Key facts
Duration
Locations
Key dates
Direct applications to Deakin for Trimester 2 2023 close 25 June 2023
Direct applications to Deakin for Trimester 3 2023 close 29 October 2023
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course overview
Intractable conflicts, climate disasters and pandemics – these are just a few of the challenges humanity currently faces. It’s clear that in the 21st century, the need for humanitarian aid has never been greater. But it’s no longer enough to assume our current practices can address these complex challenges. We need new humanitarian aid leaders, who can envision and enact a better version of the field.
Are you ready to help build a more sustainable and equitable humanitarian aid system?
Deakin’s Master of Humanitarian Assistance offers you the unique opportunity to gain practical skills through simulated experiences while exploring and analysing the role and function of humanitarian aid today. This dual focus ensures you graduate prepared to make a difference on the ground, and with the critical perspective and capability to introduce new ideas and improvements into the sector.
The course is delivered by Deakin from the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership, a collaborative venture between Deakin and Save the Children that combines good humanitarian practice with academic rigour and seeks to address the power balance that can be created and perpetuated by even well-meaning aid.
Explore the practice and theory of community-based solutions to forced displacement, needs assessment and emergency response planning, and national and international disaster risk reduction and recovery. A research unit gives you the opportunity to further explore issues of interest.
Through networking opportunities embedded in the course, you can also capitalise on Deakin’s strong partnerships with international non-government organisations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, other locally based NGOs, government agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other relevant stakeholders.
Graduate with the skills to contribute abroad, at home, or in still-developing avenues.
Read MoreCourse information
- Award granted
- Master of Humanitarian Assistance
- Year
2023 course information
- Deakin code
- A767
- CRICOS code?
- 099595E Burwood (Melbourne)
- Level
- Higher Degree Coursework (Masters and Doctorates)
- Approval status
This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Course structure
To qualify for the Master of Humanitarian Assistance, students must successfully complete 8 credit points of study comprising
- AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit);
- 3 credit points of core units
- 5 credit points of study from one of the Minor Thesis, Research Paper, or Professional Experience Pathways.
4
Core units
4
Research/Electives
8
Total units
Core units
Students to complete the following 3 core units (3 credit points of study)
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)
Research Options
Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway
Plus 2 credit points of research units:
Plus 2 credit points chosen from the course electives
Research Paper – non PhD Pathway ^
Plus 4 credit points chosen from the course electives
Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway ^
Plus 3 credit points chosen from the course electives
^ The Research Paper and Professional Experience options are not PhD Pathways.
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
Trimester 1 - March
- Start date: March
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Online
Trimester 2 - July
- Start date: July
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Online
Trimester 3 - November
- Start date: November
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Online
This course is not offered in 2023.
The next intake into this course will be Trimester 1, 2025.
Note: 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.
Additional course information
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
Participation requirements
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Work experience
Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
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Entry requirements
Entry information
Admission to study postgraduate coursework at Deakin is based on recognition of your professional experience and previous qualifications.
- Bachelor honours (AQF8) degree in a related discipline or
- Bachelor degree in a related discipline, plus two years relevant work experience or
- Graduate certificate or graduate diploma in a related discipline or
- Evidence of academic capability judged to be equivalent.
Deakin University offers admission to postgraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
All applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements.
Please note that meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee selection, which is based on merit, likelihood of success and availability of places in the course.
For more information on the Admission Criteria and Selection (Higher Education Courses) Policy visit the Deakin Policy Library
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Learn more about fees and your options for paying.
The available fee places for this course are detailed above. Not all courses at Deakin have Commonwealth supported places available.
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing the first year of this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of Prior Learning.
One year full-time study load is typically represented by eight credit points of study. Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together eight credit points of a typical combination of units for your course.
You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the Handbook.
Learn more about fees and available payment options.
FEE-HELP calculator
What is FEE-HELP?
FEE-HELP loans cover up to 100% of tuition fees for eligible students. By taking out a FEE-HELP loan, the government pays your tuition fees directly to Deakin, and the balance is repaid from your employment income - but only once you're earning over $48,361.
Please note: fees shown by the calculator are indicative only and based on 2023 rates. Actual fees may vary. We advise confirming fees with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.
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Deakin University (Deakin):
- gives no warranty and accepts no responsibility for the currency, accuracy or the completeness of the information provided;
- advises users that no reliance should be placed upon on the information provided, and;
- instructs users that they should confirm the actual course fee with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.
This tool provides indicative information about the fees that will be payable in respect of courses and subjects offered to prospective students domiciled in Australia during the periods indicated.
Please note that the fees shown by the calculator are indicative only and actual fees may vary. Users are advised to confirm the actual course fee with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.
The estimated course fee is based on the tuition fee costs applicable to a domestic full time student commencing the course in Trimester 1 and studying full time for the duration of the course but:
- does not include non-tuition costs that may apply, such as Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF);
- does not take into account any scholarships or bursaries awarded to the student (including the 10% Deakin alumni discount);
- assumes the maximum number of units that need to be successfully completed actual number completed may be reduced if recognition of prior learning is granted;
- assumes that no exceptional, or non-typical, circumstances apply to the proposed course of study;
- assumes that the options that the user selects are appropriate for the course of study that they intend to undertake;
- where fees are estimated for future years those fee will be subject to annual increases in accordance with increases in the cost of course delivery.
Scholarship options
A Deakin scholarship might change your life. If you've got something special to offer Deakin – or you just need the financial help to get you here – we may have a scholarship opportunity for you.
Postgraduate bursary
If you’re a Deakin alumnus commencing a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible to receive a 10% reduction per unit on your enrolment fees.
Apply now
Applications can be made directly to the University through the Deakin Application Portal. For information on the application process and closing dates, see the how to apply web page. Please note that closing dates may vary for individual courses.
For more information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply webpage. If you're still having problems, please contact us for assistance.
Research Information
Students will complete a research pathway in 1 of the 3 following options:
- Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway ; or
- Research Paper – non PhD Pathway^ ; or
- Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway^ .
Contact information
Our friendly advisers are available to speak to you one-on-one about your study options, support services and how we can help you further your career.
- Call us: 1800 693 888 Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm
- Live Chat: Mon–Thurs, 8am–7pm, Fri 8am–5pm
- Submit an online enquiry
- Help hub find common and trending questions and answers
Careers
Career outcomes
Job opportunities for humanitarian assistance graduates exist in government and non-government agencies concerned with the provision of all aspects of emergency and humanitarian responses including service provision, logistical support, communications, program management and support, community engagement and support, funding, coordination, monitoring and evaluation.
Some of the roles you might obtain, depending on your previous experience, include:
- community engagement specialist
- education adviser
- grants manager
- NGO program director.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT
Course learning outcomes
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| 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 by Faculty Board November 2018 | |
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