthly rent ranges from 174 EUR to 421 EUR per room (approx. 12 to 35 square meters), depending on the size and furnishing. Rooms in the halls of residence are limited in number. The accommodation application can be found on the website of the Studentenwerk.
The Studentenwerk assists all new students in finding adequate accommodation, either on or off campus. Private accommodation is available on the Magdeburg accommodation market. However, fully furnished units are in somewhat short supply.

We provide support for international students through student assistants who can help with questions and issues concerning the study programme as well as the formalities of living in Germany. Additionally, there is a staff member helping with more complex issues.

Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (OVGU) was founded in 1993 and is one of Germany's youngest universities. It was formed by a merger of the existing technical university, the teacher training college, and the medical school. The university now comprises nine faculties and about 12,600 students and is becoming increasingly more important as a centre for education and research. It plays an important role in the regional capital of Magdeburg, which is developing into a centre for business, scholarship, and culture. The university is a member of many organisations and committees. It is named after Otto von Guericke (1602 to 1686), Magdeburg's famous citizen, whose pioneering research into the vacuum brought him renown well beyond Germany's borders. The university aspires to teach and research in the tradition of this great scientist, philosopher, and engineer and to continue with his humanist work.

At the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, students can choose from more than 100 study programmes in various areas of study and specialisation. There are also many possibilities to combine different subjects across faculties. To open up to qualified students from all over the world, the Otto von Guericke University is vastly expanding its offers of programmes taught in English. The conditions for students are ideal, with modern laboratories, experimental workshops, and clinics equipped with high-performance computers and an excellent staff-student ratio. The offer of a sound, thorough education, combining a high level of theoretical expertise with practical experience, makes Magdeburg an attractive choice.

In recent years, research at the university has gone through a decisive change, from applied research to innovative, fundamental research. Among the many areas represented, the neurosciences, immunology, non-linear systems, new materials, processes and products, computational visualistics, social transformation, communication, and culture deserve a special mention. The university hopes to make a significant contribution to economic and social development in Magdeburg and the surrounding area through its research. Equally, disciplines such as humanities, economics, and management, which have been established more recently at the university, have already made their mark on our research profile. Special emphasis is placed on close cooperation between teaching staff and students.

The Otto von Guericke University is a proud member of the European University Alliance EU GREEN, which is aiming to be your gateway to sustainability. Together, we aim to be a broad European hub for education, research and innovation in sustainability that goes beyond the consortium borders and acts globally to provide solutions to local or regional challenges, which can be replicated at a global level.

Magdeburg also attracts students because it offers accommodation with either a single bed or twin beds in its halls of residence.

Take a virtual trip through our international campus!

As the capital of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg is the seat of the state parliament and administration. The town is more than 1,200 years old and has about 242,000 inhabitants. Its excellent location on the River Elbe and its proximity to Berlin, Hanover, and Leipzig have proven to be a significant asset to the city. In the 19th century, the town developed into an important industrial and trade centre. Nowadays, another quite distinctive feature of Magdeburg is its considerable research and innovation potential at the university, the Max Planck and Fraunhofer research institutes, and the university of applied sciences, which are all located in close proximity to each other. Magdeburg offers an extensive park and garden landscape, a rich cultural and sports life, and an ideal atmosphere for being a student. Please visit the website: www.magdeburg.de.