Humanitarian Engineering (with Sustainability) (Taught)

Humanitarian Engineering is the use of science and engineering to invent, create, design, develop, or improve technologies that promote the wellbeing of communities facing grand humanitarian challenges.

The course brings together students and professionals from a wide range of backgrounds – including law, science, education, engineering, humanities, and medicine - to tackle real-world societal challenges. You’ll work in multidisciplinary teams that reflect the collaborative approach of today’s leading global organisations.

Key themes include international development, humanitarianism, ethics, energy, global health, water and environmental management, disaster response, food security, sustainable cities, humanitarian supply chains, urban resilience, innovation through design, and mindful project management. This degree explores the same broad themes as our main Humanitarian Engineering degree, but with a specific focus on sustainability through tailored core and optional modules.

You’ll explore complex humanitarian challenges from multidisciplinary perspectives, developing balanced, thoughtful and effective solutions. After graduation you’ll be well-placed to work with governments (e.g. central banks, ministries of finance, rural development, and education), international development institutions (e.g. World Bank, IMF, United Nations), NGOs and the private sector (e.g. professional services, manufacturing, investment banking). You may also decide to pursue PhD studies.

This information is applicable for 2026 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.

Core modules

• Humanitarian Engineering: Ethics, Theory and Practices
• An Introduction to Global Health
• Water and Environmental Management
• One Humanity; Shared Responsibility
• Urban Resilience, Disasters and Data
• Renewable Energy

Specialist core modules

• Sustainable Cities and Infrastructure for Emergencies
• Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Engineering
• Project

(One chosen from the list below)

• Humanitarian Law
• Design Thinking for Social Impact
• Challenges to Global Food Security
• Public Engagement

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