Dublin, Ireland
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 26,250 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* full time non-EU fee per year - € 26250; EU fee per year - € 9930
Key Summary
Introduction
The MSc Humanitarian Action has evolved over a 25-year period and is distinguished by its inter-disciplinary, inter- sectoral and international nature.
The COVID19 pandemic has impacted societies globally. It has exposed the vulnerabilities and fragility of our existence. Unfortunately, it has emerged at a time when the International Humanitarian System is already challenged to address the effects of other disasters. We are living in an era of unprecedented humanitarian need brought about by climate change, complex political emergencies resulting in conflict, global migration, and protracted conflicts. Before the pandemic emerged, an estimated 72 million people were displaced from their homes due to conflict, an estimated 180 million people were in need of immediate humanitarian assistance, and almost a billion were under-nourished globally. Needless to say, the devastation of COVID19 will vary considerably across societies.
This MSc provides high quality academic education and professional competencies for those working or intending to work in the area of humanitarian action and related areas. The programme aims to provide students with a broad foundation in the area of international humanitarian action, in which both critical thinking and research skills are emphasised. The goal is to deliver high level, committed, interdisciplinary trained personnel who can function with enhanced professionalism in the broad field of humanitarian relief, and are informed by their theoretical insights and humanitarian principles. The programme design integrates professional and research orientation that is intended to bridge the gap between academic research and the humanitarian work-field.
The programme supports students to build suitable networks for research and internships. This masters programme has a long tradition of attracting students from diverse backgrounds with varying degrees of experience in the humanitarian sector and related fields.
This MSc Programme is closely aligned to the UCD Centre for Humanitarian Action (UCD-CHA) and NOHA, both of which are well recognised as key global institutional stakeholders in Humanitarian Studies.
The programme provides a dynamic classroom based learning environment, involving a variety of teaching methods such as lectures, simulations and field-trips. Students have the opportunity to explore specific themes through second trimester specialisations and a minor thesis. The MSc in Humanitarian Action brings together experts from academia and the field to lecture on the different modules.
Gallery
Ideal Students
Who should apply?
Full-Time option suitable for:
- Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
- International (Non-EU) applicants: Yes
Humanitarian action is regarded as a boundary discipline, occupying a space on the margins of several academic disciplines. The MSc Humanitarian Action is an inter-disciplinary programme welcoming students from a diverse range of backrounds including management, politics, public health, international law, social anthropology, agriculture, science and engineering.
The interdisciplinary, inter-sectoral and international nature of this Masters programme benefits from a diverse stakeholder mix amongst both instructors and students engaged in the programme.
- Inter-disciplinary: Engaging with a range of disciplines as they relate to humanitarian action and strengthening societal resilience, including management, politics, public health, international law and social anthropology.
- Inter-sectoral: Partnering the full stakeholder mix including The Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement, INGOs, Government Representative and the Private sector to engage with academics to enrich the learning experience for graduate students
- International: Attracting students from a diverse range of nationalities, educational cultures and professional experiences to challenge contemporary theory, policy and practices. The international dimension is typified by the field trip to Wolaita, Ethiopia as part of the third trimester of the programme.
Admissions
Curriculum
Program Outcome
- Demonstrate a sound understanding of the humanitarian principles, and the ethical, legal and emancipatory rationales for humanitarian action
- Established competence in the theory, policy and discourse of humanitarian action as it relates to a range of related disciplines, including programme management, international law, geo-political science, public health and social anthropology
- Demonstrate a sound understanding of the international humanitarian system, the main stakeholders that comprise this system, together with the main challenges faced by the system in addressing global humanitarian need
- Apply research knowledge and analytical skills that support evidence-based humanitarian action
- Critical analysis of humanitarian action to optimise local engagement and support ‘people-centred humanitarian action’
- Demonstrate an understanding of and capacity to work in a humanitarian context (Field Visit)
- Design and develop an appropriate research study to strengthen resilience in a humanitarian context
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Careers & Employability
There are some 600 alumni of the MSc Humanitarian Action holding positions both in the field and at headquarters level around the world. Many of these alumni are employed with the UN, Government, Non-governmental organisations or within academia.
Graduate Roles:
- Program Managers
- Protection Officers
- Field/Country Directors
- Emergency Team Leaders
- Administrators
- Researchers
- Academics and Consultants