How long does the Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies take?

The Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies runs 3 to 6 months. Rolling intakes are available across all modes of the Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies.

How is the Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies delivered?

You can study the Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies on-campus in central London, fully online or by structured distance learning. All modes of the Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies share the same weekly seminar structure.

Is the Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies recognised in the UK?

Yes. The Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies is a UK Level 3 introductory award mapped against PSA, BISA and UN Association UK reading conventions, and articulates cleanly into an LSLPE Diploma.

What are the entry requirements for the Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies?

The Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies is an open-access first-entry route. GCSE English at grade 4/C or equivalent is expected; mature applicants are reviewed by admissions.

What are the fees and funding options for the Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies?

Fees vary by study mode and residency. LSLPE offers instalment plans and early-application discounts on the Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies; contact admissions for a personalised quotation.

Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies at LSLPE is a UK Level 3 introductory programme running 3 to 6 months across on-campus, online and distance routes. The syllabus is a first-entry route into conflict analysis, humanitarian principles and peacebuilding, mapped against expectations found in the Political Studies Association, the British International Studies Association and the United Nations Association UK network.

By graduation you will have produced structured conflict briefings on two contemporary cases, mapped actors and grievances on a live file, and delivered a short capstone presentation defended in a supervised seminar.

Key Features

Structured introduction aligned with Political Studies Association (PSA) and British International Studies Association (BISA) reading conventions.
Case sessions drawn from Chatham House, IISS and United Nations Association UK material.
Guest input from NGO field officers and conflict analysts.
Weekly seminar attendance under a named programme tutor.
Rolling intakes and clear articulation into an LSLPE Diploma.
Three parallel study modes so international applicants and progressor students share the same cohort.

What You Will Learn

Reading contemporary conflicts using actor, interest and grievance mapping.
Distinguishing humanitarian, human-rights and stabilisation frameworks.
Understanding UN peacekeeping mandates and ceasefire agreements.
Reading media, NGO and academic sources with critical eyes.
Writing a short conflict brief for a policy audience.
Presenting a case-study in seminar under scrutiny.
Understanding transitional justice and reconciliation processes.
Building a reading list for further study at Diploma level.

Who This Course Is For

New entrants exploring conflict and peace studies for the first time.
Career changers moving from journalism, defence or NGO work into structured study.
International applicants preparing for UK Diploma-level study.
Mature applicants returning to formal study through open-access admissions.
Working humanitarian staff seeking a UK credential without leaving employment.

Career Pathways

NGO field-office support officer (entry)
Humanitarian communications assistant
Research assistant on conflict databases
Junior political analyst
Public affairs assistant at a defence-adjacent think tank
Programme-officer stepping stone in international bodies
Diplomatic-service preparation candidate
Human rights officer (entry track)

The LSLPE careers service curates introductions across NGOs, think tanks and international bodies, and refreshes curriculum alignment annually against Bar Standards Board, Political Studies Association and Royal Economic Society guidance.

Entry Requirements

GCSE English at grade 4/C or equivalent; open access for mature applicants at admissions review.
No prior study of conflict or peace studies required; the Certificate is a first-entry route.
IELTS 5.5 overall (no band below 5.0) for non-native English speakers, or equivalent.
A short personal statement of 250 words describing your interest in conflict and peace studies.
International applicants supported through visa, accommodation and English-language guidance.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE is a specialist division of Harold International College of London teaching in small, tutor-visible cohorts. Central London places embassies, Chatham House, the IISS, the UN Association UK and the LSE-adjacent think-tank ecosystem within a short tube ride of every seminar room, which matters when the case material you will study is being briefed nearby.

Every intake, on-campus or remote, joins the same weekly seminar structure with named programme-tutor support. Seminars are run in the case-room and select-committee tradition, evidence-led and argued in public, and the careers service connects students with employers across NGOs, think tanks and international bodies.

Apply for Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies

Applications for the Certificate in Conflict and Peace Studies are open now, with rolling intakes across all study modes. Start with a UK Level 3 Certificate at LSLPE and prepare for Diploma-level study in conflict and peace analysis. Enrol Now