Viadrina Applied Peace and Conflict Studies (ViAPACS)

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Key Facts

Degree

University Certificate (18 ECTS)

Duration of study

2–4 semesters

Mode of study

Two-day interactive block seminars during the semester break & mandatory internship

Course language

English

Start of studies

Winter semester

Eligibility

Students of all faculties and degree levels, who are enrolled at Viadrina

Costs

No tuition fees

Application deadline

30 November

Conflict is everywhere. Build the skills to navigate it.

You are passionate about making a difference in our increasingly interconnected world? You want to deepen your understanding of how conflicts arise – and learn powerful skills to resolve them? You are interested in gaining practical expertise in communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution through dialogue and want to complement your current studies with a specialised skill set that prepares you for careers in diplomacy, international cooperation, policy, or social engagement? Then the Viadrina Applied Peace and Conflict Studies (ViAPACS) certificate programme is a unique opportunity for you.

ViAPACS is a condensed and dynamic study and training programme that complements your ongoing studies at European University Viadrina, whether you are studying in a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD programme. It provides an in-depth introduction to essential concepts, models, and methods in applied peace and conflict studies. In this exclusive programme, you will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical tools necessary to understand and address conflicts responsibly and constructively. At the end of the programme, you will obtain a formal certificate worth 18 ECTS credits.

You will study alongside motivated students from all three faculties of Viadrina: Social and Cultural Sciences, Law, and Economics. This rich mix of backgrounds, questions, and experiences will energise discussions, project work, and simulations, giving you a deeper understanding of complex conflicts from multiple angles. With only 25 spots available each year, this intimate setting fosters close collaborations, personalised mentorship, and meaningful relationships. It’s the perfect environment to build your peer network, exchange ideas, and grow both professionally and personally.

USPs

Why join ViAPACS:

  • Real-world skills: Gain hands-on skills in conflict resolution, negotiation, and dialogue, applicable between groups and individuals in professional or social settings.
  • Expert knowledge: Learn key concepts from top conflict resolution practitioners and academic experts with extensive theoretical and practical experience. Their insights will bring real-world perspectives into your learning experience and inspire your future career.
  • Interactive and innovative learning: Experience a highly interactive form of learning, including group work, scenario exercises, methods training, and role plays.
  • Career stepping stone: Get a taste of how professional practice in diplomacy, social dialogue, international cooperation, peacebuilding, or cultural work looks like.
  • Exclusivity and interactivity: ViAPACS is designed exclusively for Viadrina students, completely free of charge and taught in English – so you can seamlessly combine it with your current studies in areas like Law, Politics, Business, European Studies, or Cultural Studies.
  • Personal guidance and networking: Throughout the interactive programme, you will receive guidance in developing your skills and also have the opportunity to learn from guest lecturers from organisations such as the German Bundestag, the Federal Foreign Office, and other national and international organisations. The mandatory internship additionally provides you with the chance to put your newly acquired skills directly to practice.

Career Prospects and Practical Experience

The ViAPACS programme equips you with a specific set of skills that will enable you to navigate conflicts in your future career in societal or legal settings, politics, business and organisations, culture, and beyond.

Core learning objectives:

  • Systematic conflict analysis: Learn to identify underlying interests, stakeholders, and conflict dynamics.
  • Communication and moderation: Practice facilitating dialogue and moderating communication processes between conflicting parties.
  • Negotiation skills: Develop the ability to advocate for your own interests or those of clients, groups, or organisations.
  • Mediation techniques: Gain hands-on experience mediating between conflicting parties to foster mutual understanding.
  • Process design: Learn to create customised conflict resolution processes tailored to specific situations and actors.

A key component of the programme is an internship of at least four weeks. This practical placement allows you to apply, critically evaluate, and refine your newly acquired skills and knowledge in real-world settings, such as NGOs, law firms, businesses, governmental  institutions, or international organisations.

Application

Application criteria

To apply for ViAPACS, you will need:

  • enrolment as a student at Viadrina
  • intrinsic motivation to participate in a highly interactive programme
  • activities, experiences or interests indicating a good match with the ViAPACS programme

Language requirements

You must demonstrate proficiency in English at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Proof of this may be provided by a relevant certificate or by having spent at least six months in an English-speaking country prior to the start of the course.

  • Motivation letter (only one page) that explains your specific personal interest in the contents of ViAPACS and makes clear which professionally relevant skills you would like to acquire through the programme. The motivation letter should describe your current course of study, including your major study areas.
  • Enrolment certificate of Viadrina
  • Proof of English language skills, either by B2 CEFR or equivalent type of certificate, or by evidence of a stay of at least six months in an English-speaking country
  • Curriculum Vitae (maximum two pages)

All documents have to be sent in one PDF-file to ViAPACS@europa-uni.de. Applications can be submitted all year round. The deadline for each admission cycle is 30 November, with the programme starting in the following spring. Please indicate in your application from which source you learned about the programme.

 

The application deadline for admission into the ViAPACS programme 2027-2028 is on 30 November 2026. We offer 25 places in every programme cycle. You will be informed whether we can offer you a place in the ViAPACS programme until 11 December 2026.

Overview of the application process (PDF)

Programme Structure

The ViAPACS programme consists of four modules offered over the period of one year. These highly interactive seminars include short theoretical inputs, practical exercises, simulations, and role-plays. They foster challenge-based learning, helping you develop critical reflection, deepen your understanding, and gain practical conflict resolution skills.

Each module consists of a 2-day face-to-face seminar complemented by preparatory and follow-up self-study tasks on Moodle. Two modules take place during the winter term break and two modules during the summer term break.

This course equips you with foundational knowledge and practical skills for understanding and engaging with conflict in political and societal contexts. Module 1 introduces key theories in peace and conflict studies, focusing on root causes, cultural sensitivity, and the limitations of traditional approaches. You will learn to analyse conflicts using tools like interest mapping and assess how analysis shapes intervention.

Module 2 emphasises communication as a cornerstone of conflict resolution. You will explore content and relational levels of communication, develop active listening, and practice designing constructive dialogue processes to clarify issues and build trust.

This module focuses on negotiation, teaching you to distinguish between value creation and value distribution. Through simulations, you will build micro-skills like interest profiling and learn to structure negotiations in complex, multi-party settings.

Module 4 covers mediation and dialogue, introducing core models and formats. You will gain hands-on experience in facilitating dialogue, developing interest profiles, and designing tailored processes for political and societal conflicts.

ViAPACS requires a mandatory internship in conflict-related work. You will independently secure an internship with an eligible organisation – such as NGOs, government agencies, or international institutions – focused on peacebuilding, mediation, or conflict transformation. The organisation must have been in existence for at least two years and have three staff members dedicated to conflict work. Upon completion while enrolled, you can receive an official certificate to support your career.

Academic Student Advisory

Portrait: Laura Bannan-Fischer

Programme Lead
Laura Bannan-Fischer

Portrait: Mario Clemens

Curriculum & Didactics
Mario Clemens

Institute for Conflict Management