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Deutsch Who is the International Emergency and Disaster Relief degree suitable for?
The Bachelor's degree in International Emergency and Disaster Relief is aimed at people who want to work professionally in humanitarian aid, disaster management, or international cooperation. It is especially targeted at school leavers with the general university entrance qualification (Abitur), those with the subject-specific university entrance qualification (Fachabitur), as well as professionally qualified individuals from fields such as nursing, emergency services, logistics, or administration. The course is suitable if you are looking for international perspectives, are interested in crisis management and global development, and wish to work later in NGOs, international organisations, government agencies, or development cooperation. Career changers with relevant vocational training will also find a sound academic qualification here for entry or advancement in the humanitarian aid sector.
Which access routes and qualifications entitle admission?
You have several options for admission to the course:
- General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur)
- Subject-specific higher education entrance qualification (Fachabitur)
- Subject-specific university entrance qualification through at least a two-year completed vocational training in a field related to the course of study
If you do not possess any of the qualifications listed above, you can be admitted to the course after an individual assessment through a special aptitude test. There is no Numerus Clausus (NC).
You should have an interest in international contexts, political and social issues, and be open to intercultural cooperation. Communication skills, organisational talent, self-motivation, and resilience are essential – especially for dealing with crisis situations. Initial practical experience in social, health or technical professions is advantageous but not compulsory. You should be prepared to take responsibility in challenging contexts and be willing to engage in both analytical and action-oriented working methods.
What content can you expect in the Bachelor's programme in International Emergency and Disaster Relief?
In the International Emergency and Disaster Relief programme at the Akkon University of Human Sciences, you receive an interdisciplinary education combining expertise from medicine, health, social and political sciences, management, and logistics. The aim is to comprehensively prepare you for deployments in crisis situations both domestically and internationally.
- Foundations of the degree:
- Introduction to humanitarian aid and development cooperation
- Introduction to global health and public health
- International law and international relations
- Transcultural and postcolonial perspectives
- Scientific work and empirical social research
- Preparation for disasters and epidemics
- Fundamentals of business administration
- Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS)
- Conflict analysis, emergency and disaster sociology
- Safety and security as well as humanitarian aid standards
- Study focal points (elective compulsory modules):
- Global Health: Health system analysis, epidemiology, international medicine, Planetary Health, leadership and coaching, crisis communication
- International Cooperation and Development: Project management, flight and migration, development policy, democracy and development, international organisations, re-thinking aid, conflict management
- Management and Logistics: Camp management, third-party funding acquisition and fundraising, controlling, change management and sustainability, humanitarian logistics, localisation of the humanitarian system
During your studies, you will acquire the following interdisciplinary skills in particular:
- Decisiveness and crisis management
- Intercultural communication skills
- Political and strategic thinking
- Project planning and implementation in an international context
How is the International Emergency and Disaster Relief degree programme organised?
The programme is designed as a full-time, on-campus course with a standard period of study of 6 semesters (3 years). It starts each winter semester (1 October). For the organisation, this means:
- On-site teaching in block phases: You regularly attend seminars and lectures in Berlin, supplemented by self-study phases.
- Practice-oriented course structure: Case studies, exercises, and links to real crisis situations are the focus.
- Elective compulsory modules from the main study phase onwards: You can choose your study focal points individually.
- Interdisciplinary, international orientation: Cooperation with humanitarian actors and international guest lecturers.
- Practical phases and project work are integral parts.
- State-recognised, with 180 ECTS credits.
In which professional fields can you work after completing the degree?
The degree programme specifically prepares you for roles in both the international and national fields of humanitarian aid and disaster relief. Possible professional fields include:
- Project management and coordination in international aid organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- Deployment in disaster and civil protection at national or international level
- Coordination of relief operations, logistics, supply, and infrastructure in crisis situations
- Collaboration with organisations such as the United Nations (UN), WHO or GIZ
- Safety and risk management (“Safety & Security”)
- Consulting and research activities in the fields of global health, post-conflict reconstruction, crisis communication or development cooperation
With the bachelor's degree, you are also qualified for advanced degree programmes, e.g. in humanitarian aid, global health, public health, development studies or disaster management.
Where does the degree take place and what are the facilities like?
The programme is offered at the state-recognised Akkon University of Human Sciences in Berlin. The main campus is located in the Tempelhof district (Colditzstraße 34–36). The following facilities are available to you there:
- Modern teaching and event rooms with smartboards and hybrid teaching technology
- Library, student services, common rooms and kitchen area
- Good connections to bus and U-Bahn for flexible accessibility
- Campus life with short distances to Berlin city centre
The university maintains international cooperations and is Erasmus+ accredited. The organisation of stays abroad and practical phases in the international field is supported by the International Office.
What costs should you expect for the Bachelor's in International Emergency and Disaster Relief?
The monthly tuition fees amount to €529 and are payable at the beginning of each semester. Over the entire study period (6 semesters), total costs amount to €18,360.
- The university offers advice on scholarships, BAföG and funding options.
- Partial instalment payments or individual financing models are sometimes possible.
- Additional enrolment fees are not charged; individual living costs in Berlin must be calculated separately.
Funding under the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) is generally possible, provided the personal requirements are met.
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