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Summary

Course details

Course type:

Master’s Programme

Director of studies:

Imri Schattner-Ornan

Director of studies email:

mylstm@lstmed.ac.uk

Mode of study:

Duration:

1 Year

Home fee:

£11,200

Overseas fee:

£23,000

Additional costs:

Overseas Research Projects incur additional costs

3 good reasons to study

It gives you practical and theoretical skills essential for work in the humanitarian sector. It helps you to develop critical and professional capacities useful for your career.

It offers a unique opportunity to do research for your dissertation abroad or in the UK whilst working with lead researchers and key organisations in the field.

LSTM has an international and multidisciplinary approach, allowing you to study with people from around the world and benefit form the opportunities of exchanging and sharing views and forming lasting friendships and networks.

Programme Overview

The programme reviews historical and current policies and practice in humanitarian assistance and explores novel approaches in responding to the challenges of today’s humanitarian problems. It is responding to the need for a professional, integrated, accountable and ethical approach to humanitarian interventions in which humanitarian workers are often called upon to operate in complex and demanding environments.

Opportunities for in-depth study include regional and country case studies and modules addressing specific aspects of humanitarian interventions. In addition, the programme offers participants an opportunity to develop and undertake a research project, usually overseas, in an area of special interest indicated by client non-governmental organisations, international organisations or national ministries. Alternatively, participants may undertake a desk-based research study of a specialist aspect of humanitarian interventions or they may undertake and document a placement / internship with an appropriate non-governmental or international organisation (NGO/IO).

From a student’s perspective, the programme follows a path from general introduction to the world of humanitarian action, to examining key settings and the management of relief operations, cumulating with the research project or placement, allowing students to incorporate both the practical and theoretical trends of the programme. At the same time, the programme follows a coherent path towards a research project/internship, starting with general introductions to research and progressing, via the Scientific and Professional Skills, to look at specific skills useful for the student.

Programme Structure

LSTM programmes are taught within a dynamic environment by staff working at the cutting-edge of research in tropical medicine and global health. They are designed to enable the professional development of the student, to be relevant to students from both the UK and overseas and to promote approaches to study that will enable students to continue their learning into the future.

The programme comprises an introductory induction week, taught modules totalling 120 credits and a 60 credit dissertation. A 20-credit module (10 ECTS credits) represents 200 hours of student learning activity including assessment and self-directed study. Many students carry out a fieldwork-based dissertation project overseas but students can opt to conduct a laboratory project if they are suitably qualified, or literature-based project that does not involve travelling abroad. All types of project have the key aims of developing the students’ skills in formulating a research question, designing and implementing a research project and critically interpreting and presenting the findings. The timing of modules across the academic year recognises the financial and time constraints faced by LSTM students, many of whom are from overseas. To allow students to access LSTM programmes in an economical and time-efficient manner, there are only 2 weeks holiday scheduled over Christmas. The remaining weeks of holiday are deferred to the end of the academic year.

Entrance Requirements

Academic requirements:

Open to graduates with at least a Second Class Honours Bachelor's degree or overseas equivalent, although each application is judged on its own merits and exceptions to this entry requirement may be made. We will consider graduates from all disciplines as the programme is interdisciplinary. Evidence of 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.

Recognition of prior learning:

All programmes of study will permit entry with credit attributed to previous certificated study up to a total of one third of the credits required to be awarded a MSc Degree, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Award.

Work experience:

Non-graduates with considerable satisfactory work experience and evidence of appropriate in-service training will also be considered. Field experience 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 2 years. We have a section with full details on our English language requirements.

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

Aims

This course aims to:

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

Enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the history and political economy of war, disasters, 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
9 September 2024	8 September 2025	£11,200	£23,000	Apply

Start date:
9 September 2024

End date:
8 September 2025

Home fee:
£11,200

Overseas fee:
£23,000

Apply

MSc Humanitarian Studies