A list of trusted, free, online humanitarian courses
Welcome to a refreshed home with many lists with free, quality humanitarian courses. I started sharing these resources on World Humanitarian Day many years ago after receiving inquiries from friends, family, and colleagues eager to learn more about our field. My hope has always been to empower those who care about making a real difference in the lives of people affected by crises.
In sharing these courses, I aim to create an accessible, comprehensive resource that spans from humanitarian logistics and international humanitarian law to water and sanitation and public health. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or looking to deepen your expertise, these carefully curated lists are here to help you gain the knowledge and skills necessary to make an impact.
This page is the second iteration of my original post, a revitalized version after an unexpected setback. While the initial post may have been lost, my commitment to supporting humanitarian education remains unwavering. I invite you to explore the extensive range of courses available online, high quality free courses, and continue learning, shared by someone with the same passion for humanitarian work.
I really hope you contact me in case you know of courses I have missed, or if you have any requests of new lists to be generated in new areas in our working area.
Totally new to humanitarian responses? Maybe good to start with this light 90 minute course on the Humanitarian Response Essentials by Save the Children (1,5 hours). Providing an overview of the changing humanitarian ideas and practices of major international aid organizations. Describing the development of humanitarian principles such as neutrality, impartiality and independence, but also others like internationalism. It explores how these principles have been shaped and reshaped in humanitarian responses.
Free, high quality (introduction) Humanitarian courses
- Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster by Harvard University (15 hours)
- When Disaster Meets Conflict by Erasmus University Rotterdam (8 hours)
- Disaster Management by Deakin University (6 hours)
- Health and Humanitarianism by the University of Manchester (9 hours)
- Internal Displacement: Conflict and Protection by the University of London (24 hours)
- International Charities in Humanitarian Crises by Hamad Bin Khalifa University (20 hours)
- Humanitarian Action, Response & Relief by Coventry University (6 hours)
- Humanitarian Action in the Digital Age by EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (18 hours)
- Research in Humanitarian Studies by Universite de Geneve (15 hours)
- Doing Good in a Conflict Zone by FutureLearn (15 hours)
Dedicated, specific humanitarian and aid domain course lists
More platforms to check out
I will soon update this list with all platforms hosted by humanitarian actors globally that host good quality, free online courses! Contact me if you want to be listed, or have suggestions for portals to add.