This 2-years master’s programme provides interdisciplinary training to students and professionals from various fields who work or wish to specialise in the area of humanitarian action. The programme provides a multidisciplinary academic education in prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery in humanitarian action and fosters students’ capacity to develop responses to disasters and emergencies. It also guides students to critically reflect on the impact of humanitarian interventions with the support of rigorous analysis techniques. The programme is mostly taught in Portuguese although there are several elective courses offered in English. The focus is on different topics related to humanitarian action, including in the area of migrations.
For more information about the programme, please visit: https://www.iscte-iul.pt/course/336/master-msc-in-humanitarian-action
Course offer
1st Year – Mandatory courses (taught in Portuguese, English friendly)
- Social Sciences in Humanitarian Action
- Concepts, Fundaments and Challenges in Humanitarian Action
- Management in Humanitarian Action
- International Politics and Geopolitics
- Research Design
- Human Rights and Legal Dimensions in Humanitarian Action
- Leadership and Team Management in Humanitarian Action
- Public Health in Humanitarian Action
2nd Year – Mandatory courses (taught in Portuguese, English friendly)
- Dissertation on Humanitarian Action
Electives
The recommended elective courses are specific to the Humanitarian Action field. Iscte has a list of other elective courses available in English. The study plan allows you to select any other elective courses offered from the other programmes that are suitable for your master’s programme.
Note: The availability of the elective courses is subject to vacancy.
1st semester
- Internship (Humanitarian Action field) (English; Portuguese)
- Participatory Evaluation in Humanitarian Action (taugh in English)
- Project Management in Humanitarian Action (taugh in English; taugh in Portuguese)
- International Cooperation in Africa (taugh in Portuguese)
- Environmental Risk and Societal Resilience (taugh in English)
2nd semester
- Contemporary International Migration (taugh in English; taugh in Portuguese)
- Strategy in Humanitarian Action (taugh in Portuguese)
- Communication for Development and Social Change (taugh in English)
Language requirements
B2 in English and/or Portuguese is recommended.
Practical information
https://www.iscte-iul.pt/conteudos/international/student-exchange/1894/practical-information
Accommodation
Iscte will provide students with more information on accommodation after their nomination by their home university.
Options include private accommodation and Iscte Hall of Residence. The Professor José Pinto Peixoto University Hall of Residence at Iscte meets some of the accommodation needs of its exchange students and Professors. It is situated off-campus.
Students must start searching for options for accommodation as soon as possible after they are accepted to the programme, as housing can be difficult to find in Lisbon.
Necessary guidance and information will be sent to the students well in advance. More information at https://www.iscte-iul.pt/contents/international/exchange/incoming-students/1894/practical-information
Insurance
Students must confirm that they have valid insurance for the duration of their stay in Lisbon, in the form of either the European Health Insurance Card (for EU and European Economic Area nationals) or private insurance with medical coverage (for nationals of other countries).
A copy of the student’s health insurance/European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) must be uploaded onto the Iscte system together with the students’ registration.
In addition, we highly recommend that students purchase private insurance that includes other expenses such as repatriation, other specific medical interventions, liability insurance, accidents, etc.
After arrival, each student will be charged a 30€ tax, which includes the student card and school insurance (valid only for Iscte activities).
Visa
Students who need visas must contact the nearest Portuguese Consulate as soon as possible - it usually takes up to 60 days to obtain a travel permit. More information can be found here.
Further information is also available at AIMA website.
A Letter of Acceptance for this purpose will be issued by Iscte and sent directly to their home university.
Nomination and application procedure for pre-selected incoming candidates
Nomination and application process
Iscte only accepts exchange students nominated by partner Universities at Fénix system https://fenix.iscte-iul.pt/siteMap.do.
Partner Universities should nominate their students according to the places and subject areas established in the agreement. E-mail nominations are no longer accepted.
Username and password can be requested by e-mail to
After nomination, each student will receive an e-mail with the username and password to access Fénix System.
Students should update their personal details and upload the following documents:
- Passport photo
- ID card/ Passport
- Copy of insurance card/ European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
No paper documents and forms are requested.
Deadlines
Date until when partner universities need to register their exchange students.
- 1st semester / full academic year – 1st June
- 2nd semester – 1st November
* Nominations outside the EU should be announced at least two months before the mentioned dates due to visa procedures. Once the student is accepted, the student will receive all the relevant information by email.
Contact persons and further details
EuMIGS academic coordinators:
Joana Azevedo
Director of the Master in Humanitarian Action
Ana Lúcia Martins
Director of the Master in Humanitarian Action
Thais França
IMISCOE coordinator at ISCTE
EuMIGS administrative contacts:
Alejandra Ortiz
International Relations Office - Coordinator
Joana Jordão
International Relations Office – Incoming and Outgoing Mobility