London, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 25,320 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for overseas student fees | home student fees: GBP 12,220 per year
Key Summary
Introduction
This unique programme provides students with analytical training and an in-depth understanding of the challenges of contemporary humanitarian aid, its interaction with conflict and development and new directions in the field.
Throughout the programme, students will develop a wide-ranging knowledge of the field and the tools to critically engage with the pressing questions of power dynamics, politics, accountability, intersectionality, security and access that are facing humanitarian organisations, academics and local communities today.
The programme presents students with comprehensive engagement with theoretical, conceptual and policy debates relating to the challenges of the global responses to conflict, disasters and emergencies, and the diverse range of critiques that have been made of it. Students will gain knowledge of the history of humanitarianism in different contexts around the world, the architecture of humanitarian aid, the range of key actors at the local, regional and international levels, emerging innovations, context-specific challenges and agendas from the Global South.
The programme links theory to practice through engagement with guest speakers and a wide range of materials, including academic literature, case studies, archival documents, policy reports, popular culture and media.
Each cohort will acquire critical thinking and analysis skills, data gathering, research and communication and presentation skills, and guidance on undertaking internships. Students will interact with a wide range of actors including academics, policymakers, practitioners and civil society activists.
Why study MSc Humanitarianism, Aid and Conflict at SOAS?
- We are ranked 3rd in the world for Development Studies (QS World University Rankings 2024)
- You will have the opportunity to take work placements as part of your degree, and we offer internships in the department and in partner organisations. This year MSc students were offered placements in the International Organisation for Migration, the London International Development Centre and international NGOs
- Get a placement in a partner organisation working in international development with our new International Development Placement module - (virtual delivery)
- Our staff specialise in a range of thematic areas including sustainability and climate change, migration and displacement, conflict, humanitarian action, labour, political ecology, and aid and institutions
- Check out our Humanitarian Hub for thought-provoking blogs, podcasts and commentary by SOAS staff and research associates on their cutting-edge research, and students' voices.
This programme focuses on student-centred and engaged learning and critical thinking. Modules span a wide variety of topics allowing students to focus on special areas of interest and utilise innovative and cutting-edge pedagogies such as podcasts, visual presentations, learning diaries and field trips.
Gallery
Ideal Students
Who Should Do This Programme?
We welcome students with a strong background in the social sciences, management, humanities or social science of medicine in their first degree, and those who have worked in the area of humanitarian aid, development, or in a related field.
This course will provide a solid foundation and practical skills for students with an interest working in humanitarian aid, policymaking, global development, migration, civil society and advocacy, philanthropy, the NGO sector, or academia and research careers.
Admissions
Curriculum
Students must take 180 credits per year comprised of 120 taught credits (including core, compulsory and optional modules) and a 60-credit dissertation.
Open modules: Students can choose up to 30 credits from other Departments as open options.
Core
- Dissertation in Development Studies
Compulsory
- Humanitarianism: Challenges & Critiques
Guided Option List A
- Political economy of violence, conflict and development
- Migration and Development
Guided Options (30-60 credits from Development Studies Guided Options)
- Civil society, social movements and the development process
- Development Practice
- Issues in Forced Migration
- Problems of Development in the Middle East and North Africa
- Security
- Migration and Policy
- Energy Transition, Nature, and Development in a Time of Climate Change
- Environment, Governance and Development
- Global Health and Development
- Cities and Development
- International Development Placement
- Structural Change and Economic Development in Africa
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
A degree from the Department of Development Studies at SOAS will further develop your understanding of the world and how society is organised, with a specific focus on violence and conflict, the role of aid, refugees and forced migration. Graduates leave with a range of transferable skills, including critical thinking, analytical skills and cultural awareness.
Recent graduates have been hired by:
- Amnesty International
- BBC World Service
- British Embassy Brussels
- Department for International Development
- Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)
- Embassy of Japan
- Government of Pakistan
- Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
- International Labour Organization (ILO)
- KPMG LLP
- National Health and Medical Research Council
- Overseas Development Institute
- Oxfam
- Royal Norwegian Embassy
- Save the Children UK
- The World Bank
- Thinking Beyond Borders
- U.S. Department of State
- UN World Food Programme
- UN High Commissioner for Refugees
- WaterAid
Faculty
Program delivery
Our teaching and learning approach is designed to support and encourage students in their own process of self-learning, and to develop their own ideas, responses and critique of international development practice and policy.
We do this through a mixture of lectures, and more student-centred learning approaches (including tutorials and seminars). Teaching combines innovative use of audio-visual materials, practical exercises, group discussions, and weekly guided reading and discussions, as well as conventional lecturing.