Programme Overview

Overall, this course aims to provide you with knowledge and critical understanding on the causes, the consequences, and the responses to complex, violent and multifaceted humanitarian emergencies.

In this intensive course, we will explore some of the theories related to the onset of violent conflicts leading to serious humanitarian crises, illustrate these theories by looking at specific case studies of recent complex humanitarian emergencies such as the war in Yemen, the conflict in Libya, the 1990's wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone and others. We will then investigate what challenges these contexts create for international, national and local Humanitarian actors in practice, and will focus on questions of managing risks, creating humanitarian spaces and engaging with local stakeholders. The module will conclude by examining the role and importance of media in our understanding and response to such emergencies and illustrate how humanitarian actors have used media for advocacy or international action yet have become dependent on media attention.

20 Academic Credits - Assessments - these will be submitted in assessment week 10-14 February 2025

For an additional fee of £95, you can be entered for full Academic Credits for this course.

Please note that assessments may change at the discretion of the Directors of Study. All students will be made aware of new assessment details. The academic credits are offered to provide choice and flexibility to all our students, and students who do not wish to be entered for academic credits will be awarded a Certificate of Attendance.

Option for Academic Credit - 20 Credits at Masters level
This course is assessed by :

70% - 4,000 written assignment on a topic chosen by the student related to the module core aim

30% - a 15 minute oral presentation on a complex humanitarian situation

Please note that assessments may change at the discretion of the Directors of Study. All students will be made aware of new assessment details. The academic credits are offered to provide choice and flexibility to all our students, and students who do not wish to be entered for academic credits will be awarded a Certificate of Attendance / Completion.