Joint Master's Programme in International Humanitarian Action (NOHA) Ruhr-Universität Bochum

The NOHA joint Master's programme in International Humanitarian Action is a two-year (four-semester) inter-university multidisciplinary postgraduate programme.

First semester:
The first semester starts with a six-day "Intensive Programme" (IP, 5 ECTS), a joint inter-university course introducing key principles, actors, policies, strategies, and current challenges in humanitarian relief.
The common courses (25 ECTS) take place from September to January at the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum. These jointly developed NOHA modules are consistent across the network and cover core areas of humanitarian action (HA): World Politics, Legal Dimensions of HA, People & Culture, Management, and Public Health. The content of the modules, their layout, and the complementary capacity-building and problem-solving activities aim to provide the required knowledge and skills in a complex interdisciplinary and international learning framework respecting the different historical teaching backgrounds and variety of expertise in the NOHA partner universities.

Second semester:
In the second semester from February to June, students follow the specialisation period (30 ECTS) at another NOHA university of their choice. Entitled "Humanitarian Policy and Practice: From Delivering Aid to Ending Needs", the specialisation period at the IFHV focuses on specific challenges that humanitarians face due to the fact that they often work in contexts of violence and armed conflict. It deepens understanding of legal frameworks shaping humanitarian work, especially protection, military engagement, and justice. It also addresses management challenges through an advanced module and a practical exercise in which students design their own projects under the supervision of experienced practitioners. The final module will focus on the important issue of communication, negotiation, and leadership and will take into account different counterparts, e.g. non-state armed actors, media, and governments in donor countries. The semester finishes with a simulation exercise that allows students to apply their knowledge.

Third semester:
From July to January, students choose either (a) regional training or (b) a work placement (30 ECTS each).

a) The regional training introduces students to HA approaches in regional contexts and gives them the opportunity to cooperate, function, and work in a different cultural setting. It helps them to develop their research projects and adapt them to a regional context. Regional training is offered at several partner universities (please check our website for a complete list).

b) In the work placement, students take part in a career development training module and a supervised, mentored, and monitored placement, jointly designed with the partner organisations and formalised through individual traineeship agreements.

Fourth semester:
Students write their Master's theses (30 ECTS).

Aix-Marseille Université / FRANCE
L-Università ta' Malta / MALTA
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen /THE NETHERLANDS
Universidad de Deusto / SPAIN
University College Dublin / IRELAND
Uniwersytet Warszawski / POLAND
Uppsala universitet / SWEDEN

During the third semester, students can follow the "Work Placement" track. This is a training module on career development and a supervised, mentored, and monitored placement. The module and placement are jointly designed with the partner organisations and formalised through individual written traineeship agreements.

Information on the application process is available on the NOHA website. The application deadline is also displayed on the website.

Admission to the NOHA Master's programme may be granted to applicants who meet the following common minimum eligibility criteria:

• All applicants must follow the joint application procedure as established by the NOHA consortium.
• The application needs to be complete.
• Candidates must have obtained, as a minimum, a university first cycle degree (Bachelor's, EQF level 6) in a discipline of relevance to humanitarian action.

All applications must be made online to the NOHA website. For detailed information on the application procedure and required application documents, visit: http://nohanet.org/masters.

Students have to pay a social contribution fee of approx. 380 EUR per semester, including a semester ticket covering public transport in Germany (https://studium.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/re-registration-and-social-contribution).

Minimum of 950 EUR per month to cover personal and living expenses in Germany

Students with outstanding academic performance who are involved in special social activities can receive 300 EUR per month for a year from the Ruhr-Universität Scholarship Fund “Deutschlandstipendium”: http://www.rub.de/bildungsfonds/info-studierende/en/index_en.html.

International students with good to very good academic performance who need financial support during the final phase of study can receive a graduation grant of 400 EUR per month for four months from the International Office at RUB: https://international.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/graduation-grant-international-students.

The Career Service for International Students was established to support international students as they move from their studies into the German job market.

• Events & Workshops: From networking events to web seminars, learn the best tips from career experts and meet start-ups from the region.
• Digital Career Guide: The Moodle course “Career Service for International Students” prepares you for starting a job in Germany.
• FIT4Job – Mentoring for Internationals: RUB alumni share their professional expertise and good practices with you one-on-one.
• Counselling services: Identify your talents and career goals in a personal counselling session. Our RUB Career Service team provides support in preparing application documents and interviews.

In the city of Bochum, you can find different types of accommodation. On average, students in Bochum pay approximately 400 to 800 EUR per month for a single apartment, which is below the average rent in Germany. A room in a shared apartment is usually less expensive.

About 5,000 students in Bochum live in multiple student halls close to the campus, which are run by the Akademisches Förderungswerk (AKAFÖ). In the halls, each student has a single room and shares a kitchen and bathroom with other students, rents an apartment with a private bathroom and kitchen, or shares an apartment with one or several flatmates. 

More information on the student halls can be found at https://studium.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/de/wohnen.

In addition, private and church-affiliated student halls accommodate up to 1,000 students: http://www.stuwo.de/wohnheim-region/bochum/.