A masters in humanitarian health focuses on the practical skills and theories needed to run effective medical programmes in humanitarian crises. Providing the knowledge required to overcome health challenges and improve outcomes for people affected by poverty, conflict or disasters. A masters in humanitarian health often combines applied medicine with managerial and policy studies to give graduates a global overview of healthcare in humanitarian and international developments settings.
Doing a masters in humanitarian health often builds on previous medical qualifications and provides a specialism in healthcare management and implementation in crises zones or to people living in poverty. Graduates with a humanitarian health masters often work as medical coordinators or as part of health projects for humanitarian NGOs, on international development projects or with united nations agencies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO).
MSc International Health Management – Imperial College London
Imperial College London runs a master’s programme in International Health Management. The post-graduate degree combines practical skills in health programme implementation with research into how health systems can be effectively run. The course applies this knowledge to a global context, including in low income countries and crises areas. As a result, graduates have the skills to oversee health projects in a wide range of settings. The one-year master’s course in International Health Management includes modules on health economics, health systems, policy and financing and health management in practice. There are also modules on business strategy for global healthcare, organisational behaviour and health and environment. Although the masters course has a broad focus on healthcare management globally, the skills developed apply directly to humanitarian work and health in international development.
Imperial College London requires applicants to have a first class or upper-second class undergraduate degree for the MSc International Health Management masters. The college also states they have a preference for applicants with a background in medicine, health sciences, social sciences, physical sciences, engineering or informatics. They also say a good understanding of maths is needed. The college does add that applicants who do not meet these requirements can be admitted to the course in specialist circumstances. English language requirements are a IELTS overall score of 7.0 with no scores below 6.5, or a TOEFL minimum score of 100 overall with minimum scores or 22 in all parts. They also accept Duolingo results of 125 overall and with no areas less than 115.
Tuition fees for the MCs International Health Management at Imperial College London are 30,700 GBP.
Trauma Sciences (Military and Humanitarian) Online MSc – Queen Mary University
The online masters in Trauma Sciences at Queen May University, London, aims to teach students the specialist skills needed to respond to mass casualty events and humanitarian crises. The two-year, online masters, gives students an understanding of the crucial elements of humanitarian and military trauma, as well as developing students’ knowledge of trauma care techniques in these settings. Students can also attend an optional practical summer school to further develop their skills in trauma care and implement the theoretical skills learnt on the course. Modules on the Trauma Sciences (Military and Humanitarian) online masters at Queen Mary University include haemorrhage and response to injury, torso trauma and brain and spinal cord injury. There are also modules on critical care and trauma and extremity and vascular trauma. The course is accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons, London.
UK applicants to the MSc Trauma Sciences (Military and Humanitarian) at Queen Mary University need a 2.1 or above undergraduate degree in medicine, nursing or paramedic science. They also need at least one-year professional work experience working clinically with patients suffering traumatic injuries. Entry requirements for international applicants vary by country and can be found on the university’s website.
The two-year masters in MSc Trauma Sciences (Military and Humanitarian) at Queen Mary University costs 6,700 GBP a year for UK and EU students, and 13,000 a year for international students. The university has a wide range of scholarships including the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships that can cover the entire cost of post-graduate fees and the Queen Mary Global Excellence Scholarships that can cover up to 2,000 GBP.
MSc Health and International Development – London School of Economics (LSE)
The London School of Economics (LSE) has a master’s degree in Health and International Development. The course investigates the links between global public health, international politics and developing countries. The post-graduate degree aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to address and overcome health challenges in humanitarian and development contexts, as well as be able to influence longer-term health policies. Course materials are regularly updated and students are encouraged to engage with contemporary health crises. Core modules on the Health and International Development masters at LSE cover the key issues in development studies and global health and development. Additional modules can be taken in population, health and development: evidence and projections, sexual and reproductive health programmes and global health challenges: epidemics, disease, and public health response. The masters also provides students a chance to meet current practitioners working in health and international development and has a weekend residential programme on humanitarian health specifically. The course can be taken in 12 months full-time or 24-28 months part time.
Entry requirements for the MSc Health and International Development at LSE is a 2.1 undergraduate degree or equivalent in any subject. The college states students need a high level of English language proficiency.
Tuition fees for the LSE masters in Health and International Development are 15,216 GBP for UK students. Tuition fees for international students are 23,520 GBP. The college does have a financial aid scheme to assist with tuition fee costs.