MA Humanitarianism and Conflict Response / Course details

Year of entry: 2023

Course description

Lucy Hiley

The speaker's series where experts from the field come and give talks to the students has been very insightful, as you get to hear first-hand experiences for those currently employed in this sector.

These talks, as well as lectures, have highlighted the challenges that can come with this type of career, but that it can also be very rewarding.

Lucy Hiley / MA Humanitarianism and Conflict Response

MA Humanitarianism and Conflict Response focuses on response to crises originating from both conflict-zones and natural disasters.

Bringing together the study of medicine and humanities, the course provides an inclusive approach that mirrors the reality of aid operations and informs the reflexive processes of both analytical and applied disciplines.

You will benefit from being able to draw on an exceptionally wide breadth of disciplinary traditions and research expertise.

Aims

We aim to:

  • Provide critical insights into competing perspectives on how Humanitarianism and Conflict Responses can be understood, analysed and explained - from both a historiographic and contemporary viewpoint.
  • Develop analytical skills in critically evaluating the idea of humanitarianism and the ways that responses to conflict are organised, justified and implemented. This includes competency in developing a reasoned argument, critically considering data sources and defending different approaches.
  • Develop skills in gathering, organising and using evidence and information from a wide variety of sources. This will be complemented by guidance on how best to manage workloads and obtain research materials.
  • Enable you to apply research skills to a relevant research area.

By the end of the course, students should be able to show a critical understanding of:

  • Key issues and debates in Humanitarianism and Conflict Response, familiarity with different theoretical approaches, practical problems and an appreciation of the diversity of policies at international and national levels.
  • Both the range of social science topics associated with Humanitarianism and Conflict Response and the normative and historiographic assumptions which underpin these issues.
  • The analytical and policy literature concerning the related issues of the causes of conflict, reconstruction, ethics and international governance structures and institutions, the role and perspectives of the state, multilateral and bilateral agencies, international and domestic NGOs and other civil institutions.
  • A detailed and extensive understanding of a specific conceptual and/or policy-related area of Humanitarianism and Conflict Response, of the implications and limitations of research findings on this subject; and of how to produce an original piece of academic research, all through their dissertation.

Special features

Study at HCRI

The Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI) at The University of Manchester is inspired by the need to conduct rigorous research and to support both undergraduate and postgraduate training on the impact and outcomes of contemporary and historical crises.

Established in 2008 by Dr Rony Brauman, Professor Bertrand Taithe and Professor Tony Redmond, HCRI is widely recognised as being a leading international research institute focusing on the study of humanitarianism, conflict response and peacebuilding.

Our work is driven by a desire to inform and support policy and decision makers, to optimise joint working between partner organisations, and to foster increased understanding and debate within the field.

Bringing together the disciplines of medicine and the humanities (including international relations and political science) to achieve these goals, HCRI aims to facilitate improvements in crisis response on a global scale whilst providing a centre of excellence for all concerned with emergencies, conflicts and peace.

We embrace this opportunity to develop a scholarly and professional agenda for humanitarians and peacebuilders around the world.

Find out more about HCRI on our website .

Teaching and learning

You will learn through a variety of teaching methods, depending on the units you take. These may include lectures, tutorials and independent study.

Coursework and assessment

You will be assessed through a variety of methods, depending on the units you take. These may include written assignments, oral presentations and thematic maps.

Course unit details

You will undertake units totalling 180 credits. Core and optional units combine to make 120 credits, with the remaining 60 credits allocated to the dissertation.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Dissertation HCRI60000 60 Mandatory
Humanitarianism and Conflict Response: Inquiries HCRI60031 15 Mandatory
Research and Evaluation Methods HCRI60170 15 Mandatory
Humanitarian Education HCRI50010 15 Optional
Researching Responses to Displacement HCRI60061 15 Optional
Anthropology of Violence and Reconstruction HCRI60131 15 Optional
Armed Groups and Humanitarian Aid HCRI60162 15 Optional
Humanitarian Diplomacy and Negotiation in Practice HCRI60222 15 Optional
Rethinking Recovery HCRI60252 15 Optional
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Humanitarian Crises HCRI60292 15 Optional
Security Infrastructures in an Uncertain World HCRI60412 15 Optional
Young People in Conflicts and Displacement (20-21 Centuries) HCRI60511 15 Optional
The Politics of International Intervention, Conflict, and Peace HCRI60612 15 Optional
The History of Humanitarian Aid HCRI61202 15 Optional
Vital Mobilities: Delivering Healthcare in a Changing Climate HCRI61302 15 Optional
Gender, Race & Security HCRI62221 15 Optional
Conceptualising the Camp HCRI62311 15 Optional
Systemic Approaches to Disaster Management HCRI63221 15 Optional
Citizen Participation in Disasters HCRI63322 15 Optional
Humanitarianism and Genocide HCRI63332 15 Optional
Cash and Market Based Programming in Crisis Settings HCRI70081 15 Optional
Community Approaches to Health HCRI71000 15 Optional
Emergency Humanitarian Assistance (blended) HCRI71060 15 Optional
Ethics, Human Rights and Health HCRI72000 15 Optional
Health Systems HCRI74000 15 Optional
Management and Leadership in Health and Humanitarianism HCRI76000 15 Optional
Conflict Analysis MGDI60451 15 Optional
Climate, Environment and Development MGDI60552 15 Optional
Migration, Mobility and Displacement in the Contemporary World MGDI60731 15 Optional
Key Issues in Environment and Development MGDI60801 15 Optional
Characteristics and Skills of Development Practice MGDI71992 15 Optional
Global Governance POLI70422 15 Optional
Democracy: Theory & Practice POLI70872 15 Optional
Peace and Social Agency, Security and Intervention: Theories and Practices POLI70991 15 Optional
Fundamentals of Epidemiology POPH60991 15 Optional
Creating a Sustainable World: Interdisciplinary Applications of the Sustainable Development Goals UCIL60312 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 36 course units

Course collaborators

Médecins Sans Frontières (see 'Associated Organisations').

What our students say

 You can read blog posts by and profiles of HCRI students on the Manchester Calling blog.

Facilities

You will benefit from access to one of the UK's five National Research Libraries, modern study facilities and a range of cultural assets on campus and beyond.

Find out more about our facilities .

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk