Humanitarian Engineering (with Sustainability) (MSc)

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent), ideally in Engineering, Science, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Humanities, Business or Medical Sciences, although we will consider graduates of all disciplines.

In certain instances we will also consider applicants with a degree result of 2:ii (or equivalent). This may be the case if an applicant has relevant professional experience (see below) in a subject relevant to the content of the course such as (but not restricted to) Engineering, Politics, International Relations or Political Science, International/Sustainable Development Studies, Sociology, Business, Geography.

Professional experience considered in the above context can be in the following areas, although this list is not exhaustive: Humanitarian Sector, International/Sustainable Development, Social Enterprise, Professional Services or Administration/Public Sector.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

• Band A
• IELTS Band of 6.5 or more overall, with a minimum component scores not below 6.0.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Academic References

We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses.

You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.

View our guide to academic references.Link opens in a new window

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Core modules

For more details about modules, visit the Humanitarian Engineering MSc pages on the School of Engineering website.

You will choose one of the following modules:

Teaching

Each module will run intensively over one week (or two weeks, in some cases). Typically a few weeks before each module, learning materials will be provided for you to engage with the content in your preferred learning style allowing you space to apply your expertise to the subject area. Face-to-face teaching over the week block then gives you the opportunity to discuss and apply theories within the classroom.

During the week block you will participate in lectures, seminars, workshops and fieldwork, depending on your module selection. You’ll have the chance to carry on the conversations outside of the classroom and feel a real sense of camaraderie through your shared experience. After teaching has finished, you will have a number of weeks to complete assessments and prepare for the next module.

Class sizes

Core modules are up to 30 students; optional modules vary between 5-15 students and seminars typically average around 15-20 students.

Typical contact hours

Contact hours vary from 24 to 30 hours per module, per week.

Assessment

The core modules are assessed in a variety of ways including essay, poster, presentation, artefact, student-devised assessment.

Reading lists

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platform 

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogue.   

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department. 

Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.

Your career

Humanitarian Engineering graduates will be well-placed to work with governments (e.g. central banks, ministries of finance, rural development, and education). You'll gain skills that are sought after by multilateral development institutions (e.g. World Bank, IMF, United Nations), NGOs and the private sector (e.g. professional services, manufacturing, and investment banking). You may also decide to pursue PhD studies.

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

• Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
• Working for More than Profit sector event and careers fair
• Careers in the Creative Industries sector event
• Centrally run careers workshops including CVs, applications, interviews and assessment centres

School of Engineering

Think Differently. Do Differently.

Humanitarian Engineering is an exciting programme designed for students of all disciplinary and professional backgrounds.

It brings together the expertise and insight of multiple disciplines to discover new and innovative solutions to the world's most pressing problems.

Learn more about us by visiting our website.

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

• Advanced Mechanical Engineering (MSc)
• Biomedical Engineering (MSc)
• Communications and Information Engineering (MSc)
• Diagnostics. Data and Digital Health MSc
• Diagnostics, Data and Digital Health (Medical Diagnostics) MSc
• Diagnostics, Data and Digital Health (Medical Imaging) MSc
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering (MSc)
• Electrical Power Engineering (MSc)
• Humanitarian Engineering (MSc/PGDip/PGCert/PGA)
• Humanitarian Engineering (with Management) (MSc)
• Humanitarian Engineering (with Sustainability) (MSc)
• Predictive Modelling and Scientific Computing (MSc)

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your taught course fees  

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2025/26 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and funding