The NOHA Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree Programme in International Humanitarian Action is open for the 2027–2029 cohort. The programme is designed for graduates and professionals who want to work in humanitarian response, international development, crisis management, protection, policy or related fields.
For Kenyan applicants with experience in NGOs, humanitarian agencies, public policy, community programmes, health, communications, international relations or development work, NOHA offers a highly specialised pathway into the humanitarian sector.
2027–2029 scholarship deadline
The official NOHA application system lists the Erasmus Mundus scholarship deadline as 15 December 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
Official programme: NOHA Master’s Programme
Official application portal: NOHA Joint Application Form
Who is NOHA for?
NOHA is not a generic international relations degree. It focuses specifically on humanitarian action, combining academic study with professional competencies. Applicants are assessed partly on how well their background and motivation align with humanitarian issues.
Relevant experience can come from many settings, including refugee support, health emergencies, disaster response, food security, human rights, peacebuilding, communications, logistics, programme management and community development.
Scholarships available for 2027–2029
The official NOHA programme states that Erasmus Mundus scholarships are available across Programme Countries, Partner Countries and designated targeted regions. Scholarship competition is extremely high, and nationality balance also affects selection.
Applicants from Kenya should apply as early as possible and make sure they understand the correct country classification in the current Erasmus+ rules.
Key eligibility rule: your degree must be complete
NOHA explicitly states that applicants seeking the Erasmus Mundus grant must have completed their undergraduate degree by the 15 December 2026 scholarship deadline. Applicants who have not completed the degree by that date cannot be considered for the Erasmus Mundus grant.
This is an important difference from programmes that allow final-year applicants to apply conditionally.
Selection factors
NOHA evaluates applicants using several factors, including:
- Academic qualifications
- Research experience
- Professional experience
- Motivation for humanitarian work
- Multicultural sensitivity
- Language ability
- Recommendations
- Interview performance where applicable
- Nationality and gender balance
How to build a strong application
Your motivation should show that you understand humanitarian work as a professional field, not simply as charity. Strong applicants can discuss ethical decision-making, coordination, protection, conflict sensitivity, accountability or operational constraints.
If you have NGO experience, avoid listing duties only. Explain the populations you worked with, the scale of programmes, the decisions you supported and what you learned about humanitarian systems.
References
The programme allows academic and professional references. Where possible, having one strong academic and one strong professional reference can provide a balanced picture of your ability.
Referees should know you well enough to discuss specific examples. A general reference from a famous person is less useful than a detailed one from someone who supervised your work.
Proof of residence is easy to overlook
NOHA requires scholarship applicants to submit acceptable proof of residence issued within the required period. The official guidance makes clear that ordinary national IDs, passports and utility bills are not accepted as proof of residence for this purpose.
Because this document can take time to obtain, Kenyan applicants should deal with it early rather than treating it as a final-day upload.
Common application mistakes
- Applying before completing the bachelor’s degree but expecting scholarship consideration.
- Using a generic development-sector motivation letter.
- Submitting weak or outdated references.
- Uploading an invalid proof-of-residence document.
- Failing to explain practical exposure to humanitarian or social-impact work.
JobScholarship.com assessment
NOHA is strongest for candidates who already have evidence of commitment to humanitarian or development work. Kenyan applicants from NGOs, county-level programmes, refugee response, health, communications and social-impact organisations can be competitive if they translate experience into clear evidence of professional readiness.
Deadline: 15 December 2026, 23:59 GMT.
Apply: Use the official NOHA application portal linked above.
Eligibility checklist before you apply
- Make sure your bachelor’s degree is completed before the scholarship deadline if you want Erasmus Mundus funding.
- Check whether your academic background is accepted for the programme.
- Prepare valid proof of residence that meets the programme’s rules.
- Confirm language requirements and whether additional proof is needed.
- Choose referees who understand your academic or humanitarian work.
Career paths after NOHA
NOHA graduates can work in humanitarian coordination, programme management, protection, policy, research, emergency response, advocacy, logistics and international development.
Kenyan applicants may find the programme relevant to work with NGOs, UN agencies, refugee programmes, county disaster-management teams, health-response organisations and development partners.
How to demonstrate humanitarian readiness
Use evidence that shows judgment, responsibility and understanding of affected communities. Strong examples can come from field work, programme support, communications, logistics, monitoring and evaluation, public health, social protection or community mobilisation.
Applicants should avoid presenting humanitarian work as only “helping people.” The sector values accountability, ethics, coordination, technical competence and cultural sensitivity.
Frequently asked questions
Can fresh graduates apply?
Yes, if they meet the academic requirements, but applicants with relevant field, volunteer or internship experience may be able to demonstrate stronger programme fit.
Can I apply before graduating?
For scholarship consideration, the programme states that the degree must be completed by the scholarship deadline.
What kind of proof of residence should I prepare?
Use only documents that meet the official programme guidance. Do not assume a passport or national ID will be accepted for this requirement.
Is NGO experience required?
No single job title is mandatory. Relevant exposure can come from health, policy, communications, logistics, community work or other areas connected to humanitarian action.