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Summary

Course details

Course type:

Master’s Programme

Director of studies:

Imri Schattner-Ornan

Director of studies email:

study@lstmed.ac.uk

Mode of study:

Duration:

1 year

Home fee:

£11,760

Overseas fee:

£24,150

Additional costs:

Overseas research projects will incur additional costs.

If you are considering a Master's programme starting in September 2025 we are holding an on-campus open event for you to discover more about our programmes. Register Now

As a planet we are facing some of the most extreme challenges of modern times. Poverty, inequality, displacement, conflict, natural disasters and climate change are all contributing to complex and demanding circumstances that jeopardise livelihoods and lives on a massive scale.

Humanitarian intervention is often a lifeline – saving lives and supporting communities to thrive in the face of adversity and catastrophic conditions. The MSc in Humanitarian Studies will give you the skillset to become part of a professional, integrated and ethical response to today's humanitarian problems, and make a real difference.

What will I get out of it?

Covering a range of key global issues, you will gain a deeper understanding of the history and political economy of war, disasters and humanitarian action. You will focus on relief operations and the impact on the health and wellbeing of populations.
You will apply your knowledge to real-life regional and country case studies, working with humanitarian experts and drawing on up-to-date research.
Working with people from a variety of disciplines and professional backgrounds will broaden your world view and enrich your professional practice.
Our strong links with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other international organisations will help you build your professional network and provide exciting options for projects, placements and future opportunities.

Is Humanitarian Studies for me?

If you are committed and proactive and want to get out there and make a difference, this MSc will give you the focused knowledge and specialised skills you need to create change and lead. Whether you have a background in health, political and social sciences, engineering, agriculture, development, law human rights or administration and media, you can be part of the solution.

Why LSTM?

Long-standing links with NGOs and international organisations will enhance your learning experience and provide placement opportunities abroad.
Our international and interdisciplinary community enables you to share and exchange diverse views and thrive personally and professionally.
By combining historical context and theory with real-life case studies and practical application, you will develop critical capacities to benefit your career.

Meet Course Director Imri Schattner-Ornan.

Course Content

The MSc in Humanitarian Studies consists of four topic-based modules, in addition to a Research Methods module, a Scientific and Professional Skills module and an extended research project.

Semester 1

Core Modules

Scientific and Professional Skills (20 credits) will teach you a variety of skills, including the use of software for research, project management tools, presentation and public engagement. You can also participate in a professional group 'consultancy project' working with an NGO or government agency.
Context and Developments in Humanitarianism (20 credits) will introduce you to the humanitarian world and explore current debates and future developments in the sector. You will learn about where the sector is coming from and where it is heading.
Research Methods in Public Health (20 credits) will let you develop diverse research skills, both qualitative and quantitative, essential to your studies.

Semester 2

Core Modules

Scientific and Professional Skills (20 credits) continued
Complex Humanitarian Emergencies and Responses (20 credits) will explore the most challenging humanitarian situations, such as civil wars, and reflect on how humanitarians can provide relief and maintain their integrity. We will ask questions such as, why do civil wars happen and how can humanitarianism work in these contexts?
The Practice of Humanitarian Relief (20 credits) is an essential module which will help you understand how relief operations are designed and delivered, what the priorities are and how we can ensure the quality of humanitarian actions. You will learn from practicing professionals who will share their expertise.

One optional module can be selected from:

Global Climate Change and Health (20 credits)
Applied Statistics (20 credits)
Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Adolescent Health
Developing a Disease Control Programme

Semester 3

Research Project: Humanitarian Health and Public Health Programmes (60 credits) offer many options for research, depending on your interests. You can participate in ongoing research in the School or develop your own literature or field-based research. There are also opportunities for placements in organisations working on evaluation or service improvement projects.

Study Pattern

This one-year MSc is delivered on a full-time basis and requires completion of six 20-credit taught modules with an extended 60-credit research project. You will be expected to spend around 200 hours undertaking lectures, seminars, self-directed learning, research and reading for each 20-credit module.

In semester 1, after an induction week, you will complete the first two core taught modules and assessments, and in semester 2, you will complete the next three modules, two of which are core and one optional. The Scientific and Professional Skills module runs across semesters 1 and 2.

In semester 3 you will undertake a research project that can be linked with an NGO or international organisation and often involves a placement abroad.

Delivery

Our expert teaching staff encourage you to express your full potential, combining formal teaching with directed student-centred learning.

Lectures highlight key issues and provide a core knowledge base which you can build on through your own independent and reflective learning. As a group, we will spend a lot of time discussing relevant issues, analysing and interpreting resources and solving problems together.

All your learning will be reinforced by the opportunity to apply concepts and practice activities in the laboratory and in the field.

Outcomes

Once you have completed the MSc Humanitarian Studies, you will have a comprehensive toolkit of knowledge and skills to take your career further.

You will develop knowledge and understanding, and be able to:

Develop a critical assessment of current issues and priorities in humanitarian studies.
Critically analyse the impact of humanitarian emergencies on health and wellbeing.
Understand humanitarian priorities and how humanitarian activities are managed.
Understand a range of relevant research methods, and how they can be applied to research questions.
Apply quantitative and/or qualitative methods to your research project and analyse and evaluate the data.

