The LEAP programme in Humanitarian Practice is a flexible master’s course designed by humanitarians for humanitarians, allowing you to study alongside working in the field.
Crossing traditional subject boundaries, the programme enables you to reflect critically on issues arising from your own work, the wider humanitarian agenda and develop the skillset needed for today’s humanitarian practitioners.
Delivered jointly by The University of Manchester and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in partnership with Médecins Sans Frontiers, the LEAP programme draws from a wide range of disciplines including: public and global health; political science; international relations; history; epidemiology; disaster risk management and peacebuilding, as well as practical experience and insights from humanitarian organizations including MSF.
The LEAP programme was designed with flexibility in mind, with a January and September intake. Modules are delivered either online or by blended learning allowing you study at your own pace alongside your humanitarian work.
The LEAP programme is delivered jointly by the University of Manchester’s Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI) and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) in partnership with international medical humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières /Doctors Without Borders (MSF). This partnership brings together interdisciplinary academic expertise and operational humanitarian experience.
Learn moreThe programme offers three awards; Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or a Master of Science (MSc) all available part-time or full time, allowing you to study whilst continuing to work in the humanitarian sector.
Get startedAs a Master’s student, you will need to complete 180 academic credits. You will study four core modules (60 credits), a selection of optional modules (60 credits) and submit a dissertation (60 credits). Expected duration is 36 months, but an MSc can also be completed in a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 60 months.
Learn moreIf you choose to do a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip), you will need to complete 120 academic credits. You will undertake three core modules (45 credits) and a selection of optional modules (75 credits). Expected duration is 24 months, but a PGDip can also be completed in a period of between 12 and 36 months.
Learn moreOn a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) pathway you will need to complete 60 academic credits. You will study at least two core modules (30 credits) and a selection of optional modules (30 credits). Expected duration is 12 months, but a PGCert can also be completed in a period of between 6 and a maximum of 24 months
Learn moreThis path is currently available only to MSF staff, who can choose to undertake individual modules which suit their training needs. Depending on the module/s chosen you can study face to face, online or blended. Details of each module can be found using our searchable module database.
Learn moreIf you have a question or would like to sign up for the LEAP newsletter for programme updates and relevant events, please complete the form below.
