What to Study if You Want a Career in Humanitarian Aid

Happy smiling asian graduate students from university throwing their caps in the air

If you’re trying to figure out what to study for a career in humanitarian work, here’s the honest answer: almost any degree in the social sciences will do the trick.

A question that comes up all the time from people dreaming of working in the aid sector is, “What’s the best degree for humanitarian work?” Short answer: It doesn’t really matter what you study – or even where you study – as long as it’s something broadly in the social sciences.

If you have looked into humanitarian programs at all, you have likely come across programs called “Aid and Conflict” or “Masters in Humanitarianism” or “Human Rights and Policy”, from schools in wealthy countries – the U.S., Canada, the UK, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, and so on. Let’s be real: not everyone has a spare $200K lying around for a master’s at Columbia, or $25K for a degree at SOAS. For most people, that’s just not the reality. And a little secret? It is wildly unnecessary anyways.

So what should you study?

Common sense might tell you to pick something like Humanitarian Studies or International Development. After all, if you want to be a doctor, you study medicine. Lawyer? Law. Engineer? Engineering.

But humanitarian work isn’t that cut and dry. In fact, a huge range of social science degrees are perfectly fine: Anthropology, Economics, Social Work, Gender Studies, Geography, Global Studies, History, Linguistics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology… and the list goes on.

And even if you’re outside of that? Lots of jobs are flexible. Many will accept degrees in Public Health, Law, Engineering, Business Administration, Project Management – or they’ll just say “or related field.”

The truth is: recruiters need people willing to work in tough, remote places. They’re not going to turn away someone great just because they didn’t study the “perfect” major. Often times, they care more about your work experience than the degree. With that said…

Is a Specialized Degree the Smarter Choice?

If you’re aiming for a technical role – like engineering – then yes, a specialized degree is essential. The same goes if you want to work in a clinical setting: fields like medicine, nursing, or midwifery require focused, health-related education.

Choosing a technical or specialized degree (instead of a broader program like a Master’s in Humanitarian Action) can offer several advantages:

You bring clear, specific hard skills to the organization.
You’ll often face less competition during the hiring process.
Your degree can open doors outside of the humanitarian sector, giving you flexibility.
You offer more direct value, expertise, and tailored abilities to your employer.

Do I personally believe a specialized degree is the better path? Absolutely. As a nurse, social worker, lawyer, engineer, or other technical professional, you step into humanitarian work with concrete, proven skills. Someone with a general degree like a Master’s in Humanitarian Action will often need to heavily rely on work experience and craft their applications to fit each role. A specialized degree, on the other hand, naturally positions you as a strong candidate from the start.

Does the University matter?

Not really. Humanitarian recruiters don’t care if you studied at Harvard, Cambridge, or a small school in Jordan. When hiring, what matters is that you meet the minimum education requirements – not whether your University name shines on paper.

So if you’re stressed about not going to a “top” school, let it go. The aid sector is one of the few career paths where what you did and learned matters way more than where you did it.

Should you aim for a Bachelor’s or a Master’s?

Most job ads will say it clearly: “Bachelor’s required, Master’s preferred.”

You can break into the field with a Bachelor’s, but if you want to move up (and make your life a little easier when applying), you’ll eventually want a Master’s degree too. Personally, I did my Bachelor’s and then my Master’s back-to-back and do not regret that decision.

Final Advice

Study something you actually like. You’ll stick with it longer, and you’ll probably do better.
Pick a University that fits your life. Big, small, close to home, halfway across the world – whatever makes sense for you.
Plan to get your Master’s. It doesn’t have to be tomorrow, but it’s a smart move for the long run.

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Please note: the views and opinions expressed on this blog are that of my own and do not represent the opinions of any agency mentioned.

What to Study if You Want a Career in Humanitarian Aid