Scholarships for Peace Studies in Basel

PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR PEACE STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF BASEL, SWITZERLAND

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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. —
Margaret Mead

The World Peace Academy (WPA), in cooperation with the Advanced
Study Center at the University of Basel, offers a 9-month full time
Master of Advanced Studies in Peace and Conflict Transformation
every year from March-November. Students can begin the program
either in March, June or September each year. It is also possible to
obtain an Advanced Certificate for 12 weeks of courses, or to take
individual 1-week courses. The first group of 22 students from 16
countries successfully completed their course work on 26 November
2010. The program is accredited by the University of Basel, which
also issues the MAS diplomas. All courses are taught in English by
leading specialists in their field from around the world, including
Johan Galtung, founder of the academic discipline of peace studies.

Imagine studying psychoanalysis with Sigmund Freud, relativity
theory with Albert Einstein, economics with Adam Smith, celestial
mechanics with Isaac Newton, geometry with Euclid, medicine with
Hippocrates — or peace studies with Johan Galtung.

The WPA program is designed to provide students with the
intellectual competence to analyze conflicts and their underlying
causes and practical skills in reconciliation, conflict
transformation and peacebuilding. The curriculum covers all aspects
of peace — not only military, but also political, economic and
cultural. It combines theory with practice. Its faculty includes
some of the best teachers from around the world from a wide variety
of disciplines. Students come from around the world, including many
conflict regions.

CURRICULUM: The program consists of 10 modules: Introduction to the
Scientific Methodology of Peace Studies; Regional Conflicts and
Peace Initiatives; Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding;
International Relations and International Law; From National to
Human Security; Peace Education and Ethics; Human Rights, Gender and
Democratization; Sustainable Development and Its Contributions to
Peace; Peace Culture and the Media; and Development of Key
Competencies for Peace Workers.
This last module, which meets for 2 days every month throughout the
program, is a special feature not yet offered elsewhere. It
emphasizes the development of such personal competencies as
responsibility, empathy, creativity, commitment, and inner peace.

The program includes lectures, seminars, exercises, group
activities, excursions, self-study, library research and writing
papers. For a course calendar, course descriptions and biographical
notes about our faculty members, see www.world-peace-academy.ch.

LOCATION: The University of Basel, founded in 1460, is Switzerland’s
oldest university. It has about 11’000 students and over 300 faculty
members. The university library has over 3 million books and is one
of the largest in Switzerland. Basel is a city of just under 200’000
inhabitants, with a lively culture, located where Switzerland,
Germany and France meet.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: The program is addressed to students from any
discipline interested in peace and conflict resolution, including
NGO
members, diplomats, government officials, international civil
servants, teachers, journalists, social workers, lawyers, officers,
psychologists, artists. A first university degree (bachelors or
equivalent) is required, or comparable professional experience.

DEGREES: Students who complete the full program of 9 months of
courses and write a thesis obtain a Master of Advanced Studies in
Peace and Conflict Transformation from the University of Basel,
worth 70 credits according to the European Credit Transfer System
(ECTS).
One ECTS corresponds to about 30 hours of study (in class and self-
study). An MAS differs from a Master of Arts (MA) program, which
typically lasts two years, requires 120 ECTS and is normally
accepted as a basis for continuing with a Ph.D. program. It is also
possible to study part time over 2-3 years. Those who complete 12
weeks of selected courses obtain an Advanced Certificate in Peace
and Conflict Transformation from the World Peace Academy. It is also
possible to take individual courses, lasting one week each.

COSTS: 15’000 Swiss Francs (currently about 11’400 Euro or 16’300 US
dollars) tuition for 9 months of study, including thesis advisement.
For part-time students, costs are 250 Swiss Francs per ECTS. Rooms
cost about 500 Swiss Francs per month. Meals, health insurance and
travel costs are extra.

SCHOLARSHIPS: A limited number of partial scholarships is available
on a competitive basis. We receive many applications, particularly
from conflict regions and developing countries, but many of those
applicants cannot afford to study in Switzerland. Therefore, a
Circle of Friends has been formed (www.friends-wpa.ch) that seeks to
endow a scholarship fund. This is an excellent investment in peace.
Studying abroad can bring about a fundamental change, not only in
the life and future career of the students, but sometimes even in
their whole society. For example, in 1958, Alexander Yakovlev was
one of the first Soviet recipients of a Fulbright scholarship to
study a year in the United States. In 1985, he became Gorbachev’s
key adviser on perestroika, glasnost and democratization, and thus
helped end the communist dictatorships not only in the Soviet Union,
but also in the former Soviet satellites in Eastern Europe. That
scholarship probably contributed more to ending the Cold War than
billions that the United States spent for weapons, which only
aggravated tensions.

WHEN TO APPLY: WPA has a rolling admission policy. You can apply at
any time before the beginning of a trimester (March, June or
September every year) and if you qualify and we have space left, you
will be admitted. Those who need a Swiss visa are advised to apply
at least 9 weeks in advance.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY, see www.world-peace-academy.ch,
or write to <info@world-peace-academy.ch>, or call Dietrich Fischer,
Academic Director (Tel +41-61-556-2369). We will be happy to answer
your questions and help you.

Prof. Dr. Dietrich Fischer
Academic Director, World Peace Academy
G™terstrasse 81, CH-4053 Basel, Switzerland
dietrich.fischer@gmail.com
www.world-peace-academy.ch, www.friends-wpa.ch