You will build cognitive skills, and be able to:

Apply the principles and values of ethical practice to the design and practice of research studies, consent and confidentiality in the collection and presentation of data, and publication.
Critically analyse, synthesise and evaluate information from a variety of sources.
Apply subject knowledge and understanding to a variety of contexts to analyse and reach evidence-based conclusions on complex situations, problems and opportunities.
Demonstrate creativity, innovation and originality in the application of knowledge.

You will add to your practical and professional skills and be able to:

Comprehend and integrate the working environment of relief operations through knowledge of working practices, best practice and priorities.
Formulate a research question, devise an appropriate research strategy and take a systematic approach to project planning and management.
Effectively manage, analyse and report data.
Undertake research investigations in a responsible, safe and ethical manner and accurately record the data collected.

Entrance Requirements

Academic requirements:

Applicants should have at least a second-class honours bachelor's degree or the overseas equivalent. Each application is, however, judged on its own merits and exceptions may be made for the right candidates.

As a multidisciplinary programme we welcome applications from graduates from any discipline. Engagement with the humanitarian or voluntary sector is desirable, but not essential.

Medical students who have completed at least three years of study and wish to intercalate are also accepted onto the programme. Read more about intercalating on our Intercalate at LSTM page.

Recognition of prior learning:

All programmes of study allow entry with credit attributed to previous certificated study. Previous study of up to one third of the credits required to be awarded an MSc, PGDip, PGCert or postgraduate award will be recognised.

Work experience:

Non-graduates with considerable relevant work experience, and evidence of appropriate in-service training will also be considered. Experience in the field is desirable, but not essential

English language requirements:

The programme is taught in English. Applicants whose first language is not English must normally provide evidence of an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of at least 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all learning components, or a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of at least 88 for the Internet-based Test (iBT), with minimum scores of 21 for listening and writing, 22 for reading and 23 for speaking.

Tests should be within their validity period of two years.

Other English language tests and country specific English language qualifications are also accepted, and a full list can be found on our English Language Requirements page.

Applicants who have recently completed a degree level qualification taught in a majority English speaking country (as identified by UK Visas and Immigration UKVI) may also be accepted at the discretion of the Director of Studies.

How to Apply

Details on how to apply for our programmes can be found on our How to Apply page.

Aims

This course aims to:

Produce graduates who are committed, informed, pro-active and effective professionals, capable of taking substantial and leading professional roles in humanitarian interventions and activities.

To enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the history and political economy of war, disasters, climate change, and humanitarian action, with particular attention to the relief operations and the health and well-being of individuals and populations

Give participants an opportunity either to conduct an independent in-depth field-based or desk-based research study of a specialist aspect of humanitarian interventions or to undertake and document a placement / internship with an appropriate NGO / IO.

Provide an interdisciplinary forum in which participants from a variety of professional backgrounds (e.g.health, political and social sciences, engineering, agriculture, development, international humanitarian law, human rights, administration and media) can explore differences and highlight shared approaches in humanitarian relief.

Facilitate high quality learning that is informed by critical analysis of current research related to the humanitarian sector

Careers

An MSc in Humanitarian Studies can lead to a variety of careers and professional pathways within, and beyond, the humanitarian world.

The expert skills you will gain from the programme will prepare you to work at a senior level for global organisations working to help prevent and respond to humanitarian crises. You will benefit from our strong working links with humanitarian organisations across the world, and graduate with a professional network that opens opportunities for your next steps.

In the humanitarian world, past Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine students have gone on to positions as country directors in international NGOs or UN agencies, working directly with local governments and rebels, or to other field management roles, managing activities in disaster and conflict areas. Others are working with marginalised communities like migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the UK and beyond. Our alumni are also working in advocacy, fundraising, media relations or as technical experts and specialists with NGOs and development agencies. We have alumni in many organisations such as Medicins San Frontieres (MSF), Save the Children, War Child, Plan, Trocaire, International Medical Corp, International Rescue Committee and the United Nations.

Our alumni also find employment in other fields. Medical students who have intercalated in the programme continue their qualifications but remain interested and engaged with humanitarian health. Many alumni have worked in management and leadership roles in the private sector and government agencies such as the NHS. Others continue their studies undertaking research on humanitarian and health-related topics.

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Start date	End date	Home fee	Overseas fee
8 September 2025	7 September 2026	£11,760	£24,150	Apply

Start date:
8 September 2025

End date:
7 September 2026

Home fee:
£11,760

Overseas fee:
£24,150

Apply

MSc Humanitarian Studies

Tabs

Course details

If you are considering a Master's programme starting in September 2025 we are holding an on-campus open event for you to discover more about our programmes. Register Now

What will I get out of it?

Is Humanitarian Studies for me?

Why LSTM?

Course Content

Semester 1

Core Modules

Semester 2

Core Modules

Semester 3

Study Pattern

Delivery

Outcomes

How to Apply

Submit your enquiries here

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