Our Courses
We offer a diverse range of courses designed to meet the evolving needs of humanitarian professionals. Developed with expert input from leading partners such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), our programmes address critical topics such as humanitarian negotiation, protection, planetary health, sexual violence, and project management.
All courses are built around a practice-oriented approach tailored to adult learners, enabling participants to apply knowledge directly to their fieldwork. Options are available in both online and residential formats, with flexible and modular structures to accommodate different professional needs.
We also offer a free MOOC, Operational Research for Humanitarians, developed in collaboration with the ICRC and Aga Khan University.
Our Learning Approach
Our courses are designed to support the evolving needs of humanitarian professionals. Through interactive, cross-disciplinary, and multicultural methods, participants strengthen their ability to design and implement effective humanitarian strategies in complex crisis environments.
We enhance learning by:
Our course directors are experts in diverse disciplines such as public health, international humanitarian law, political science, history, anthropology, and management—reflecting the wide-ranging skills needed in the humanitarian sector.
As the global humanitarian landscape changes, we continuously adapt our courses to meet the realities and challenges faced by professionals in the field.
Flexibility and Course Options
Our courses focus on strengthening the competencies of humanitarian professionals. Prospective participants can choose from a wide variety of programmes in terms of length, discipline, and format, with flexible and modular options to deepen their knowledge.
Thematic priorities are developed in close consultation with our academic and humanitarian partners, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
We offer both residential and online learning options, allowing participants to select the format that best suits their professional context.
Who Are Our Courses For
Our programmes are designed for:
- Entry- and mid-level professionals in the humanitarian, development, or social sectors looking to strengthen their competencies and reflect on their experience,
- Professionals from other sectors (such as health, military, peacekeeping, private sector, or social services) seeking to understand the humanitarian field for a potential career transition,
- Graduate students with relevant volunteer or internship experience aiming to pursue postgraduate study to enter the humanitarian sector.
Delivery Formats and Online Learning
Most of our courses are delivered online, combining:
- Asynchronous self-study (case studies, videos, recorded slideshows, readings, written exercises, quizzes, and wikis),
- Live sessions via Zoom, held two to three times per week in the afternoons (CET), lasting around 2.5 hours,
- Group work and interactive exercises.
Online courses require approximately 20–25 hours of dedicated work per week. We recommend that participants reserve at least 50% of their weekly time for study and adjust their professional activity accordingly.
Admission Criteria
Admission criteria for all courses
- A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a Swiss or foreign university;
- At least two years of relevant professional experience;:
- Excellent command of English (see below)
Scholarships and Discounts
We offer various financial support options:
- Early bird discount (10%) for MAS applicants who apply before December each year (except scholarship applicants),
- 20% tuition discount for Executive Short Course participants affiliated with our partner organisations (ICRC and MSF),
- Full and partial scholarships available for participants from low- and middle-income countries.
Find out more about scholarships and eligibility criteria