The three-terms (16 months) interdisciplinary Joint European Master's Programme in International Humanitarian Action (NOHA-Master) of Ruhr-University Bochum is offered by the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) in close cooperation with experts from non-governmental and international organisations. The programme consists of four components which are described below. It has a total workload of 90 ECTS. For an overview of the programme, click here.

First component: The Intensive Programme (September)
The programme starts with the first component, a 8-day intensive course at one of the network universities. The intensive programme brings together all students and many lecturers to study and discuss some of the main themes in international humanitarian assistance. In 2012 the Intensive programme will be held at Warsaw University, Poland (5 ECTS credits).

Second component: First Term (General Courses (October - January))
During the first semester students attend the following "building blocks" (5 ECTS credits each) at the IFHV in Bochum:

• 201: International Relations
• 202: International Law
• 203: Anthropology
• 204: Management
• 205: Public Health and Medicine

Third component: Second term ("Enhancement period" (February - June))
In the second semester students can decide whether they want to stay in Bochum or to study at one of the partner universities. For European students mobility is supported by the Erasmus-Socrates programme. During the second term the IFHV offers a component entitled: International institutions in humanitarian emergencies (30 ECTS credits).

Fourth component: Third term "Internship, Writing Master Thesis, and Defense" (June - December)
The programme entails an internship of six to eight weeks at an organisation or institution working in the field of humanitarian assistance, which is not compulsory. However, it is strongly recommended.
Students will be prepared by professors and experts to write their Master thesis. The elaboration of a Master thesis gives the students the opportunity to acquire a deeper knowledge and a wider competence in their specific field of interest. It helps to improve the students' research skills. The topic of the Master's thesis is linked to a topic of Humanitarian Assistance (30 ECTS credits).