UNDERGRADUATE

Bachelor of Humanitarian Aid and Development

The Bachelor of Humanitarian Aid and Development is an inter-disciplinary degree that will teach you to understand, critically analyse and apply concepts of community development, humanitarian practice and development aid.

Degree Details

During the course, you'll explore concepts in a variety of fields including culture studies, sociology, ethics, Indigenous knowledge, community development, international humanitarian assistance and development, project management, and language studies. You'll learn from academics and industry practitioners who have a professional focus on national and international community work, disaster relief and development.

Hands-on experience matters in the industry, which is why you'll complete a two-week intensive unit at our Casuarina campus in Darwin. This will give you the knowledge and practical skills to work in humanitarian assistance.

Admission requirements are met by one of the following:

  • Successful completion of the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (or equivalent) and the awarding of an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of at least 60*.
  • Successful completion of a national qualification at Certificate III level or higher.
  • Successful completion of at least 0.5 year of full-time study (or equivalent) of a higher education degree/diploma.
  • Overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications considered equivalent to the above Australian qualifications.
  • Attainment of a STAT Multiple Choice score of 140.
  • Successful completion of the Tertiary Enabling Program, the Preparation for Tertiary Success courses, or other recognised tertiary preparation course.
  • Submission of an acceptable personal competencies statement and/or employment experience.
  • Defence members with service of 1 year or more at the following ranks (or higher) meet the academic entry requirement for this course:
    ~Air Force: Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman, Corporal, Leading Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman
    ~Army: Corporal, Lance Corporal, Private
    ~Navy: Able Seaman, Leading Seaman, Seaman

We recommend you apply for a credit transfer if you've previously completed your study. This can be from a course you've completed at CDU or another institution.

You need to have completed your course within the last 7 years, and it should be relevant to the new course you're studying.

If it's been longer than 7 years since you completed your course, we suggest you apply for a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) instead.

Credit will appear on your Academic Record as either a unit (if the unit you completed directly matches the learning outcomes of a CDU unit) or as several credit points at a certain level. This is called unspecified credit and can be used in place of any general electives in your study plan.

  • social work
  • psychology and sociology
  • direct practice with individuals and groups
  • community work and development
  • project management
  • legal issues
  • social policy
  • remote and regional practice

In order to participate in two compulsory placements in your second and third year, you'll need to satisfy the requirements of a criminal history check.


  • 2023 HE unit offerings are not yet available however will be published no later than 1 November 2022.
  • Always refer to the Course Catalogue for the latest information about your course prior to enrolment.


A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 240 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.

Unit type Credit Points Specific requirements
 Core Units
(17 units)
 180cp Compulsory Core units totalling 180 credit points as detailed below.HAD100 Introduction to Disasters, Humanitarian Aid and Development
IAS101 Indigenous Australia
PSY150 Introduction to Psychology A (replaces PSY140 2022)
SWK101 Introduction to Human Services
HAD250 Humanitarian Needs Assessment
HCS261 Fundamentals of Humanitarian Practice (WIL)
IAS201 Cultural Capabilities
IAS222 Global Sociology
MAN204 Project Management
DEM300 Community-Based Risk Management
DEM311 Emergency and Disaster Management in Context
HCS351 Professional Practice Placement (20 CP)
HCS365 From Theory to Practice - Aid and Development
SWK301 Working with and Developing Communities
SWK312 Social Research Methods
SWK318 Skills for Regional and Remote Practice
IAS402 Intercultural Practice
 Specialist Electives
(6 units)
 60cp Specialist Elective units totalling 60 credit points as detailed below. Students may focus on one area or choose a combination of units from any area.To receive Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA) professional body recognition students need to include all 60 credit points as specified below in the selection.

HUMAN SERVICES (ACWA accredited major)
IAS133 Introduction to International Relations
SWK102 Communication Skills
SWK201 Human Service Organisations
IAS352 Practices and Skills in Indigenous Community Work
SWK313 Engaging with Individuals and Families in Partnership
SWK316 Building Safe Communities

INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT
IAS102 Northern Exposure
IAS161 Language Studies 1
IAS202 Northern Futures
IAS242 Indigenous Governance and Leadership
IAS351 Indigenous Networking and Collaboration
IAS352 Practices and Skills in Indigenous Community Work (added 2022)
IAS353 Indigenous Cultures and the Environment

SKILLS FOR HUMANITARIAN PRACTICE 
IAS122 Ethics and Happiness (unit title change 2022)
IAS133 Introduction to International Relations
ENV202 Introductory Remote Sensing
ENV208 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Thinking
LWA221 Human Rights Law (No longer offered 2021)
DEM312 Interdisciplinary Aspects of Emergency and Disaster Management

DEVELOPMENT IN PRACTICE
MAN105 Introduction to Management
QAB105  Business Res earch Methods
MAN203 Comparative Management Systems (replaces MAN212 from 2022)
SWK316 Building Safe Communities (added 2022)
IAS336 Major Issues in Contemporary Indonesia
IAS404 In-Country Placement

 240cp  Total Credit Points

Students who commenced in or after 2013
No more than 20 credit points shall be counted with a grade of "PC" in a Bachelor AQF Level 7 course award and no more than 10 credit points at "PC" may be received at the highest level of the program of learning.

