MA in International Relations (120 ECTS)

What are the dominant issues in humanitarian action? What is the so-called aid industry? And can professionalization prevent dependence on aid? Find out in this programme.

The 120 ECTS Erasmus Mundus Joint Degree Master in International Humanitarian Action is an inter-university multidisciplinary master. It provides high-quality academic education and professional competencies for personnel working or intending to work in the area of humanitarian action. The programme is jointly offered by 8 European universities in the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Malta, France and Poland. Students can follow the Regional Training Track (3rd semester) at various global universities.

Interdisciplinary, multicultural and multilingual teaching and training by interfaculty members, a combination of in-house experts and field-experienced guest lecturers. In this programme, you will learn to evaluate humanitarian emergencies. You will study the causes of conflicts and different coping strategies for conflicts and disasters, and assess intervention and reconstruction programmes. Also, practical skills are acquired such as management skills and cross-cultural communication skills. Graduates have the capacity to act at all levels of humanitarian relief operations and to function in a variety of ways to enhance the professional delivery of assistance and substantial actions.

Why study this programme in Groningen?

• Erasmus Mundus Joint Degree programme
• Joint degree diploma from two European universities
• Unique, multilingual, interdisciplinary and inter-university programme
• Consortium of European and Global partner universities
• Unique combination of hands-on practice and theory
• Career-oriented internship in humanitarian organizations
• Possibility to study at one of our Global partner universities

Study abroad

• Study abroad is required
• For an average of 40 weeks
• Maximum of 90 EC

The first semester is spent at HOME university. The second semester is spent at one of the NOHA programme universities in Europe. During the third-semester students choose between the Regional Training Track at one of our global partner universities or the Work Placement Track. Free choice of location for writing the master's thesis.

More than a decade of experience has proved the Network's commitment and capacity to educate and train highly committed and interdisciplinary persons who can act at all levels of humanitarian relief operations and who can function in a variety of ways to enhance the delivery of humanitarian assistance and sustainable actions.

Job prospects

Some 3,500 graduated professionals work in the field of humanitarian relief and international cooperation. They hold various positions of responsibility in all kinds of international and national NGOs, institutions, agencies and governments both in the field and at the headquarters level all around the world. Such positions include programme managers, protection officers, field/country directors, emergency team leaders, administrators, researchers, academics and consultants.

Job examples

• protection officers
• researchers
• field/country directors
• emergency team leaders
• programme managers
• consultants