Master Degree

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Accredited
6 Years
20 Dec 2023
Accreditation DGES
Initial registry R/A-Cr 172/2020
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Contacts
School of Sociology and Public Policy
Secretariat
Sedas Nunes Building (Building I), room 1E03
secretariado.espp @iscte-iul.pt
(+351) 210 464 015
9:30 - 18:00
Iscte Business School
Secretariat
Ala Autónoma, Office 235
ibs@iscte-iul.pt
(+351) 210 464 014

Tuition fee EU nationals (2025/2026)

1.stYear 2700.00 €
2.rdYear 1250.00 €
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Lectured in Portuguese
Teaching Type In person

The study plan of the Master in Humanitarian Action includes:

1st year

 1st semester: 4 compulsory and 1 elective courses.

 2nd semester: 4 compulsory courses including Research Design, oriented towards the development of the final dissertation/project work, and 1 elective course.

2nd year

Development of a Dissertation or Project Work

 1st semester: 2 elective courses - 1 methodological (Specialized Research Techniques) and one elective.

 Students can do an internship (elective course) in an organisation from the humanitarian area.


 The syllabus allows students to customize their training path through free elective subjects that can be selected from those specific to the humanitarian field, or any course offered by Iscte in any of its different disciplinary areas. The electives are not presented in the syllabus but will be available at the time of enrolment in Fenix System.

 The Master in Humanitarian Action is taught in Portuguese, in post-labor shifts from 6p.m. to 8p.m. and from 8.30p.m. to 10.30p.m. In the 1st year, the teaching period corresponds to a total of 24 weeks, from the end of September to the end of May. The evaluation and holiday periods are defined by the Iscte academic calendar.

More information about the study plan here.

Programme Structure for 2025/2026

1st Year
Public Health in Humanitarian Action
6.0 ECTS
Human Rights and Legal Dimensions in Humanitarian Action
6.0 ECTS
Concepts, Fundaments and Challenges in Humanitarian Action
6.0 ECTS
Research Design
6.0 ECTS
Social Sciencies in Humanitarian Action
6.0 ECTS
Leadership and Team Management in Humanitarian Action
6.0 ECTS
Management in Humanitarian Action
6.0 ECTS
International Politics and Geopolitics
6.0 ECTS
2nd Year
Master Project in Humanitarian Action
48.0 ECTS
Dissertation on Humanitarian Action
48.0 ECTS
2nd Cycle Internship
6.0 ECTS

Recommended optative

The recommended electives are specific curricular units in the area of Humanitarian Action at Iscte. The study plan allows you to select any other free elective offered by Iscte courses.

 Note: The operation of optional curricular units is subject to a minimum number of enrolments.


1st semester

- 2nd cycle internship

Participatory Evaluation in Humanitarian Action

- Project Management in Humanitarian Action

- International Cooperation in Africa

- Humanitarian Urbanism and Collaborative Processes

2nd semester

- Contemporary International Migration

- Strategy in Humanitarian Action

Objectives

The Master's in Humanitarian Action aims to provide solid, interdisciplinary training for professionals from various fields who work or intend to specialise in the area of humanitarian action. Students will acquire the skills to manage projects in refugee camps, deal with cultural differences, lead teams, coordinate different agents and organisations in the field, and critically reflect on their own experiences. 

The Master's in Humanitarian Action aims to provide students with solid, interdisciplinary training in:

 Prevention, preparation, response and recovery in humanitarian action, including the link with development;

 The ability to critically analyse and develop responses/solutions to situations of disaster, emergency or ongoing humanitarian action;

 Creative, autonomous reflection on the impacts of interventions, supported by rigorous analysis tools and research techniques adapted to the academic side, but also adjusted to the specific needs of the professional area.


The following are the Learning Goals (LG) for the Master in Humanitarian Action:

LG1: Describe key concepts of humanitarian action, their historical evolution, the ethical-legal, institutional and political framework, as well as the links between actors, policies and sector strategies

LG2: Develop critical understanding of the state of the art in the humanitarian field, particularly in the social sciences, management, international politics and geopolitics, and public health

LG3: Analyse in an interdisciplinary way the different humanitarian situations, responses and challenges

LG4: To apply management decision processes and leadership strategies to the specific needs of the humanitarian sector, namely in the formulation, coordination and implementation of projects in the field

LG5: Using tools and methodologies in the analysis and evaluation in humanitarian action

Contacts
School of Sociology and Public Policy
Secretariat
Sedas Nunes Building (Building I), room 1E03
secretariado.espp @iscte-iul.pt
(+351) 210 464 015
9:30 - 18:00
Iscte Business School
Secretariat
Ala Autónoma, Office 235
ibs@iscte-iul.pt
(+351) 210 464 014
Apply