Humanitarian Policy and Practice MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Are you interested in understanding the complexity of humanitarian crises, and learning how to shape more ethically and politically sensitive responses in humanitarian contexts? Working alongside interdisciplinary experts at UCL, you’ll reflect on current policies, practices and political dynamics, and explore how to identify and shape forms of humanitarian responses suited to contemporary and future challenges. 

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£13,500
£6,750
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£36,500
£18,250
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Entry requirements

A UK degree at 2:1 classification or above in a social science or health/medical science subject or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Candidates who do not meet the academic standards but who have 5 or more years relevant professional experience (this can be a combination of voluntary and paid work) may be considered for admission.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Conflict, environmental disasters, disease outbreaks, and the rapidly escalating impact of the climate emergency, pose major challenges for those defending human and planetary health. We urgently need specialists who understand the root causes and drivers of humanitarian crises, and who can design and deliver effective and ethical responses.

Join us on this specialist, interdisciplinary Master’s degree at UCL to gain a deeper insight into the multitude of political, ethical and other challenges that shape humanitarian response today, and that will characterise humanitarian action for decades to come.

As a student on this programme you will draw from real-world case studies to develop the skills and expertise that is needed to shape effective, ethically justifiable, and politically grounded humanitarian policies and programmes. 

By the end of your year with us, you will be in a strong position to progress in a career in the humanitarian sector, and to secure roles with diverse humanitarian organisations, research groups, civil society organisations, or government agencies. 

Who this course is for

This programme is designed for individuals with an interest in political issues with profound humanitarian consequences. Applicants require a relevant first degree or equivalent experience; we accept applications from people with a wide range of qualifications, and will consider professional experience where students do not have a relevant first degree. We are especially keen to receive applications from students who have lived and worked in places affected by humanitarian crises.

What this course will give you

  • Study as part of UCL’s world-leading Faculty of Population Health Sciences, working alongside our academic experts across diverse disciplines including anthropology, public health, development studies, humanitarian affairs, and medicine.
     
  • UCL is ranked 6th in the world for public health (ShanghaiRanking’s 2023), 9th in the world as a university (QS World Rankings 2025) and is rated No.1 for research power and impact in medicine, health and life sciences (REF 2021).
     
  • Focus on a subject of fast-growing global importance, working with practitioners and policy makers with decades of experience in humanitarian response and research.
     
  • Explore the complex contexts in which humanitarian issues arise, and how such situations come to be framed and understood as crises.
     
  • Develop the technical, critical thinking and interdisciplinary skills needed to make complex decisions that take into account political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, health and other factors.
     
  • Learn to understand, analyse and critique existing and future humanitarian programmes, policies, approaches and processes, drawing on knowledge from across a variety of disciplines.
     
  • Gain a solid grounding in the methodologies and tools needed to interpret information and data ,and make appropriate judgements in difficult circumstances.
     
  • Tap into extensive networking opportunities in London, a hub for humanitarian policy-making and research, and set yourself up with the skills needed to enter, and progress in, the humanitarian sector and beyond.
     
  • Become part of a knowledgeable, interconnected and committed workforce of value-driven practitioners, policy-makers and researchers that are urgently needed to address local, global and planetary challenges and threats in the years and decades ahead.

The foundation of your career

Humanitarian systems have changed dramatically in recent decades. On this course, we focus specifically on the sector-wide desire to shift away from ‘top-down’ humanitarian approaches towards more locally-driven and locally-owned responses that are borne of, and work with, local networks and communities, to ensure equitable partnerships for lasting crisis response and recovery.

You’ll finish the course with an interdisciplinary academic qualification that demonstrates a strong interest and technical grounding in humanitarian politics and practice. The knowledge and practical skills you gain will allow you to contribute productively and critically to policy formulation, research, and practice across humanitarian and adjacent sectors.

You will be well placed to pursue implementation, advisory and research roles with civil society and community networks, non-governmental organisations, and government agencies, engaged in humanitarian policy formulation and response. 

On this programme, you will learn how to understand, analyse, and approach complex humanitarian emergencies, gaining the holistic perspective needed to formulate strategies and apply them in the field. The course has a strong theoretical foundation but also explores innovation in the sector, encouraging consideration of new approaches to humanitarian response and how technology can be harnessed in our efforts.

Professor Maria Kett

Humanitarian Policy and Practice MSc

Employability

As a graduate of this programme, you’ll go away with:

  • A detailed understanding of humanitarian politics and practice.
  • The ability to critically analyse humanitarian programmes and policies.
  • The ability to select, and apply, tools and knowledge to evaluate humanitarian interventions, policies, and positioning.
  • The ability to critically evaluate how knowledge is produced in humanitarian contexts, and critically appraise and design research initiatives.
  • Essential project management skills.
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills.
  • Effective teamwork skills.

Networking

Alongside your studies, you will have the opportunity to engage with a diversity of organisations engaged in different aspects of humanitarian response, and to immerse yourself in events, discussions and conferences organised in London.

