Humanitarianism and development
Discipline
Gain practical skills and expert knowledge in disaster response, community resilience, development and humanitarian studies. You’ll be prepared for diverse roles, with a strong focus on locally led approaches to addressing domestic and global crises.
Explore your study options
Promote justice, reduce poverty, build community resilience and improve lives. At Deakin, we're committed to preparing the next generation of humanitarians to respond with compassion, critical thinking and practical skills in an increasingly complex world.
Choose a degree that will get you work ready
Learn from experienced Deakin academics who bring years of field expertise across humanitarian and development organisations. You’ll gain a strong balance of theory and practical skills, enabling you to design, resource, implement and evaluate impactful development projects in the communities you serve.
Industry connections
Benefit from our strong partnerships with international and local NGOs, UN agencies and government bodies like the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Global impact
Whether you're just starting or upskilling, Deakin’s courses in humanitarian and development studies equip you to contribute across public and private sectors, in Australia and abroad.
Real-world learning
Our courses connect disaster response, humanitarian relief and long-term development. Designed with industry input and led by expert academics, they blend theory with hands-on insight.
This course brought together my passions and hopes with theory and grounded research. The support in the research units was fantastic and overall the course provided a more stable foundation for making a quality contribution to development work.
Master of International and Community Development (now Master of Humanitarianism and Development)
#1 Victorian uni for graduate employment
Deakin has over 40 years of expertise in international and community development and is home to one of Australia’s longest-running programs in this field. We also pioneered the country’s first graduate program in humanitarian assistance, giving you a recognised edge in a competitive field.
World-class teaching experiences
Deakin’s industry-shaped courses and practical, real-world approach to learning will prepare you to be adaptable across the jobs of the future. You'll graduate ready to work in diverse roles across the humanitarian and development sectors, with a focus on locally led approaches.
International experience and internships
Enhance your education with global volunteering, study abroad opportunities and valuable networking through Deakin’s partnership with the Network on Humanitarian Action. Gain hands-on experience in local internships and build international connections that will enrich your career in humanitarian work.
Make an impact through research
Elevate your studies with a research degree in humanitarian studies. Under the mentorship of leading experts, you’ll have access to cutting-edge facilities and opportunities to contribute to groundbreaking research addressing global challenges.
Centre for Humanitarian Leadership
The Centre for Humanitarian Leadership, a collaboration between Deakin and Save the Children Australia, connects you with experienced humanitarian professionals and academics. This partnership offers you unique opportunities to engage with real-world humanitarian issues, combining practical knowledge with academic expertise to equip you to make a tangible impact in the sector.
Top professional roles in humanitarianism and development
As a graduate, you may find opportunities in roles and organisations such as:
- disaster and emergency management teams
- social enterprises focused on sustainable impact
- not-for-profit and non-government organisations (NGOs)
- consultancy in development or humanitarian fields
- local, state and federal government departments
- UN and associated agencies, including UNICEF, UNDP, UNOCHA, the World Food Programme and others
- military or civil–military partnerships
- academic or research roles at universities.
Want to explore more?
Making a difference: why study humanitarian assistance?
Whether it's an earthquake, a bushfire, or flood, studying humanitarian assistance at Deakin can train you to help communities get back on their feet.
Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. For more information, visit our University rankings page.
Contact us
Got a question about our humanitarianism and development program? Our course advisers are available to speak to you about your study options and how we can help you further your career.
Domestic students
1800 693 888
Enquire online
International students
+61 3 9918 9188
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