BSc Global Humanitarian Studies
The Global Humanitarian Studies BSc equips students with the knowledge and skills to navigate complex humanitarian crises. This multidisciplinary programme combines theory and practice, preparing students to assess threats and vulnerabilities, analyse risks and develop evidence-based responses to global challenges including disasters, climate change impacts, forced displacement and conflict.
Course overview
Humanitarian crises impact millions of people every year, disrupting economies, destroying communities and threatening lives. The Global Humanitarian Studies BSc explores how humanitarian systems, governments and people respond to these challenges, combining academic theory with real-world application. It prepares students for diverse careers in the humanitarian sector and beyond.
Based at UCL's Bloomsbury campus in central London, students benefit from proximity to leading humanitarian organisations, think tanks, international businesses and policy institutions. The programme offers opportunities for fieldwork and hands-on research projects, and there is support available to help you find optional internships between Years 2 and Year 3. We host an annual careers discovery evening and monthly events led or attended by practitioners, providing students with opportunities to build their professional network throughout their studies.
What this course will give you
You will study crises caused by natural hazards, climate change, forced displacement and systemic inequalities, with the opportunity to examine the intersection of humanitarianism and policy, technology, law, culture, health and economics. You will learn a range of skills, bringing together approaches from different disciplines, to better understand humanitarian crises from a range of perspectives and build a multi-disciplinary approach to reducing and managing crises.
The Global Humanitarian Studies BSc is delivered by the Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction (UCL RDR). Our staff come from diverse backgrounds, and teaching is delivered by academics with extensive field experience, ensuring that learning is informed by real-world insight. The programme also includes guest lectures from industry, academia and the policy arena. We conduct research across six key areas: climate change and adaptation; conflict and migration; health and social risks; inclusion and politics, and warning, resilience and finance - so students are exposed to a broad range of topics across these core areas throughout their studies.
In line with our mission to develop humanitarian and disaster risk reduction leaders, the programme embeds practical application in various ways. Through case studies, scenario-based examples, teamwork, a range of assessment types and applied research, you will gain knowledge and skills to support future careers in the humanitarian sector and beyond.
In addition to learning, you will have the opportunity to engage with UCL's vibrant community through the student-led Disaster Risk Reduction and Humanitarianism (DRRH) Society which organises events throughout the year including a winter ball and student conference.
Teaching and learning
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BSc (Hons) in Global Humanitarian Studies.