The group project has been designed with the aim of connecting students with operational humanitarian organisations such that students are exposed to the real-life challenges that shape policy-making processes and operational humanitarian response.

London remains a vibrant hub for humanitarian research, policy and political engagement. Students will have opportunities to connect with experts across UCL and affiliate institutions. Expert talks, debates and career panels will also be organised for students on a periodic basis.

UCL is a member of the International Humanitarian Studies Association (IHSA), which students will have the opportunity to make use of during their studies.

Teaching and learning

While lectures, seminars, self-directed study will form the main body of the teaching and learning methods, there is also a strong focus on group work, reflecting the reality of working in the humanitarian sector. Group work will be organised around specific problems and challenges, based on interactive work, task sharing, reflecting, discussion with team members and evaluating approaches.

The course is built around expert- and practice-informed case studies and will draw from operational expertise from individuals and organisations that are actively engaged on humanitarian issues.

Students will be able to make use of a broad range of digital resources, and face-to-face learning will prioritise expert speakers and small group practical work on case studies.

Meet the academics currently leading this programme on the UCL IEHC website

Written exams – Testing and applying knowledge and understanding to case study/scenario analysis.
Coursework essays – Organisation of knowledge and understanding to develop cohesive argument.
Presentations – Selection, synthesis and communication of information for varied audience/ purpose, media, precis/concision, including both group and individual projects.
Portfolio – Collated series of short pieces of writing that have been developed and critiqued over the course of the module.
Group project – Presentation demonstrating planning and preparation and teamwork, complemented by a written report demonstrating structured subject knowledge from across the course.
Research project – Research analysis, literature review, critical appraisal, structured research writing and presentation of argument.

Typical contact hours and self-directed study requirements for this programme (though this varies slightly across different modules and for individual study or dissertations) are as follows:

For a 30-credit module (300 hours):
60 hours contact teaching (lectures and/or seminars); 160 hours independent study (reading, undertaking formative assessments etc; and 80 hours for revision, summative assessments(s))

For a 15-credit module (150 hours):
30 hours contact teaching (lectures and /or seminars); 80 hours independent study (reading, undertaking formative assessments etc; and 40 hours for revision, summative assessments(s))

For full-time students this equates to approximately 12 hours of contact time a week, including lectures, seminars and tutorials. Overall we expect full-time students to study a full 35-hour week, with time outside classes spent in self-directed study. Part-time and flexible students study at a pro-rata rate.

Modules

Students take eight core modules, plus one optional module. Seven are taught modules and two are project-based, of which one of the projects is an individual dissertation project, and the second is a group-based project.

Click through for further information about the module: Programme Management for Humanitarians.

For all other modules please see the links below.

Part-time study is completed over two academic years, during which time you will take eight core modules, plus one optional module. Seven are taught modules and two are project-based.

Click through for further information about the module: Programme Management for Humanitarians.

For all other modules please see the links below.

Modular/flexible based study is available for up to a maximum of five academic years, during which time you will take eight core modules plus one optional module. Six are taught modules and two are project-based. Flexible students can take as many or as few modules as they would like in any given academic year.

Click through for further information about the module: Programme Management for Humanitarians.

For all other modules please see the links below.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Humanitarian Policy and Practice.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Humanitarian Policy and Practice MSc

Discover our Humanitarian Policy and Practice MSc at our upcoming virtual information sessions. In the session, you will have an introduction to the programme from the Programme Director and be able to ask any questions you may have. If you cannot join for the full length of the session, you are welcome to drop in or out, at your convenience.

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Humanitarian Policy and Practice MSc

Discover our Humanitarian Policy and Practice MSc at our upcoming virtual information sessions. In the session, you will have an introduction to the programme from the Programme Director and be able to ask any questions you may have. If you cannot join for the full length of the session, you are welcome to drop in or out, at your convenience.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £13,500 £6,750
Tuition fees (2025/26) £36,500 £18,250

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For flexible/modular offer holders a £500 fee deposit will be charged.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no additional costs for this programme.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

Our Studentships and Funding page highlights a range of funding sources available within the UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, across UCL and external to UCL.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

MPH IMPACT Scholarship

Deadline: 30 June 2025
Value: £20,500 towards tuition fees ()
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

MSc Health Psychology Jane Wardle Studentship

Value: £3,750 towards tuition fees ((pro-rata if part-time) (1yr)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

MSc Population Health Studentship

Deadline: 27 June 2025
Value: £2,500 (1 yr)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

MSc Studentship in Social Epidemiology

Deadline: 27 June 2025
Value: £2,500 (1 yr)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

The MSc Dental Public Health Aubrey Sheiham Scholarship

Deadline: 27 June 2025
Value: £2,500 (home students); £5,000 (overseas students) (1 yr)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • Why you want to study humanitarian policy and practice at graduate level.
  • Why you want to study humanitarian policy and practice at UCL specifically.
  • What particularly attracts you to the chosen programme.
  • How your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme.
  • Where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.