"Through discussions and field visits, I realized that peace is not simply the absence of violence"

Are you interested in Peace and Conflict Studies?

Each semester, Kulturstudier welcomes a select few scholarship students from Nepal, India, or Sri Lanka to join the 30 ECTS programme which takes place in Pokhara, followed by an optional two-week stay in Weligama, Sri Lanka.

Neha was one of the chosen scholarship students for the spring semester in 2026:

– I first learned about Kulturstudier through MIT World Peace University. Our department shared information about the programme and the scholarship opportunity, and I was immediately drawn to it for its combination of academic learning, field-based experiences, and international exposure.

– As a student of Peace and Conflict Management, I was looking for opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and to engage directly with diverse cultures and societies.

When I read about the programme, I felt it aligned perfectly with my interests. Receiving the scholarship was a turning point for me, opening doors to experiences I had only dreamed of before.

– Before joining the programme, I completed my Bachelor's degree in English and was pursuing a Master's degree in Peace and Conflict Management at MIT World Peace University in Pune, India.

My academic interests revolve around peacebuilding, intercultural dialogue, conflict transformation, and social justice. Alongside my studies, I worked on research projects related to interreligious dialogue, women's roles in peacebuilding, and community resilience.

These experiences helped me understand the importance of connecting academic theories with real-world realities, which is one of the reasons Kulturstudier appealed to me so much.

Throughout the programme, students learn through a combination of self-studies, seminars and lectures by leading sholars, interesting discussions in the international student group, exciting excursions and field trips:

– What fascinates me most about Peace and Conflict Studies is that it constantly challenges us to look beyond surface-level explanations. The field encourages us to understand the human stories behind conflicts and explore how societies can build sustainable peace.

One topic that particularly resonated with me during the programme was the relationship between identity, culture, and conflict.

Read more scholarship student stories

• Nepal and Sri Lanka
• Peace and Conflict Studies in Nepal and Sri Lanka
• Portraits

"The academic excellence and cross-cultural exposure I’ve gained have uniquely positioned me to make a greater impact"

Les mer

– Through discussions and field visits, I realized that peace is not simply the absence of violence—it is about dignity, inclusion, dialogue, and creating spaces where diverse communities can coexist respectfully.

Learning how different societies approach these challenges has been incredibly inspiring and has deepened my commitment to peacebuilding.

As a Kulturstudier student, scholarship students take part in our student group which for the most part consists of students from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

Our experience is that both the Scandinavian and the South Asian students learn a lot from and highly appreciate the diversity in the group. Having students from various cultural and academic backgrounds brings a new dimension both to the learning and the social environment:

– One thing I found both surprising and admirable is how much Scandinavians value personal space and independence.

Coming from India, where communities and families are often very interconnected and social interactions can happen quite spontaneously, it initially felt unusual that people were so comfortable spending time alone or respecting silence in conversations.

– Another thing that surprised me was the enthusiasm for outdoor activities regardless of the weather. Whether it was cold, rainy, or cloudy, people still seemed eager to go hiking, walk, or spend time in nature.

I found that mindset refreshing and inspiring. It taught me to appreciate nature more and not wait for “perfect conditions” to enjoy life!

During our free time, we played card games, sang karaoke, knitted and crocheted, and watched movies together in the student garden. We had so much fun together! For future students, I suggest spending a lot of time near the lake, going to the city centre for thrift shopping and enjoying the local food, but always be extra careful with hygiene.

– As a scholarship recipient, I was always welcomed by the Scandinavian students with open arms, which made my time studying there more valuable.

I highly recommend both scholarship students from Nepal, India or Sri Lanka, and Scandinavian students to take part and create beautiful bonds to cherish for a lifetime.

• Read more and apply here