MA in International Humanitarian Action
University of Groningen
Key Information
Campus location
Groningen, Netherlands
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
EUR 6,000 / per year
Application deadline
01 May 2024
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
Introduction
What are the dominant issues in humanitarian action? What is the so-called aid industry? And can professionalization prevent dependence on aid? Find out in this program.
The 120 ECTS Erasmus Mundus Joint Degree Master in International Humanitarian Action is an inter-university multidisciplinary master. It provides high-quality academic education and professional competencies for personnel working or intending to work in the area of humanitarian action. It is offered by 8 European universities in the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Malta, France, and Poland. The students can follow the regional training (3rd semester) at various global universities.
Interdisciplinary, multicultural, and multilingual teaching and training by interfaculty members, a combination of in-house experts, and field-experienced guest lecturers. In this program, you will learn to evaluate humanitarian emergencies. You will study the causes of conflicts and different coping strategies for conflicts and disasters, assess intervention and reconstruction programs. Also, practical skills are acquired such as management skills and cross-cultural communication skills.
Graduates have the capacity to act at all levels of humanitarian relief operations and to function in a variety of ways to enhance professional delivery of assistance and substantial actions.
Why study this program in Groningen?
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Degree program
- Joint degree diploma of two European universities
- Unique, multilingual, interdisciplinary, and inter-university program
- A consortium of European and Global partner universities
- The unique combination of hands-on practice and theory
- Career-oriented internship in humanitarian organizations
- Possibility to study at one of our Global partner universities
Curriculum
Year 1
Semester 1 (home university): consists of the Intensive program and jointly developed NOHA modules providing ample opportunity to learn about and discuss the essentials of humanitarian action and its current trends.
Semester 2 (host university): allows students to obtain more advanced knowledge and competencies in specific areas of humanitarian action. Each NOHA program university offers a study program around its unique expertise which is supplemented by a set of joint NOHA courses.
Courses
- Intensive program in Humanitarian Action (5 EC)
- World Politics and Humanitarian Action (5 EC)
- Social and Medical Sciences in Humanitarian Action (10 EC)
- Legal Dimensions of Humanitarian Action (5 EC)
- Management in Humanitarian Action (5 EC)
- Humanitarian Analysis and Intervention Design (H-AID) (20 EC)
- Methodology and Research Methods in Humanitarian Studies (5 EC)
- Advanced Management in Humanitarian Action (5 EC)
Year 2
Semester 3: students choose between a Regional Training Track (RTT) and a Work Placement Track (WPT).
RTT: elective courses in regional humanitarian studies at a NOHA partner university.
WPT: advanced career development training and placement at a humanitarian organization.
Semester 4: allows students to obtain key competencies that are necessary to conduct research in the humanitarian action context. Students will write a master thesis in order to demonstrate these competencies.
Courses
- Regional Training Track (30 EC, optional)
- Work Placement Track + Career Development Training (30 EC, optional)
- Master Thesis (30 EC)
Study abroad
- Study abroad is required
- For an average of 40 weeks
- Maximum of 90 EC
The first semester is spent at the HOME university. The second semester is spent at one of the NOHA partner universities in Europe. During the third-semester students choose between research specialization in one of the Global partner universities or professional placement. Free choice of location for writing the master's thesis.
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Job prospects
Some 3,500 graduated professionals work in the field of humanitarian relief and international co-operation. They hold various positions of responsibility in all kinds of international and national NGOs, institutions, agencies, and government both in the field and at headquarters level all around the world. Such positions include program managers, protection officers, field/country directors, emergency team leaders, administrators, researchers, academics, and consultants.
Job examples
- protection officers
- consultants
- researchers
- field/country directors
- emergency team leaders
- program managers