Graduates pursue careers working in the fields of international development, conflict management, peacebuilding and international relations. This work is often in international and local Non-Governmental Organisations and government, civil service and peacekeeping institutions such as the United Nations and the European Union. Destination organisations include International Press Institute, Jesuit Refugee Service and Generations for Peace, Gallup International as well as other organisations such as Church of England.

Admission Requirements

• Students who have studied at a University in the UK will require a minimum grade of 2:2 (second class lower)

India

• Successful completion of a four-year undergraduate degree with 60%-70%, from a recognized Indian institution. Degrees from the main metropolitan universities, for example, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai (Madras) Mumbai (Bombay), Ahmadabad, Pune, Bangalore, Nagpur, Kanpur, Kolkata (Calcutta), Lucknow, Jaipur, Jodhpur. A well-recognized college affiliated with a large metropolitan university will normally be considered for entry with 60% (and above). Due to the very stringent marking schemes at the University of Calcutta and the University of Pune (First Class degrees are normally given marks between 58%-62%), we might accept students with lower marks.
• Students holding a three-year undergraduate degree may be accepted into some subject areas with grades of 60%-70% overall depending on the subject. However, this is subject to decision by the relevant admissions tutor.

Additional requirements

Personal Computing Requirements 

Note - these requirements are reviewed annually by ITS and the Head of Technology Enhanced Learning. They were last updated in February 2016. Any currently enrolled student who has concerns should contact their Programme Leader in the first instance.

Any computer or mobile device purchased within the last 5 years should be sufficient. If in doubt, or for older devices, the following minimum specifications will ensure that a workstation performs to a reasonable standard:

• Operating System: Windows 7, 8.1 or 10 | Mac OS X
• Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster | 2 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
• Memory (RAM): 2GB | 2GB
• Hard Disk: 80GB* | 80GB*
• Optical Drive (DVD/CD-ROM or Writer)**: Optional | Optional
• Sound***:  Yes | Yes

* Considerably more disk space will be needed to store large amounts of personal files.
** May be required to install additional software if supplied on DVD/CD-ROM and can be an externally attachable one, e.g. USB
*** Required if the program requires media that has sound. Most modern computers and mobile devices have integrated sound.

COMPUTER HARDWARE EXPLAINED

a) Processor

This is the main component that will determine the speed of the computer. Intel processors are currently labeled Core i3, i5 and i7 with the latter being the most powerful and most expensive. Other brands such as AMD have equivalent models.

b) Memory (RAM)

This component is also very important to the overall performance of a PC. RAM stores files related to the operating system and programs which are running while the computer is turned on. Every program requires a certain amount of memory to run, so if too many programs or large files are run at the same time, the computer may run out of memory and begin running very slowly.

c) Hard Disk

Hard disk is the permanent means of storage and is where all the files such as Docs, Music, Pictures and the Operating System files are stored. It is important to have enough hard disk space to serve your storage needs. If a hard disk becomes very full it can negatively impact the overall computer performance.
For further advice on specification when purchasing a new computer, seek guidance from your preferred reseller.

d) Screen

When buying a new computer a screen size of at least 17” is recommended but sizes these days are routinely far larger and in wide screen format. Screen size for mobile devices such as laptops and tablets will generally be smaller than 17” but should be selected at a sufficient size for comfortable use.

e) Printer

There are currently no printer-specific requirements for Distance Learning programs.

MOBILE DEVICES AND TABLETS

This heading covers the increasingly popular SmartPhone and Tablet devices such as the iPhone/iPad, Android, or Windows-based phone/tablet devices. Most of the University's online systems work on these mobile devices. However we do not guarantee that all systems will be problem free. There is also a dedicated and fully supported University app available, UoW mobile app, which contains useful information and services and is available on Apple App Store, Google Play as well as a browser based version.

WORKSTATION HEALTH & SAFETY

From a health and safety point of view, staff and students are advised to use a conventional workstation for long periods of study rather than laptops and mobile communication devices. As these more portable devices have become more popular there has been a corresponding increase in the number of people suffering from upper limb disorders and back problems. Please refer to the Health & Safety pages on the Intranet of Setup Help Guides and Workstation Exercises.

COMPUTER SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

a) Operating System

Microsoft Windows 7, 8.1 or 10, or Mac OS X are recommended and supported by our services. We are unable to support Linux or other less mainstream operating systems.

b) Other Software

The following software will be required for distance learning:

• Microsoft Word or an equivalent word processor which can save documents in the format .doc or .docx.
• Other Microsoft Office products such as Excel or PowerPoint may be required by some courses
• Access to an email service - the Unimail email system is provided by the University through the Microsoft Office 365 service.
• A supported web browser - Microsoft Internet Explorer (version 11 or above) or the latest versions of Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari.
• Free downloads such as Adobe Reader may be required to open online material
• A form of Malware/Virus Protection
• Adobe Flash Player

From time to time Microsoft offers deals to University staff and students. Details of any currently available deals will be posted on the Intranet by ITS.

INTERNET CONNECTION

Distance learning programs all require extensive access to online resources. As such, a broadband connection of at least 1Mbps is recommended. Higher speed services would be advantageous due to the reduced load times for online resources. A dial up connection is not recommended.

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS FOR ASSESSMENT

These should be word-processed documents in Microsoft Word format (either .doc or .docx). Students can submit assignments prepared using a Mac, running their preferred word processor and a standard web browser, as long as they submit work in one of these formats.

COMPUTER SECURITY AND DISASTER RECOVERY

Keeping the PC secure and ensuring coursework can be recovered in the event of a disaster is extremely important. Computer and printer failure cannot be used as a reason to be granted an extended deadline for an assignment.

To try and ensure the PC is kept as secure as possible staff and students should:

a) Use strong virus protection:

• i) Microsoft offer Security Essentials for Windows 7, which is free for home use if there is no other protection in place. Windows 8 and 10 come with Windows Defender already installed but you may wish to choose a different solution for your protection.
• ii) Ensure the virus protection is kept up to date
• iii) Run scans for viruses at least once per month

b) Use strong passwords:

• Use numbers
• Upper and lower case letters
• Do not use common words or names
• Do not use the same password for everything

c) Be aware when using the computer that most threats can be eliminated by taking the following precautions:

• Take care what links you click on in emails and online
• Be careful what email attachments you open
• Be careful where you browse on the internet
• Be careful what you say yes to when a dialogue box appears
• McAfee SiteAdvisor is a free download that can help you to determine where it is safe to browse

d) Make sure the operating system and software is kept up to date using services such as Windows Update

e) Use a Firewall: Windows has a firewall built-in which is more than adequate in most cases.

It is very important that work can be recovered in the event of a PC based disaster, the following can help:

a) Save your work regularly

b) Save your work in versions, especially large assignments to minimize loss of work in the event of a file corruption

c) Backup your work regularly to CD, Memory Stick, or using an online service such as Dropbox or Microsoft OneDrive which is part of your Office 365 services as a student. You could also email assignment backups to yourself

d) Make sure you have your computer's recovery disk available in case it needs reinstalling as a result of failure