MA Conflict, Security and Development: University of Sussex

About the programme

The challenges posed by civil wars, genocides, famines and other humanitarian crises show that security and development are closely linked today. Successful development and conflict resolution require the provision of security. Conversely, lack of development can breed insecurity and violence.

This MA analyses the complex relationships that lie at the heart of this development-security nexus in the global South, especially Africa, South Asia and the Middle East. It focuses on three key areas:

• the extent to which destructive cycles of insecurity and violence affect the possibility of development for large sections of the world’s population
• the difficulties that aid agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), governments, and international organisations encounter when trying to negotiate these spirals of violence and insecurity – be it through armed intervention, the provision of aid, the sponsoring of peace-building processes, or assisting states in post-conflict reconstruction, and
• the question of whether underdevelopment in the global South can be said to constitute a security threat by facilitating the international spread of terrorist and criminal networks.

Admission requirments

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree, preferably in an arts or social sciences subject. Relevant degrees include economics, geography, history, law, philosophy, political science and sociology. Relevant work experience will also be considered, particularly in cases where candidates fall short of the academic requirement.

Overseas entrance requirements

Sussex receives applications from all over the world and is therefore very experienced in assessing the qualifications offered by students from outside the UK.

For information on some of the most common international qualifications that meet their general entry requirements, please refer to the table in their International students section.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 90 overall including 24 in Speaking and 25 in Writing. For more information, refer to English language requirements.