Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (CRR)
What is Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation?
Conflict resolution is about how to make peace between warring parties. Reconciliation is about how societies recover and rebuild relationships after violence. These topics are part of the field of Peace Studies.
Peace is an ancient concept, but the formal study of peace is relatively recent. Peace Studies seeks to understand the causes of violent conflict and how to resolve it peacefully.
It’s a growing field, and as urgent now as it has ever been.
Why study Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation at Trinity College Dublin in Belfast?
If you choose this one-year course (two years part-time), you will:
- Get a Master’s degree from Ireland’s leading university.
- Immerse yourself in a dynamic post-conflict society.
- Engage with classic and cutting-edge research on conflict resolution and reconciliation.
- Debate with lecturers and practitioners with first-hand peacebuilding experience.
- Gain advanced research experience and many other transferable skills.
Why is the course in Belfast?
This course was created in the aftermath of the 1998 ‘Good Friday’ Agreement – one of the most celebrated peace accords of recent decades. It was designed to train local peace practitioners and to support Northern Ireland’s transition.
Now, it welcomes students from around the world interested in peacemaking in Ireland and elsewhere.
Belfast is a vibrant city – transformed and transforming. But the past is unresolved, and peace is imperfect.
The city provides a unique backdrop to this MPhil. It offers opportunities you won’t get anywhere else.
What is the course like?
The core teaching staff are Dr David Mitchell and Dr Brendan Browne, both locally embedded and internationally recognised experts. Parts of the course are taught by other academics from the School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies, with a variety of guest practitioner contributions.
Coursework includes essays, presentations, and a dissertation.
Modules are taught primarily through weekly classes in Belfast. They include:
- Dynamics of Reconciliation
- Transitional Justice
- Contemporary Conflict and Peacemaking: Global Perspectives
- Conflict and Peace in Northern Ireland
- Mediation and Peacebuilding Skills
- Community Learning (placement)
- Research Skills
What is it like to be a student in Belfast?
Belfast is a relatively compact and affordable city. The student experience here is unique – different to attending a large campus university, or Trinity in Dublin. Trinity in Belfast has its own excellent specialist library, small core staff, and PhD researchers. It’s a friendly and supportive environment in which to study.
Study space, sports facilities and clubs and societies are available through Queen’s University Belfast which is close by. Most Trinity student support services can be accessed remotely but students must travel to Dublin if they wish to access the full range of services in person. Guidance for international students on accommodation, visas, healthcare and more is available here.
What do students do afterwards?
Our graduates are scattered across the globe, helping build a more peaceful and sustainable future.
Graduates find work in a range of fields including:
- Grassroots non-governmental organisations
- International non-governmental organisations
- Government, international organisations, and diplomacy
- Journalism
- Law
- PhD research
Scholarships
The Irish School of Ecumenics Trust will make the following scholarship available:
- Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation M.Phil. (CRR) - €2,000 (1 scholarship)
There is no separate application process. All incoming students who have accepted a firm offer by 25 July in the intended year of entry will be considered. For further details please contact SRAdmBlfst@tcd.ie.
Find out more about Postgraduate Scholarships.
2024-25 Fees
EU Students
Full-time over 1 year €9,800
Part-time over 2 years €6,410
Non-EU Students
Full-time over 1 year €18,180
Part-time over 2 years €10,820
What our Students Say
Chougher Maria Doughramajian, 2021-22 GOI-IES Scholar
A.J. Pruitt, 2021 George J. Mitchell Scholar
Kelsey Hanson, 2018
Peter Kiernan, 2018 George J. Mitchell Scholar
QAA Reviewed
The School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies in Belfast is reviewed by the UK Quality Assurance Agency. Read the latest action plan and QAA Report.