Of the total 240 credit points: (unless specified in the specific course structure above)
* not more than 100 credit points may be taken from 100 level units
* a minimum of 60 credit points must be taken from 300 level units or above

How To Apply

CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY

Complete your details and we'll make sure your inquiry is sent to the CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY which will contact you to discuss this degree. For more details, feel free to contact one of the educational consultants at EDVISE HUB Click Here To Book Your Session

Degree Details

During the course, you'll explore concepts in a variety of fields including culture studies, sociology, ethics, Indigenous knowledge, community development, international humanitarian assistance and development, project management, and language studies. You'll learn from academics and industry practitioners who have a professional focus on national and international community work, disaster relief and development.

Hands-on experience matters in the industry, which is why you'll complete a two-week intensive unit at our Casuarina campus in Darwin. This will give you the knowledge and practical skills to work in humanitarian assistance.

Admission requirements are met by one of the following:

  • Successful completion of the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (or equivalent) and the awarding of an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of at least 60*.
  • Successful completion of a national qualification at Certificate III level or higher.
  • Successful completion of at least 0.5 year of full-time study (or equivalent) of a higher education degree/diploma.
  • Overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications considered equivalent to the above Australian qualifications.
  • Attainment of a STAT Multiple Choice score of 140.
  • Successful completion of the Tertiary Enabling Program, the Preparation for Tertiary Success courses, or other recognised tertiary preparation course.
  • Submission of an acceptable personal competencies statement and/or employment experience.
  • Defence members with service of 1 year or more at the following ranks (or higher) meet the academic entry requirement for this course:
    ~Air Force: Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman, Corporal, Leading Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman
    ~Army: Corporal, Lance Corporal, Private
    ~Navy: Able Seaman, Leading Seaman, Seaman

We recommend you apply for a credit transfer if you've previously completed your study. This can be from a course you've completed at CDU or another institution.

You need to have completed your course within the last 7 years, and it should be relevant to the new course you're studying.

If it's been longer than 7 years since you completed your course, we suggest you apply for a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) instead.

Credit will appear on your Academic Record as either a unit (if the unit you completed directly matches the learning outcomes of a CDU unit) or as several credit points at a certain level. This is called unspecified credit and can be used in place of any general electives in your study plan.

  • social work
  • psychology and sociology
  • direct practice with individuals and groups
  • community work and development
  • project management
  • legal issues
  • social policy
  • remote and regional practice

In order to participate in two compulsory placements in your second and third year, you'll need to satisfy the requirements of a criminal history check.


  • 2023 HE unit offerings are not yet available however will be published no later than 1 November 2022.
  • Always refer to the Course Catalogue for the latest information about your course prior to enrolment.


A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 240 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.

Unit type Credit Points Specific requirements
 Core Units
(17 units)
 180cp Compulsory Core units totalling 180 credit points as detailed below.HAD100 Introduction to Disasters, Humanitarian Aid and Development
IAS101 Indigenous Australia
PSY150 Introduction to Psychology A (replaces PSY140 2022)
SWK101 Introduction to Human Services
HAD250 Humanitarian Needs Assessment
HCS261 Fundamentals of Humanitarian Practice (WIL)
IAS201 Cultural Capabilities
IAS222 Global Sociology
MAN204 Project Management
DEM300 Community-Based Risk Management
DEM311 Emergency and Disaster Management in Context
HCS351 Professional Practice Placement (20 CP)
HCS365 From Theory to Practice - Aid and Development
SWK301 Working with and Developing Communities
SWK312 Social Research Methods
SWK318 Skills for Regional and Remote Practice
IAS402 Intercultural Practice
 Specialist Electives
(6 units)
 60cp Specialist Elective units totalling 60 credit points as detailed below. Students may focus on one area or choose a combination of units from any area.To receive Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA) professional body recognition students need to include all 60 credit points as specified below in the selection.

HUMAN SERVICES (ACWA accredited major)
IAS133 Introduction to International Relations
SWK102 Communication Skills
SWK201 Human Service Organisations
IAS352 Practices and Skills in Indigenous Community Work
SWK313 Engaging with Individuals and Families in Partnership
SWK316 Building Safe Communities

INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT
IAS102 Northern Exposure
IAS161 Language Studies 1
IAS202 Northern Futures
IAS242 Indigenous Governance and Leadership
IAS351 Indigenous Networking and Collaboration
IAS352 Practices and Skills in Indigenous Community Work (added 2022)
IAS353 Indigenous Cultures and the Environment

SKILLS FOR HUMANITARIAN PRACTICE 
IAS122 Ethics and Happiness (unit title change 2022)
IAS133 Introduction to International Relations
ENV202 Introductory Remote Sensing
ENV208 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Thinking
LWA221 Human Rights Law (No longer offered 2021)
DEM312 Interdisciplinary Aspects of Emergency and Disaster Management

DEVELOPMENT IN PRACTICE
MAN105 Introduction to Management
QAB105  Business Res earch Methods
MAN203 Comparative Management Systems (replaces MAN212 from 2022)
SWK316 Building Safe Communities (added 2022)
IAS336 Major Issues in Contemporary Indonesia
IAS404 In-Country Placement

 240cp  Total Credit Points

Students who commenced in or after 2013
No more than 20 credit points shall be counted with a grade of "PC" in a Bachelor AQF Level 7 course award and no more than 10 credit points at "PC" may be received at the highest level of the program of learning.

Of the total 240 credit points: (unless specified in the specific course structure above)
* not more than 100 credit points may be taken from 100 level units
* a minimum of 60 credit points must be taken from 300 level units or above

How To Apply

CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY

Complete your details and we'll make sure your inquiry is sent to the CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY which will contact you to discuss this degree. For more details, feel free to contact one of the educational consultants at EDVISE HUB Click Here To Book Your Session

Apply With:

Duration:Full-time 3 years

Location:Australia

Fees:AUD$25,328

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