As armed conflicts persist and natural disasters are intensified by climate change, addressing the needs and challenges of vulnerable, displaced people in complex emergencies is a global priority. Gain the practical humanitarian skills and operational expertise you need to improve health in fragile and crisis-affected communities.

Study Health in Humanitarian Crises to develop your current role or get ready for new positions in this vital field. Ours is one of the few distance learning courses available in this field.

What you will learn

• Explore the humanitarian project cycle, including ethical considerations, policy issues, and global response architecture
• Develop strong evidence-based decision-making skills for effective crisis response
• Build on your critical analysis and evaluation skills to confidently gather critical information, assess and prioritise needs, design programmes and monitor intervention effectiveness
• Apply a decolonial lens to understand how historical roots impact humanitarian ethics, political economy, and current barriers
• Strengthen professional skills in problem-solving, time management, and written and verbal communication
• Choose elective topics to complement the core course, that matters most to you and your career, from global mental health to medical anthropology

The course has been developed by academics and field experts from the likes of Médecins Sans Frontières, Save the Children and the World Health Organization. You’ll benefit from a real diversity of expertise and unique insights from teaching staff and guest lecturers.

This online degree allows you to learn from anywhere in the world, at a time that suits you. Whether you have family commitments or you’re working in the field with limited internet access, you can work at your own pace. 

Once you complete the core modules, you have the option to apply for the mixed mode learning option to study modules on-campus in London. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet other students and tutors in person; and engage in face-to-face discussion-based learning.

Who’s it for?

You might be a policy maker or researcher looking to deepen your understanding of humanitarian issues. Perhaps you’re already delivering health projects within a crisis-affected community, and want to progress to a global leadership role. Or maybe you’re a graduate who is passionate about working in a humanitarian setting.

Diversity is important in a humanitarian response. Our course and our student body reflect that. Study alongside peers from a range of backgrounds and choose to complete either a Certificate, Diploma or MSc.

We created this course to give you the skills to hit the ground running in humanitarian response as well as to progress to leadership positions at an organisational or national level. The MSc qualification also provides a strong foundation for pursuing a PhD or Doctorate in public health.

Duration