Sweden · Master's
Uppsala University
MSc International Humanitarian Action
Uppsala University
Course Overview
Uppsala University's MSc International Humanitarian Action is delivered through the Department of Peace and Conflict Research — one of the world's most cited research departments for conflict studies (UCDP, the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, is the global reference dataset for armed-conflict statistics). The 2-year programme is part of the European NOHA (Network on Humanitarian Action) consortium, allowing students to spend their second year at one of 12 partner universities across Europe (KU Leuven, University of Groningen, Bochum, Aix-Marseille, Deusto, plus partner programmes outside Europe). The programme is designed to train senior practitioners for UN agencies, the major humanitarian NGOs (MSF, IRC, CARE, Save the Children), and conflict-aware development organisations.
Sri Lankan applicants — typically MA / BA holders in Political Science, IR, Development Studies, Law, or Sociology, plus mid-career humanitarian practitioners from Sri Lankan NGOs and UN field offices — choose Uppsala for: the UCDP / Peace and Conflict Research department's global reputation, the NOHA consortium's pan-European placement opportunities, lower tuition than UK / Dutch equivalents (~SEK 130,000/year non-EU, LKR 4.16M/yr), and Sweden's 12-month post-study residence permit. The curriculum covers humanitarian principles and law, conflict analysis, disaster response, refugee studies, monitoring and evaluation, plus a Master's thesis often run with field research at a Sida-supported humanitarian site. Sri Lankan returnees route into senior programme officer, M&E specialist, and country director-track roles at UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP, WFP, OCHA, the Sri Lanka Red Cross, Save the Children Sri Lanka, Plan International, plus advisory roles at GIZ, JICA, USAID partners, and the EU Delegation.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) in Political Science, International Relations, Development Studies, Law, Sociology, Anthropology, Public Health, or a closely-related social science / health discipline with first / upper-second class equivalent.
- check_circle Sri Lankan applicants from Colombo (Arts / Law / IR / Development Studies), Peradeniya (Arts), KDU, Open University, plus Master's holders from Sri Lankan or international partner universities, are competitive.
- check_circle Demonstrated experience in humanitarian / development / conflict-related work (internships, volunteering, NGO employment) is strongly valued.
- check_circle Motivation letter (1-2 pages on humanitarian career objectives), CV documenting field experience, 2 academic / professional references, and transcripts uploaded to universityadmissions.se.
- check_circle Application via universityadmissions.se — applications open mid-October, deadline January 15, application fee SEK 900.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall (no band below 5.5) — Swedish 'English 6' equivalent.
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 90 Overall.
- check_circle Cambridge English: C1 Advanced.
- check_circle Programme is taught 100% in English — Swedish not required for the degree.
- check_circle Waived if your Bachelor's was taught entirely in English (Sri Lankan applicants with English-medium degrees from Colombo / Peradeniya / KDU / SLIIT qualify with an MOI letter).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (SEK) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, non-EU) | SEK 130,000 | Rs. 4,160,000 |
| Living Expenses in Uppsala (12 months) | SEK 95,000 | Rs. 3,040,000 |
| Student Visa, Residence Permit & Health Insurance | SEK 14,000 | Rs. 448,000 |
| Books, Field Research Travel & NOHA Partner Mobility | SEK 15,000 | Rs. 480,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | SEK 254,000 | Rs. 8,128,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Uppsala Humanitarian Action graduates qualify for Sweden's 12-month post-study residence permit to job-search, with conversion to a work permit at a qualifying offer. Major Stockholm and international employers: UNHCR Stockholm, UNICEF Sweden, the Folke Bernadotte Academy, Sida, the Swedish Red Cross, MSF Sweden, Save the Children Sweden, Plan International Sweden, plus the Geneva-based offices of OCHA, IOM, IFRC, and the major UN agencies. Mid-career programme officer salaries in international humanitarian agencies typically reach $60,000-$90,000/year (LKR 19M-29M/yr). Sri Lankan returnees route into senior programme officer, M&E specialist, and country director-track roles at UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP, WFP, OCHA Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Red Cross, Save the Children Sri Lanka, Plan International, plus advisory roles at GIZ Sri Lanka, JICA, USAID partners, and the EU Delegation.
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ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.