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Natural disasters, economic and social crises, wars and conflicts, and major epidemics have generated a growing need for humanitarian action.
The Master in Humanitarian Action aims to provide interdisciplinary training to professionals from various areas who work or wish to specialise in this area.
Students will acquire skills to manage projects in humanitarian scenarios, deal with cultural differences, lead teams, coordinate different actors and organisations in the field, as well as critically reflect on their own experiences.
The Master's in Humanitarian Action is a programme jointly managed by the School of Sociology and Public Policy and the Business School, actively involving the knowledge areas of the four Schools of Iscte. It aims to offer an integrative view of the challenges faced by Humanitarian Action in the 21st century. It allows professionals and students to find solutions resulting from an integrated reflection of Social Sciences, Public Policy, Technology, and Management. The teaching staff consists of Iscte professors who are specialists in the areas they contribute to in the Master's in Humanitarian Action. The Master's also regularly includes the participation of active professionals in the field and organisations directly involved in the global humanitarian response.
The area of Humanitarian Action at Iscte has also promoted the International Conference Cycle in Humanitarian Action.
Upon completion of the 1st year of the master's, totalling 60 ECTS credits, a postgraduate diploma may be awarded at the student's request.
OBJECTIVES
The Master in Humanitarian Action is intended for:
Professionals working in humanitarian organisations or in public agencies with a connection to disaster relief or continued support and who want to develop and consolidate their knowledge in the humanitarian area;
People intending to work in humanitarian organisations or public agencies in connection with disaster relief or continued support and wishing to develop their knowledge in the humanitarian area;
Professionals in other areas who wish to acquire qualifications in the humanitarian area.
The Master in Humanitarian Action actively involves the areas of knowledge of the four Schools of the Iscte - University Institute of Lisbon, and aims to offer an integrated vision of the challenges facing Humanitarian Action in the 21st century. It allows professionals and students to find solutions that result from an multidisciplinary reflection on Social Sciences, Public Policy, Technologies, and Management.
Iscte also organizes an International Cycle of Conferences in Humanitarian Action. The 1st edition took place in the 2018/2019 academic year and the 2nd edition in the 2019/2020 academic year.
Following the completion of the 1st year of the Master's Degree, for a total of 60 ECTS credits, the student may be awarded a postgraduate diploma upon request.
Students that are interested to pursue a more international learning experience in Humanitarian Action may also apply to the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Human Response. For more information, please consult Human Response – Erasmus Mundus Joint Master on Coordinated Humanitarian Response, Health and Displacement.
The Master in Humanitarian Action is a programme jointly managed by Iscte’s School of Sociology and Public Policy and the Iscte Business School. The programme is based on a multidisciplinary and comprehensive vision, and allows students to customize their learning path combining their topics of interest.
With its multidisciplinary background and the skills it has in the various areas involved, Iscte offers students a unique experience and training in humanitarian action.
Funding Opportunity | Income Share Agreement (ISA) – Fundação José Neves
2026/2027
The study plan of the Master in Humanitarian Action includes:
1st year
1st semester: 4 compulsory and 1 elective courses.
2nd semester: 4 compulsory courses including Research Design, oriented towards the development of the final dissertation/project work, and 1 elective course.
2nd year
Development of a Dissertation or Project Work
1st semester: 2 elective courses - 1 methodological (Specialized Research Techniques) and one elective.
Students can do an internship (elective course) in an organisation from the humanitarian area.
The syllabus allows students to customize their training path through free elective subjects that can be selected from those specific to the humanitarian field, or any course offered by Iscte in any of its different disciplinary areas. The electives are not presented in the syllabus but will be available at the time of enrolment in Fenix System.
The Master in Humanitarian Action is taught in Portuguese, in post-labor shifts from 6p.m. to 8p.m. and from 8.30p.m. to 10.30p.m. In the 1st year, the teaching period corresponds to a total of 24 weeks, from the end of September to the end of May. The evaluation and holiday periods are defined by the Iscte academic calendar.
More information about the study plan here.
| Unidades curriculares | Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| Concepts, Fundaments and Challenges in Humanitarian Action * | 1 | 6.0 |
| International Politics and Geopolitics * | 1 | 6.0 |
| Management in Humanitarian Action * | 1 | 6.0 |
| Social Sciencies in Humanitarian Action * | 1 | 6.0 |
| Human Rights and Legal Dimensions in Humanitarian Action * | 2 | 6.0 |
| Leadership and Team Management in Humanitarian Action * | 2 | 6.0 |
| Public Health in Humanitarian Action * | 2 | 6.0 |
| Research Design * | 2 | 6.0 |
Recommended optative
The recommended electives are specific curricular units in the area of Humanitarian Action at Iscte. The study plan allows you to select any other free elective offered by Iscte courses.
