Our Students
PACS students come from across the globe, each bringing a distinct professional and academic background and perspective on peace and conflict. That diversity is not just a feature of the program; it is the program.
Students quickly find their footing together. They form study groups, support each other through the demands of term papers and thesis writing, and navigate life in a new country as a community. Outside the classroom, they explore Magdeburg and the wider region - weekend trips to the Harz, days in Berlin, evenings along the Elbe - building friendships that tend to outlast the degree itself.
The connections formed here follow graduates into their careers, turning a two-year program into a lasting professional and personal network.
Curious to see more? Visit our Students Gallery for photos and first-hand testimonials about life in PACS.
STUDENT INITIATIVES |
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PACS Student Council |
PAX MAGAZINE |
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We started in the most unlikely of times. During COVID, when everything moved online and it was easy to feel isolated, a group of PACS students decided to do something about it - organizing virtual meetups, keeping the community alive across screens and time zones. The energy stuck, and so did the initiative. Those founding students have since graduated, but the Fachschaft lives on. Every year, new PACS students come in, find their footing, and naturally become part of it — bringing fresh ideas and keeping the spirit going. We organize the activities that bring the cohort together: excursions, cultural evenings, social gatherings, and everything in between. We also help with the practical things that no one tells you about when you first arrive - navigating German bureaucracy, finding housing, understanding your rights as an international student. If you are not sure who to ask, we are probably your first stop. Beyond any formal structure, we are simply fellow students looking out for each other. If you have an idea, want to help organize something, or just want to connect - come find us. The more, the merrier.
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PAX Magazine is a student-led Peace and Conflict Studies magazine, built on the foundations of previous generations of PACS students since 2022. We successfully celebrated PAX Magazine's first-ever publication in April of 2026, led by a team of dedicated volunteer students. This project is funded by our very own PACS-Fachschaft as well as through the generous funding of the Student Council for the Faculty of the Humanities. Our ambition was to create a platform that reflects the diverse community of the program, and a space to share some of the many lived experiences, intellectual explorations and personal perspectives that do not always have breathing room within the formal academic requirements of the study course itself. These contributions can take many forms, from analytical and policy-oriented writing to reflective essays, visual, or hybrid pieces; everything related to the broad topics of our study course is welcome. The purpose is not to be a departure from academic writing and topics, but to offer more flexible ways of engaging with it. Students may adapt previous academic work, but also have the freedom to communicate their ideas in formats that extend beyond conventional academic writing if they wish. The project also serves as a unique opportunity for students to hone their editorial, social media and design skills. PAX brings together the diversity, insight and creativity of the student community into a shared space for dialogue, reflection and expression. In doing so, we hope to strengthen connections across cohorts and contribute to the broader intellectual and cultural life of the PACS community.
To learn more about our initiative, visit our website and Instagram |
STUDENT STATEMENTS
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Abiodun OlaleyeOur student from Nigeria ''The diversity and backgrounds (cultural and professional) among my peers enhance my learning experience, allowing me to gain insights not only from the curriculum but also from engaging discussions and collaborations with others'' |
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Arifa RahmanOur student from India ''PACS has provided me a platform to broaden my horizons and explore the understanding of international affairs''
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Andréa NoëlOur alumna from Canada ''One of the most exciting and amazing aspects of the OVGU Peace and Conflict Studies master's program is the strong sense of community it builds'' |
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Daniel BarreraOur alumnus from Colombia ''It is a flexible program oriented towards academic production, but the whole PACS experience is much more for me. In Ernesto Sábato's words, "a climate of beauty in the small world around us" |
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Sofia AureliOur alumna from Brazil ''The study program offers courses and seminars in various areas, including communications and journalism, that match my professional goals''
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Michael KrackOur alumnus from Germany ''I greatly appreciate the lively discussions on topics of climate change and to take a critical view on the system'' |
