Societies in Crisis: Humanitarian Action and Policy Responses Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB), Erasmus University Rotterdam

Is this the programme you're looking for?

In a world increasingly shaped by uncertainty - climate change, natural hazards, war, displacement - finding creative, sustainable solutions is more urgent than ever. Societies facing crises need professionals who can understand complex challenges and design innovative responses that truly make a difference. Do you want to be one of them? 

This master’s programme explores the critical questions:

• What happens before, during, and after a humanitarian crisis?
• How do communities adapt and respond?
• How is international aid coordinated—and how effective is it?
• Most importantly, how can we rebuild in a way that’s smarter, fairer, and more resilient?

Whether it's earthquakes, floods, armed conflict, or the fallout of global displacement, this programme equips you with the tools to analyse, respond to, and shape recovery efforts prioritising sustainability and justice. If you're driven to make a tangible impact where needed most, this programme is for you.

The study programme in a nutshell

Societies in Crisis: Humanitarian Action and Policy Responses is a one-year graduate programme (MSc) that will stimulate you to analyse and create responses to societies undergoing (a humanitarian) crisis. 

Career opportunities after graduation

Graduates of this specialisation are equipped to pursue impactful careers in the humanitarian, development, and public policy sectors. With a growing demand for professionals who can navigate crises and shape effective and sustainable responses, you can go off to work for international organisations such as the United Nations, the European Union, or the Red Cross; global and local NGOs; national governments; crisis management agencies; and think tanks. Others might build careers in consultancy, research, or the private sector, especially in roles that intersect with disaster risk reduction, conflict resolution, or sustainable development. Whether coordinating emergency relief, advising on post-crisis reconstruction, or shaping humanitarian policy, this programme prepares you to make meaningful contributions where they matter most.

Entry requirements

You are eligible for admission to the programme if you have obtained a relevant Bachelor’s or undergraduate degree* from a research university in the following fields of study: 

• Public Administration
• Political Science
• European Studies
• International Relations

Applicants with a bachelor’s in economics, Business Administration, Sociology or other social sciences, as well as Law or History, may also be eligible to apply if they have an international orientation and affinity with the public sector, e.g., by having had courses in the bachelor curriculum related to public sector, international relations and/or European governance. Applicants who do not have sufficient knowledge of the mentioned topics might need to do a pre-module before entering the programme. 

Applicants must also demonstrate adequate knowledge of social science research methodology; specifically, they must have completed at least 7.5 EC courses on social science research methods.

* Comparable to the Dutch academic level according to the Dutch Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (Nuffic) standards. 

Your eligibility of a bachelor's degree can only be determined after you submit an application and after we receive all requested documents. Prior inquiries will be purely hypothetical.

Read more at Admission requirements for Master Societies in Crisis: Humanitarian Action and Policy Responses | Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences | Erasmus University Rotterdam