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About the course
About the course
This online course critically examines issues surrounding the protection of civilians in both conflict and post-conflict settings. It explores various conceptual and operational frameworks, focusing on international humanitarian law, human rights, and the protection of vulnerable groups.
Key areas include the applicability of legal frameworks, community-based protection strategies and strategic planning or civilian protection in complex environments.
Through interactive activities and applied learning, participants develop the tools to assess risks, make informed protection decisions and advocate for civilian safety in challenging contexts.
This course is offered for credit or on a non-credit basis and is delivered jointly by Oxford Brookes University's Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
A flexible and user-friendly online learning environment will enable you to learn from your workplace. During the course, you will have support from a team of academic experts, top-ranked practitioners, and field experts. As well as the unique opportunity to interact and learn with peers and expert facilitators across the world.
Your time will be split equally among four main activities:
Staff-led activities, such as webinars, tutorials and discussions
Self-led activities, including readings and independent exercises
Drawing on your past or current professional practice
Preparing your assignments (credit-rated course)
The credit-rated CPD module, equivalent to 20 postgraduate credits, requires learners to complete assessments and can be counted towards the distance-learning PG Cert/ Master's in Humanitarian Action and Peacebuilding. The non-credit-rated short course leads to a certificate of attendance.
Dates
Dates
Delivery dates: January - March 2026
This course is primarily self-paced, with a required one-hour weekly webinar. It's designed to be flexible for those with full-time jobs or for those studying from around the world.
Application deadlines: 10 January 2026 (Credit-rated course), 20 January 2026 (Non-credit-rated course)
Non-credit course: 8 weeks comprising of 6 interactive weeks plus 2 reading weeks
Credit-rated course: 11 weeks comprising of 6 interactive weeks, 2 reading weeks plus 3 assessment weeks
Course cost
Course cost
Credit-rated course is £1,145*
Non-credit-rated course: £600*
Course Content
Course Content
The online course is estimated to be 200 hours per module and covers 6 key themes:
Protection of Civilians in Conflict and Post-Conflict Contexts: Examining the primary challenges and ethical considerations in safeguarding civilians affected by conflict.
Conceptual and Operational Frameworks for Civilian Protection: Analyses various frameworks and theories related to civilian protection, emphasising practical applications in real-world contexts.
Mapping Actors, Mandates and Practices in Civilian Protection: Identifies key organisations, their mandates, and how they operate in protecting civilians within complex conflict environments.
Legal Frameworks for the Protection of Civilians and Vulnerable Groups: Focuses on the applicability of international humanitarian law, human rights law, and protections for vulnerable groups in conflict settings.
Threat and Vulnerability Analysis with a Focus on Prevention: Provides tools and strategies for assessing risks, threats, and vulnerabilities in conflict situations, aiming at preventative action.
Community-based Protection Strategies, Including Unarmed Civilian Protection: Explores local, community-driven approaches and unarmed civilian protection tactics for enhanced safety and resilience.
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes
Demonstrate a systematic understanding of both conceptual and operational frameowrks for the protection of civilians in conflict and post-conflict settings.
Critically review and apply international legal frameworks, assessing their relevance and application in protecting civilians and specific vulnerable groups within complex environments.
Strategically plan and utilise protection tools in designing and implementing effective civilian protection strategies, with an emphasis on community-based methods.
Independently assess risks and make informed decisions on protection issues, fostering self-reliance and a reflective, ethical approach to field challenges.
Who is this module for?
Who is this module for?
This course is suitable for practitioners already working in the humanitarian, conflict transformation and peacebuilding fields and in related areas such as diplomacy and journalism, who wish to continue their professional development, and practitioners working in other fields interested in exploring opportunities in these areas.
Contact us
Contact us
If you have any enquiries about the course, please email us at hst-cpdadmissions@brookes.ac.uk
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*Cancellation policy
*Cancellation policy
If you cancel on or before the application deadline, you will receive a 50% refund. Cancellations made after this date are not eligible for a refund.
If the course is cancelled by Oxford Brookes University, all registered participants will get a full refund.
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