Student Opinions
We are very glad that you are interested in our MA programme! Here and in the archive you may find opinions of our former students. As this section is continuously growing, you may drop by now and then to see new opinions of freshly graduated students.
For me, Peace and Conflict Studies was never only about understanding conflict on an academic level. It was also about learning how to sit with the uncomfortable; with uncertainty, disagreement, complexity, and perspectives that challenge my own. The program taught me that peace is rarely found in simple answers, but often in the willingness to listen, question, and remain open.
Throughout my studies, I grew both academically and personally. I learned to approach conflicts from multiple perspectives, to look beyond first impressions, and to understand how strongly context, culture, power, and individual experiences shape the way we see the world. The practical dimension of the program, including topics such as CIMIC, made this experience particularly valuable to me and distinguished it from more traditional programs that can sometimes remain mainly theoretical.
At the same time, the program gave me something I did not necessarily expect: confidence. Confidence to express my own perspective, to take responsibility, and to step into leadership while understanding that leadership is not simply about having the loudest voice. It is about creating space for all, acknowledging different realities, and sometimes accepting that there may be no single truth.
Looking back, I feel that the program changed not only the way I understand peace and conflict, but also the way I understand people — and myself. It taught me to be more curious than certain, more reflective than reactive, and more comfortable with the complexity that exists between opposing sides.
Emilie Coller, Luxemburg (Student 2023-ongoing)
The master program "Peace and conflict studies" in Innsbruck has supported my learning, and self-development by challenging me to question my own world views but also to communicate more profoundly through a self and group awareness approach. The diversity that is reproduced by the students themselves shows clearly why such an interdisciplinary course of study is important for practical peace work.
Leon Hoffmann, Germany (Student 2023-2025)
I believe that the Peace and Conflict Studies Program is an invaluable resource. It offers a blend of theoretical understanding and practical training, which helped me to comprehend the intricacies of global conflict and peacebuilding in our interconnected world. The program provides hands-on experience in crisis management, humanitarian aid, and emergency response. The practical training, conducted with organizations such as the Austrian Army Forces, Red Cross, and firefighters, helped me enhance many skills, fostering discipline, resilience, and teamwork. These experiences were not only professionally beneficial but also personally fulfilling, making me see this program as more than just an academic pursuit. It is a pathway for personal development and a means to make a positive societal impact.
Ahmed Tarek Mokhtar Mohamed Omar, Egypt (Student 2022-2024)
