Studying at York

Programme philosophy

The 21st century presents an increasing need for expertise in the field of humanitarian affairs to deal with aggregating numbers of conflicts and disasters around the world. The programme is designed to fill a widely sought after but sparsely provided focus at the postgraduate level and is specifically international in its scope. Whilst the programme deals with topics of international relevance, it also focuses on details of crucial importance at the local level in both the minority ('developed') and majority ('developing') worlds. To these ends it was proposed that the Programme continue to be developed with an open-minded approach to a dynamic and vibrant field, whilst providing an agenda guided by state-of-the-art literature and staff experience in applying this knowledge to current world issues.

The programme will enable its students to be better equipped to carry out academic analysis, project implementations, and work with different stakeholders within the context of current discourse of humanitarian affairs in a rapidly changing world.

The programme is innovative in that:

• It provides the opportunity to be engaged in academic, policy and practice debates of humanitarian affairs by bringing the experience and expertise of the students.

• It is supported by case study material and research experience reflecting many years of the teaching teams’ research and consultation in humanitarian affairs in disaster and conflict situations worldwide.

• It provides for flexible learning.