Format: Hybrid & Online
Programme Start Date ONLINE: 8 September 2025
Programme Start Date HYBRID: 28 August 2025
Application Deadline ONLINE: 20 August 2025
Application Deadline HYBRID: 30 April 2025
Programme Overview
The HYBRID Certificate in Gender and Development, offered jointly by UPEACE and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), aims to equip participants with the critical perspectives necessary for nurturing gender consciousness in development. Gain the skills to advance gender equality with this certificate programme focused on the crucial role of women in diplomacy and development.
The programme is offered in Hybrid Format (online + face-to-face on the UPEACE campus in San José, Costa Rica). Students in this programme will develop the skills required for a successful international career in a variety of fields – diplomacy, development, politics, social work, human resources, human rights, teaching, research, policy institutes/think tanks, and others. 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 careers and employability. Careers in this field can be very broad. Prospective employers include governments, International and regional organizations, think tanks, academia, human rights organizations, and civil society.
Students will have an opportunity to participate in an optional field visit to Geneva (Switzerland) and The Hague (Netherlands), immersing themselves in the heart of diplomacy and international law.
Click on the image below to see the full program brochure.
Hybrid Modules
Online Modules
Field Visits
Admissions
Fees
Hybrid Modules
Programme Modules
The HYBRID Certificate in Gender and Development will be implemented both face-to-face in San José, Costa Rica on UPEACE’s campus, and online through UPEACE’s Virtual Learning Environment.
Students can obtain the Certificate in Gender and Development upon the successful completion of 12 credits. The list of courses to be added to the certification can be chosen by the student from the existing courses of the M.A. in Gender and Development (see brochure above). The list must be approved by the programme coordinator to ensure it includes courses relevant to Gender and Development.
Online Modules
Programme Modules
The ONLINE Certificate in Gender and Development will be implemented online through UPEACE’s Virtual Learning Environment.
Students can obtain the Certificate in Gender and Development upon the successful completion of 12 credits. The list of courses can be found 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.
(*) Please note that the fellowship programme does not include travel, accommodation, food, or visa expenses. Students will be registered to the Costa Rican national healthcare system by the University for Peace upon their arrival in Costa Rica.
Admissions
Fees
Costs
The cost for pursuing the HYBRID Certificate in Gender and Development is USD 5,700. 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.
The cost for pursuing the ONLINE Certificate in Gender and Development 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.