Master of Humanitarian Assistance
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of Humanitarian Assistance |
| Course Credit Points | 8 |
| Deakin course code | A767 |
| Course version | 1 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2019 to 2022 |
| Final Intake | Offered to continuing students only. The final intake to this course was in teaching period 2, 2022. Students should contact Student Central for course, course map and enrolment information. |
| Duration | 1 year full-time or part-time equivalent |
| CRICOS code | 099595E Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Supplementary Information | This course includes a compulsory 5-day intensive class in Trimester 2 held at Deakin University Burwood campus for both campus and online students. There is also elective unit that contains an intensive in Trimester 3 held at a Deakin University campus for both campus and online students. |
Course sub-headings
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Critique the historical development of the humanitarian system and apply the key principles, exemplary practices and sector standards to current humanitarian context, both national and international, with particular focus on coordination, resilient communities, risk management, emergency responses, recovery strategies |
| Communication | Integrate, analyse, synthesise and evaluate the theory and practice of humanitarian action and communicate to a range of specialist and non-specialist audiences through reports, briefings, essays, case studies, and oral presentations. |
| Digital literacy | Research, analyse, report and communicate complex information via the employment of a range of sectors specialised and generic technological modes to a wide variety of audiences including humanitarian, professional and scholarly communities. |
| Critical thinking | Investigate, critically analyse, synthesise and report on issues facing contemporary humanitarian scenarios in light of established concepts, practice and design and develop actions, solutions and strategies to address them. |
| Problem solving | Apply initiative, creativity and intellectual rigor in researching, identifying, planning, implementing, managing people and processes and evaluating proposed innovative responses to complex situations and problems encountered in a range of humanitarian emergencies, locally and globally. |
| Self-management | Plan, organise and perform as an independent and reflective practitioner in the field as well as in the system generally, demonstrating a commitment to continuing professional development, scholarly research and professional contribution. |
| Teamwork | Contribute to the achievement of team goals and cohesiveness in diverse humanitarian emergency scenarios, humanitarian planning, implementation projects and research projects through active and constructive participation and contributions to resolving impasses and conflict. |
| Global citizenship | Adopt a number of roles, in an efficacious and ethical manner, in a broad range of humanitarian operations across diverse cultural, social, political, economic and environmental spectrums. |
Approved at Faculty Board November 2018
Course rules
To complete the Master of Humanitarian Assistance you must pass 8 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 3 credit points of core units
- 5 credit points of study from one of the Minor Thesis, Research Paper, or Professional Experience Pathways.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Core units
Students to complete the following 3 core units (3 credit points of study)
| AHA721 | Humanitarian Knowledge and Principles |
| AHA722 | Program Design |
| AHA724 | Disaster Risk Reduction and Community Led Recovery |
Course Electives & Research Options
Students to select 5 credit points of study as a combination of research and course elective units listed below
Course Electives List A (includes internship units)
| AHL701 | Principles of Humanitarianism and Disaster Management |
| AHA716 | Refugees and Forced Migration |
| ADH712 | Food and Water Security |
| ADH714 | Gender, Race and Culture |
| ADH717 | Climate Change and Sustainability |
| ADS715 | Cross Cultural Communication and Practice |
| AIR707 | The United Nations and International Organisation |
| AIR717 | International Conflict Analysis |
| AIR726 | Human Rights in World Politics |
| HSH701 | Principles and Practice of Public Health |
| HSH704 | Health Communication |
| HSH728 | Health Equity and Human Rights |
| AIP773 | Governance and Accountability in Turbulent Times |
| APE700 | Internship A |
ADH702 Humanitarian - Development Nexus [No longer available for enrolment]
Research Options
Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway
| AIX706 | Research Design |
Plus 2 credit points of research units:
| AIX704 | Minor Thesis A |
| AIX705 | Minor Thesis B |
Plus 2 credit points chosen from the course electives
Research Paper – non PhD Pathway^
| AIX701 | Research Paper |
Plus 4 credit points chosen from the course electives
Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway^
| APE701 | Internship Capstone (2 credit points) |
Plus 3 credit points chosen from the course electives
^ The Research Paper and Professional Experience options are not PhD Pathways.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.