Format: Online
Programme Start Date: 8 September 2025
Application Deadline: 20 August 2025
Programme Overview
The Certificate in Development Studies and Diplomacy is an interdisciplinary and holistic programme that will not only broaden student’s knowledge in the field of development studies, sustainability and diplomacy but it will also equip them with the required soft skills for a successful international career in any of these areas of expertise.
Offered in an online format, students in this programme will analyse the different dimensions of development, including environmental, social, economic, and human dimensions, as well as the theory and practice of diplomacy in the 21st century.
Participants will have the opportunity to complete the program within a six-month period, between September and March.
Students will also attend skills development sessions that are designed to support their professional career and employability. Careers in this field can be very broad. Prospective employers include governments, international organizations, development agencies, academia and the private sector.
This programme, offered by two UN entities (University for Peace and United Nations Institute for Training and Research), combines the best of academic and executive-style education. Students will also gain first-hand experience of the work of the United Nations (UN) as they will have the opportunity to participate in the optional field trips to Geneva and/or The Hague where the UN maintains a significant presence.
Click on the image below to check out the full program brochure.
Modules
Field Visits
Admissions
Fees
Modules
Programme Modules
The Certificate in Development Studies and Diplomacy will be implemented online through UPEACE’s Virtual Learning Environment.
Course List:
- Development Studies and International Cooperation (UPEACE- Online)
- Diplomacy in the 21st Century (UNITAR)
- Global Governance (UPEACE)
- Conflict Resolution and Crisis Management (UNITAR)
Certificate in Development Studies and Diplomacy Calendar (2025-2026): click here.
Field Visits
Field Visits
Students admitted to the programme are offered a unique opportunity to partake in an optional field visit to Geneva, Switzerland, and/or The Hague, Netherlands, immersing themselves in the heart of diplomacy and international law.
The five-day field trip(s) cost USD 1,500 each and include exclusive experiences such as visiting various international organizations, the ICRC museum in Geneva, the ICJ in The Hague, and engaging in networking sessions with diplomats, personnel from permanent missions accredited to the UN, civil servants working in international organizations, and representatives from civil society.
Scheduled for the summer, the confirmed dates for these optional field visits will be shared with interested students by UPEACE and UNITAR well in advance. Students have the flexibility to enrol in either the Geneva or The Hague visit individually, or they can choose to participate in both field trips to maximize their learning experience.
Admissions
Fees
Costs
The cost for pursuing the Certificate in Development Studies is USD 3,550. This includes tuition, administrative fees, and other associated costs. It is important to note that additional expenses, such as field visits, may not be covered in this figure.
This master’s degree programme is eligible for the Pura Vida Fellowship Programme. Find out more and apply now here!