Engineering has the power to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges - from climate change and disaster response to sustainable development. Our course equips you with the knowledge and skills behind the technologies that improve lives and support communities. You’ll collaborate with a wide range of disciplines, from law to medicine, developing comprehensive responses to real-world issues. Your well-rounded foundation will set you up for work with the government, NGOs, the private sector or PhD study.
This course has provided me the ability to pivot into roles in socioeconomic and international development; whilst the humanitarian principles I have now become accustomed to, can provide me a competitive advantage as organisations across the world are focusing more of their attention towards sustainability and the betterment of others.
Josh
Humanitarian Engineering student
This course is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (ICE, IStructE, IHE, CHIT and the PWI). More information about accreditation is available on the School of Engineering website.
Modules
Understand complex challenges and create practical, sustainable solutions.
Global challenges: explore key issues including energy, water, food security, global health, sustainable cities, urban resilience and humanitarian supply chains
Humanitarian design: learn how to invent, create, design, develop or improve technologies that support of communities
Ethical innovation: examine the social, environmental and ethical considerations behind humanitarian projects
Practical impact: develop real-world approaches to innovation and application
The Postgraduate Award, Certificate and Diploma are specially designed to support professional development for those already working in the field or interested in humanitarian engineering. Making time for work, family, and friends is important, so take advantage of our flexibility.
Postgraduate Award (30 credits)
Select any combination of core (excluding Project) and optional modules for 30 credits (2 modules).
Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) (60 credits)
Take any combination of core modules (excluding Project) for 60 credits (4 modules) or any combination including a maximum of 30 credits of optional modules.
Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) (120 credits)
Complete all core modules (excluding Project) for 90 credits, and any combination of optional modules for 30 credits (2 modules).
Note that information found by following the links to the module catalogue is subject to change for future years of study, as we evolve our courses in response to the latest developments in academia and industry.
Learn through expert teaching and shared perspectives from across disciplines.
Collaborative working: reflect the approach of leading organisations by working with students and professionals from law, science, education, engineering, humanities, medicine and other fields
Applied knowledge: connect theory with practical challenges facing communities worldwide
Flexible study routes: choose from MSc, PG Diploma, PG Certificate or Postgraduate Award, designed for those already working in the field or interested in humanitarian engineering
Global opportunities: develop the critical skills sought after by multilateral development institutions (such as the IMF and UN), NGOs and the private sector (such as professional services and investment banking) or academia
Each module will run intensively over either one or two weeks. 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 (or two week) block then gives you the opportunity to discuss and apply theories within the classroom.
During the week (or two 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.
Core modules are up to 30 students; optional modules vary between 5-15 students and seminars typically average around 15-20 students.
Contact hours vary from 24 to 30 hours per module, per week.
The core modules are assessed in a variety of ways including essay, poster, presentation, artefact, student-devised assessment, video, report, blog.
Entry requirements
2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent), ideally in Engineering, Science, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Arts and 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.
IELTS overall score of 6.5, minimum component scores not below 6.0
Please adjust your country as required:
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications. For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page.
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.
There are no additional entry requirements for this course.
Fees and scholarships
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 assessment and some student amenities.
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.
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 list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue, where module-related costs are detailed. 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 2026/27 year of study).
Information about module 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
Dissertations and Assignments are only submitted digitally. However, students may wish to print and bind their dissertation for their own purposes. Students on some courses will have a final poster presentation as part of their project and the printing of posters may be at the students’ expense.
Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.
You’ll have access to well-equipped laboratories, workshops and specialist facilities that support practical learning and project work. At the heart of this is the Engineering Build Space - a collaborative design studio where you [HS1] can prototype, experiment and develop projects using tools and technologies, including computer-controlled equipment.
Supported by our Makers-in-Residence, you’ll work alongside staff and fellow students in a hands-on environment that encourages creativity, collaboration and innovation.
Careers
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
While this course does not offer a formal work placement, postgraduate taught students at Warwick can self-source internships and work experience to complete alongside their studies, subject to visa conditions and the 20‑hour weekly limit for full‑time students.
Opportunities can vary in length and location, including in the UK, online and internationally. Postgraduate students find that shorter, remote and/or flexible opportunities work best around their studies, often seeking opportunities over the summer when teaching decreases and the focus moves to final dissertations and projects - although this can vary depending on the nature of the course and personal preference.
Support available:
The Internships, Placements and Work Experience team provide workshops to help you to source and prepare for work opportunities, and organise peer-to-peer support so you can hear about other students’ placement experiences.
The WorkReady Toolkit guides you through the whole process, from sourcing to completing work placements.
Our Work Experience Bursary can help you cover costs if undertaking unpaid work experience.
Part-time work allows you to gain experience and additional financial support, with opportunities advertised on Warwick’s careers portal, myAdvantage and Unitemps.
Warwick students worked 286,295 paid hours via Unitemps in 25/26.
Access short-term international study, work or volunteering abroad experiences, without extending the length of your studies (duration is typically between 3 days and 12 weeks), with opportunity to apply for funding.
Students can apply to TeamWork, a four-week part-time online international experience programme, helping them to gain work experience and improve their employability skills.
Volunteer for projects which support the local community through the award-winning Warwick Volunteers.
Getting involved in societies and sports teams, especially on exec teams.
In 25/26 our jobs portal advertised 1577 12-month placements, work experience opportunities, vacation employment and volunteering from 564 employers.
Whilst there is lots of support available at the University to help, students themselves are responsible for finding and securing a suitable internship or work experience. You will also be responsible for ensuring opportunities meet visa requirements, do not exceed the universities advised 20 hours per week for full-time students and for balancing extra-curricular activity with your studies.
This is where your journey begins. Our campus is the heart of it all. It’s more than just a campus - it's the places you visit, the people you meet, the fun that you have; the experiences you have here will be transformative.
Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities.
Our campus is where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus.
Follow our students around campus on our social channels to see their experiences first-hand.
Teaching facilities
Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs. You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.
Oculus, our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas
Different study spaces offering you flexible individual and group study spaces, computers, printing and scanning facilities, multimedia resources and more
Supporting you
Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.
Whether you live on campus or off campus, in private accommodation in the well-serviced local area, you’ll be part of a community to get the most from your experience at Warwick.
Societies and sports play a huge part in community life at Warwick. With over 300 to choose from, getting involved is one of the easiest ways to make friends and share in experiences. Whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.
Your university experience is defined by far more than your course or the career path you follow. At Warwick, it’s where you discover who you could become.
68th
Warwick is ranked 68th in the world and top 10 in all major UK league tables
Our alumni community still call Warwick home. From a few hundred in 1965 to more than 310,000 alumni, and it's ever-growing.
As Warwick graduates, our students have access to employability support for two years after graduation, including access to careers appointments, job vacancies and professional networks.
Applications for courses starting in September and October 2027 are now open.
The on-time deadline for taught postgraduate courses starting in September/October 2027 is 2 August 2027.
We will still accept late applications, however cannot guarantee that the application will be processed in time to complete the admissions process if received in September or there are a number of conditions to meet.
If applying late please include your degree certificates and transcripts, English proficiency evidence (if needed) and ensure referees can submit references promptly to allow time for CAS and visa processing (if applicable).
This information is applicable for 2027 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our web page 'Important information to consider before making an application' in advance of applying to Warwick.
Next steps
Explore your future university further at an upcoming event, online or in-person. Can't join? Receive regular email updates or ask current students and staff questions about life at Warwick.
