MSc/PGDip/PGCert Humanitarian Practice / Course details
Year of entry: 2024
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Course description
The programme has widened my view and deepened my insight.
Critical Approaches to the Management of Humanitarian Operations made me think about philosophy as a humanitarian and a future leader in this field. Through discussion, group work, and reflective essay writing, I have learnt many issues to consider in humanitarian operations.
Sehyeon Kim / Programme Co-ordinator, Korea International Cooperation Agency
Our blended learning MSc in Humanitarian Practice is part of the Leadership Education Academic Partnership (LEAP) programme.
A flexible course designed by humanitarians, for humanitarians, it allows professionals to study alongside working in the field.
The programme is delivered jointly by the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI) at The University of Manchester and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) in partnership with Médecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).
The course brings together the disciplines of epidemiology, history, politics, anthropology, development studies, international relations, public health, management and humanitarian medicine, as well as the expertise of academics and leading practitioners.
Crossing traditional subject boundaries, it will enable you to reflect critically on issues arising from your own work, the wider humanitarian agenda and develop the skills set needed for contemporary humanitarian practitioners.
The course is blended, meaning there is a two-week intensive teaching period each semester either online or in Manchester or Liverpool, as well as online courses that you can study remotely.
As a student of HCRI and LSTM, you will benefit from a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to teaching and research, as well as individual tutoring and supervision from academics from a wide range of disciplines.
Aims
The overarching aim of the course is to enhance the leadership and management capacities in medical humanitarian operations through employing multidisciplinary, self-reflective and collaborative approaches and epistemologies. The course also aims to provide the following:
- To nurture graduates who are critical thinkers, effective communicators, innovative problem solvers, lifelong learners and ethical leaders with humanitarian principles.
- To advance interdisciplinary knowledge to meet the changing operational needs of humanitarian fields.
- Lead and excel in professional education, applied research and partnership for the betterment of humanitarian movements.
Special features
Blended learning
Each semester we hold a two-week intensive online or face-to-face teaching period, involving live lectures and activities.
This provides a valuable opportunity to meet other students from across the world, meet the academic team and attend extra-curricular events and activities.
This teaching period is a chance to take time out from day-to-day working life and focus on your studies.
You'll take part in group work, peer-to-peer learning and give presentations with colleagues from our diverse study body.
Innovative education partnership
The LEAP programme is delivered jointly by The University of Manchester's Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI) and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) in partnership with international medical humanitarian organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).
This partnership brings together interdisciplinary academic expertise and operational humanitarian experience.
Teaching and learning
This course combines the required core course units with a wide range of optional courses delivered by both The University of Manchester and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
The core units are delivered as blended learning, which include eight weeks of online learning with two weeks of intensive online or face-to-face teaching (when restrictions allow) in Manchester and Liverpool, in the middle of the units. Teaching and learning methods include:
- lectures;
- tutorials;
- skills workshops (including action learning sets);
- individual and group presentations;
- group discussion and reporting-back;
- group, paired and individual case study analyses and exercises;
- assignment and work-based projects;
- meetings with mentors;
- reflective reports.
We suggest that all students complete the Critical Approaches to Evidence unit in the first year as it will be an appropriate introduction to the course and master's-level study.
Students will also be able to choose 60 credits of optional units from the wide range of units offered by both institutions.
Coursework and assessment
Course unit details
For the MSc, you will need to complete 180 academic credits. You will take:
- four core units (60 credits);
- a selection of optional units (60 credits);
- a dissertation (60 credits).
Please note that this course offers optional units which have a 10, 15 or 20-credit weighting.
PGCert and PGDip
Other study pathways are also available.
To complete a PGCert, you must complete 60 credits within 24 months.
To complete a PGDip, you must complete 120 credits within 36 months.
Below is a list of core modules specific to the Humanitarian Practice course.
Information on all available optional modules can be found on our module database .
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.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation (MSc Global Health) | HCRI70000 | 60 | Mandatory |
| Critical Approaches to Evidence | HCRI70010 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Research Into Practice | HCRI70030 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Critical Approaches to Management of Humanitarian Operations | HCRI70040 | 15 | Mandatory |
| History of Humanitarian Aid | HCRI71200 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Dissertation (MSc Global Health) | HCRI70000 | 60 | Optional |
| Critical Approaches to Evidence | HCRI70010 | 15 | Optional |
| Research Into Practice | HCRI70030 | 15 | Optional |
| Critical Approaches to Management of Humanitarian Operations | HCRI70040 | 15 | Optional |
| Humanitarianism and Conflict Response: Inquiries | HCRI70090 | 15 | Optional |
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Additional fee information
MSc (full-time, 1 year on campus)
- UK students: £10,000
- International, including EU, students: £20,000
- UK students (per annum): £3,333
- International, including EU, students (per annum): £6,667
- UK students (per annum): £6,667
- International, including EU, students (per annum): £13,334
PGDip (part-time, 2 years distance learning )
- UK students (per annum): £3,333
- International, including EU, students (per annum): £6,667
PGCert (part-time, 1 year distance learning)
- UK students (per annum): £1,666
- International, including EU, students (per annum): £3,333