Note: The operation of optional curricular units is subject to a minimum number of enrolments.
| Unidades curriculares | Semester | ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Cycle Internship Parte Escolar > Optional Courses > Free | 1 | 6.0 |
| Dissertation on Humanitarian Action Final Work | 1 | 48.0 |
| Master Project in Humanitarian Action Final Work | 1 | 48.0 |
Recommended optative
The recommended electives are specific curricular units in the area of Humanitarian Action at Iscte. The study plan allows you to select any other free elective offered by Iscte courses.
Note: The operation of optional curricular units is subject to a minimum number of enrolments.
The programme faculty is composed of Iscte teachers who are specialists in the areas in which they participate in the Master in Humanitarian Action. The programme also has the regular participation of professionals from the field and from organisations directly involved in humanitarian response at the global level.
2026/2027
The Master in Humanitarian Action is intended for:
Professionals working in humanitarian organisations or in public agencies with a connection to disaster relief or continued support and who want to develop and consolidate their knowledge in the humanitarian area
People intending to work in humanitarian organisations or public agencies in connection with disaster relief or continued support and wishing to develop their knowledge in the humanitarian area
Professionals in other areas who wish to acquire qualifications in the humanitarian area
Graduates of this programme can be employed in:
Public or private organisations with a link to disaster relief or continued support
The United Nations and other international organisations operating in the humanitarian or development areas
The European Union and other regional integration organisations
Non-governmental organisations
Agencies providing consultancy and/or technical support to local governments and administrations
| Round | Start Date | End Date | Vacancies | Application fee | Reservation fee | candidacy.reservation_fee_international |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st round | Mestrado/Master | 2025-12-15 09:30 | 2026-01-14 17:00 | 15 | 70.00 € | 500.00 € | 500.00 € |
| 2nd round | Mestrado/Master | 2026-01-15 09:30 | 2026-02-25 17:00 | 15 | 70.00 € | 500.00 € | 500.00 € |
| 3rd round | Mestrado/Master | 2026-02-26 09:30 | 2026-04-06 17:00 | 10 | 70.00 € | 500.00 € | 500.00 € |
SELECTION AND RANKING CRITERIA
Check the selection and ranking criteria 2026/2027 HERE (in Portuguese only)
DOCUMENTS FOR APPLICATION
The application is exclusively online.
It is mandatory to attach the following documents:
- Photo (passport-style in jpg, jpeg or png format)
- Identification document (national identity card for national applicants and passport for international applicants
- Undergraduate's degree diploma with final GPA*
- Curriculum vitae
- Master's goal statement (max. 2500 characters, to be submitted in the applications' system directly);
*Candidates who have not finished the undergraduate’s degree must attach:
- A commitment statement (download available in the application form);
- A transcript of records with the list of completed courses and respective grades (an image from your student portal is accepted).
SELECTION PROCESS
IMPORTANT - Selections are made on a rolling basis from the moment the application period opens. We therefore encourage early applications.
The selection process involves four separate stages which are outlined below:
1. Initial Assessment
After completing the online application and paying the non-refundable fee, the application will be assessed by the members of the Application Review Committee.
2. Interview
During the Initial Assessment period, the candidate may be called for an interview with the Master's Director or another member of the Application Review Committee.
3. Decision
All applicants will be notified of the decision. The results will be sent by email and will be available on the application portal.
4. Enrolment
In the event of admission, candidates will be informed of the enrolment process. They will be given a deadline to enroll (thus confirming their place on the Master's programme). Please note that admitted candidates will have to pay the first instalment of tuition fees by the deadline after enrolment.
SELECTION AND RANKING CRITERIA
Check the selection and ranking criteria 2026/2027 HERE (in Portuguese only)
DOCUMENTS FOR APPLICATION
The application is exclusively online.
It is mandatory to attach the following documents:
- Photo (passport-style in jpg, jpeg or png format)
- Identification document (national identity card for national applicants and passport for international applicants
- Undergraduate's degree diploma with final GPA*
- Curriculum vitae
- Master's goal statement (max. 2500 characters, to be submitted in the applications' system directly);
*Candidates who have not finished the undergraduate’s degree must attach:
- A commitment statement (download available in the application form);
- A transcript of records with the list of completed courses and respective grades (an image from your student portal is accepted).
SELECTION PROCESS
IMPORTANT - Selections are made on a rolling basis from the moment the application period opens. We therefore encourage early applications.
The selection process involves four separate stages which are outlined below:
1. Initial Assessment
After completing the online application and paying the non-refundable fee, the application will be assessed by the members of the Application Review Committee.
2. Interview
During the Initial Assessment period, the candidate may be called for an interview with the Master's Director or another member of the Application Review Committee.
3. Decision
All applicants will be notified of the decision. The results will be sent by email and will be available on the application portal.
4. Enrolment
In the event of admission, candidates will be informed of the enrolment process. They will be given a deadline to enroll (thus confirming their place on the Master's programme). Please note that admitted candidates will have to pay the first instalment of tuition fees by the deadline after enrolment.
