Overview
Delivered by our experienced practitioners and leading scholars, our master's degree in International Conflict and Cooperation prepares you to address a variety of challenges facing the international community today. The course looks at the dynamics of international conflict and cooperation considering major events such as the war in Ukraine, the Syrian civil war, the rise of China, the Gaza/Israel conflict and the relationship between global climate change and conflict.
We take a thematic approach to conflict resolution and the role of international organisations in order to focus on conflict prevention and management in specific geographical areas. The course also explores the development and regulation of conflict in relation to factors like natural resources and migration.
Contemporary dilemmas surrounding the politics of climate change negotiations, environmental and resource conflicts, civil war and ethnic tensions, human rights, humanitarian intervention, global security and international political economy provide some of the raw material for this course, which are studied in-depth over the course of the academic year.
This course will help you to develop the transferrable skills that employers are looking for. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
- critically read and comprehend texts and other source materials critically and empathetically;
- appreciate the complexity and diversity of global situations, events, mentalities and institutions;
- recognise there are ways of testing statements, and that there are rules of evidence that require integrity and maturity;
- reflect critically on the nature and theoretical underpinnings of the discipline;
- organise an argument, be self-disciplined and be intellectually independent;
- express yourself orally and in writing with coherence, clarity and fluency;
- gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information;
- analyse and solve problems;
- use ICT effectively for information retrieval and presentation skills;
- exercise self-discipline, self-direction and initiative;
- work with others, and have respect for others’ reasoned views;
- work collaboratively and participate effectively in group discussions;
- show empathy and imaginative insight;
- prepare for further academic research such as a PhD.
Expand your horizons
This Masters course provides opportunities for you to meet key figures involved in international organisations and diplomacy to help you understand what a career in an International Organisation or NGO would involve. Career events throughout term, as well as the visits to international organisations, also facilitate contact between students and potential employers. We aim to put you in touch with the voluntary sector and organisations offering internship opportunities. Volunteering and internships not only provide work experience and networking opportunities in a relevant field, but also allow you to exhibit a range of general skills that you’ll have acquired at university, including researching, report-writing and conducting presentations.
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Our research in Politics resonates far beyond the University. It has an interdisciplinary focus on international organisations, global security, global environmental politics and climate change, international negotiations, Middle East politics, global migration and human rights. Our work makes an impact on society and government policy. It focuses on challenges that matter – from environmental sustainability to humanitarian assistance, international conflict resolution, diplomacy and foreign policy. It also provides an insider’s view and develops skills on how international negotiations actually work.
In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), our History research was ranked top 15 in the UK and 3rd in Scotland for outputs and impact, with 83% of our research impact classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Entry requirements
A minimum of a second class Honours degree (2.1 preferred) or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.
Other routes of entry
If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, INTO University of Stirling offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore INTO University of Stirling to see the pathway and pre-masters routes available.
International entry requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
The course contains core modules related to International Conflict and Cooperation, as well as a range of optional modules designed to help you explore issues in more depth. It also features a research skills module.
Modules
The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the academic year that starts in September 2024. Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.
Course Details
A range of different teaching delivery is offered based on student needs. Some modules will be delivered online and in the evenings, typically in a two-hour seminar - although emphasis will be placed on student participation and discussion, workshop sessions and a variety of both formal and informal presentations.
There are experts briefings and discussions and guest lecturers with key figures involved in international organisations.
As part of our focus on employability, there’s a study trip to Geneva that will give you the opportunity to interact with policymakers and potential employers.
Assessment is conducted via presentations, blog posts, policy papers, essays and your dissertation.
Fees and funding
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Funding
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
These scholarships are for candidates from developing Commonwealth countries, looking to study selected postgraduate Masters courses. Find out if you could be eligible for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
The MSc International Conflict and Cooperation is a gateway to employment in government agencies, the NGO sector and international organisations – as well as into PhD study, research and academia. The course provides a background in conflict study, the role of international organisations and a thematic and geographical focus on distinct areas and problems, as well as analysis of solutions. The academic skills aspects of the course also provide a background to undertake further research.
Your future career
This course is designed to meet the needs of both current and future practitioners, as well as those intending to further their knowledge on a specific subject by pursuing a research degree after the completion of their Masters thesis. Upon completion of this course, graduates may expect to find employment in organisations such as:
- Governmental (Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence, Home Office, Scottish Government and respective ministries in other countries)
- Inter-governmental (European Union, NATO, United Nations, North American Free Trade Agreement, World Health Organisation)
- Non-governmental (Amnesty International, Red Cross, Human Rights Watch)
Since the International Conflict and Cooperation course began in 2007, our students have followed a range of careers. Many have used it as a means to pursue further postgraduate study in this field, with a group of graduates going on to pursue PhD study at a range of universities. Other graduates have launched successful careers in the NGO sector, public affairs and political research.
“Most people when studying achieve what they set out for, whether that be a Masters or a Bachelors, they achieve just that. However, the ICC program for me encompassed so much more than my MSc, I achieved a sense of direction, a confidence in my work which I hadn’t had before and a concrete plan for my career […].”
Holly Aindow, WHO intern and former MSc ICC student, 2019
We offer a comprehensive employability and skills programme to help you maximise your time at university and develop the graduate attributes that employers look for. In the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, we have a dedicated Employability and Skills Officer.
The University of Stirling’s Careers Service also works in partnership with academic staff to ensure you get the best out of your university experience, and are ready for the employment market.
