The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree in International Humanitarian Action (NOHA) is the world’s first and longest-running master’s programme in humanitarian studies, established in 1993 with support from the European Commission. Offered by a network of eight core European universities — including the University of Deusto (Spain), Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Germany), Aix-Marseille University (France), University of Malta, University College Dublin, and Uppsala University (Sweden) — the two-year programme combines rigorous theoretical knowledge with a hands-on professional approach.
Students begin with a joint Intensive Programme and five core modules covering anthropology, legal dimensions of humanitarian action, management, public health and world politics, before completing a specialisation semester at a partner NOHA university. In 2025, NOHA was selected as an Erasmus Mundus programme for the 2026–2028 cohort, enabling full Erasmus Mundus scholarships for eligible applicants. The Erasmus Mundus grant application deadline is 15 December 2025; self-funded applicants have extended deadlines varying by partner university through summer 2026. Over 3,500 graduates from 90 nationalities work in humanitarian relief and international cooperation globally, with organisations including UNHCR, ICRC, Médecins Sans Frontières, UNICEF and leading international NGOs.