Global Humanitarian Studies BSc

Course overview

Each year of the programme comprises 75 credits of compulsory modules (five 15 credit modules in years one and two or three 15 credit modules and one 30 credit module in year three) and 45 credits of optional modules.

You will take a compulsory central core of humanitarian studies running through all three years. This core includes both researcher-led academic subjects and core competencies. You will cover a broad range of subject areas including understanding and analysis of humanitarian crises, conflict, disaster, migration, trapped populations and immobility natural hazards and climate risks, water security and sustainability, health and wellbeing impacts, gender and intersectionality, humanitarian policy, law and aid economics, emergency and crisis response, humanitarian technology, logistics, communication and negotiation, violence, intersectionality and marginalisation, geospatial data analysis, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and ethical, historical and political contexts.

You can select a specialism to follow through three years, which will provide both breadth and depth according to your interests, from a range of specialism areas such as digital science, management science, global health, and anthropology and social science.

You can complement your specialism with optional modules offered by the department that have been specifically designed to increase your knowledge of the humanitarian sector through topics such as migration law, international relations, water security, microeconomics and technology for humanitarian action. Please note the balance of optional modules will depend on your chosen specialism(s) and any requisites or space restrictions.

In the third year, you will undertake an independent research project. This may be associated with your preferred specialism or the core humanitarian studies. UCL has extensive links to the sector and to practitioners and researchers who may support students in their research projects.

The BSc programme aims to educate and train future generations of humanitarian leaders in the theory and practice of humanitarian action. This multidisciplinary programme will equip you with the knowledge, critical, analytical and research skills and core competencies grounded in practice to anticipate evolving and emerging humanitarian threats and manage widening vulnerability and crisis response.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

The foundation of your career

Humanitarian organisations and employers have emphasised the need to professionalise the sector. The core skills taught in the degree programme are based on a framework developed through ongoing consultation with global and national employers in the humanitarian sector, including inter- and non-governmental organisations, international consultancies and humanitarian enterprises.

We will help you prepare for your career through dedicated careers support and training, opportunities to meet employers and industry contacts, and networking events. We also hold regular events and workshops with expert speakers from across the sector.

Employability

As well as in-depth subject knowledge, you will develop skills in key areas required for a career in the humanitarian sector. These include the principles, evidence base, analysis and assessment for humanitarian action; qualitative and quantitative research methods; strategic planning and project management; communication, negotiation and presentation skills; understanding security and ethics; leadership and team working.