Applications for the September 2025 and January 2026 intakes are now closed. Applications will re-open in 2026.

What is the vision for LEAP?

The goal of LEAP is to enable MSF to develop a better prepared and more capable workforce and future leadership that reflects the great diversity of the organization and enables our staff to evolve as humanitarians. 

LEAP looks to complement operational humanitarian experience with multidisciplinary academic expertise. We want to support our staff in developing and strengthening their capacity for leadership, operational management, and strategic vision through reflective learning and critical analysis of humanitarian contexts, as well as through the integration of research outcomes and the exchange of knowledge and practice from across MSF. LEAP empowers staff to learn, innovate, network, and stay curious, which is crucial to fulfil our mission and to best serve the people and communities we work with. 

We want to ensure that there is equitable, needs-based access to development opportunities for all our staff with leadership and management potential, with a strong focus on those who have benefited least historically and who would otherwise have fewer opportunities to access higher education. We want to invest in staff capacity in the long-term and recognise local staff potential, striving to bring operational management closer in proximity to the populations we serve. 

Who is LEAP at OCP for?

• LEAP at OCP is open to all staff groups who are presently working with OCP or who are part of the active OCP pool. This includes medical and non-medical staff, HQ staff, internationally mobile staff, and locally recruited staff.

• LEAP is particularly intended for those in field or field-facing roles, and those who are decision makers, managers, or in positions of influence. At OCP, this includes, but is not limited to, medical & non-medical coordinators and deputies/assistants, activity managers, medical and non-medical profiles who have an interest in becoming a generalist management profile (project coordinator, HoM...).

• All OCP applicants are required to have at least 12 months of MSF field experience. Applicants may still be considered if they can also demonstrate significant experience working for other NGOs in the humanitarian sector.

• All applicants must meet the minimum English requirement of C1 (see below for further detail on English requirements).

• Most LEAP students have an undergraduate degree. However, those without undergraduate degrees who have considerable professional experience will be considered for selection (their entry into the programme is then at the discretion of the University Course Director). A diverse classroom with staff of varying levels of previous education is crucial for academically rich discussion and there is an active effort to encourage those without the means to otherwise pursue a PG qualification to apply. 

• LEAP is committed to reflecting MSF’s diversity in its cohorts, and the representation of female staff and locally-recruited staff is particularly important.

• OCP LEAP applicants are ideally flexible towards their missions/positions.

How are applicants selected?

• LEAP is a competitive programme. The number of seats (10 seats annually in total for OCP) corresponds to a small percentage of total applications. In 2023, just 6% of OCP applicants were accepted onto the programme.   

• LEAP selection committees are usually formed of representatives from several HQ departments.

• The selection committee considers candidates’ aptitude, motivation, critical thinking and reflection, relevant experience, quality of written work, and leadership and management potential.

• The selection committee considers the candidate’s previous level of education, with a focus on ensuring academic diversity in the classroom. Students’ education level ranges from those with existing master’s degrees, usually in subjects outside of Humanitarian Practice, to those who have not previously studied at university level. 

• OCP is keen to facilitate the representation of all staff groups in the programme, particularly female staff and LRS.

This programme is offered in good faith that the graduates will remain with MSF for some time after graduation. As such, please refrain from applying if you are aware that your contract with MSF is coming to an end and you are unlikely to return to MSF employment in the near future.

*English language requirements

It is essential that your English language level is at a C1 minimum to take the LEAP.

If you have never taken an official English test or if the one you have is more than 2 years old, you can take an online E F SET test of 90 minutes, free-of-charge, to give you an idea of your level and for the first step of your application.

If selected by OCP for the LEAP Program, you will then have to take a full Standard English Language Test (SELT), which OCP will pay for and which you need to apply to the university.

For a full guide on the English language test equivalents and requirements, please read this document carefully: English Language Requirements LEAP.

Course delivery and study pathway at OCP

OCP staff will be eligible to take either the Postgraduate Diploma or the Master of Science. 

Masters’ degree in Humanitarian Practice

Priority is given to MSF staff in operational managerial positions (such as MTL, MAM, LTM, Coordination positions…), who are mobile or identified to be mobile within 1 year (going on detachments, becoming an international mobile staff…).

Postgraduate diploma in Humanitarian Practice

Priority is given to MSF non-mobile staff in managerial positions (within their area of expertise or in transversal roles).

Priority to non-medical profiles, as OCP offers other post-graduate diplomas for medical staff (for more information, contact your PDM/HRCO or Pool Manager).

For further information on the structure of each pathway, please visit the external LEAP Website. 

The courses will be delivered through a blended learning programme, combining face-to-face teaching (including intensive courses taught over 1-2 weeks) with content delivered remotely through an online learning platform. You can find more information on the course content available here. 

For candidates interested in studying specific individual modules, please visit the standalone modules webpage for further information. 

How to apply?

There is an annual selection committee in OCP for both study paths (PgD & master) for the two semesters, so if you are interested in applying for the September 2025 or January 2026 semesters, the deadline is March 5th 2025.

There are two phases in the selection process: an internal MSF process and then one at the University of Manchester. If you are selected by MSF, you will be informed and then invited to apply directly to the University of Manchester, who will make the final decision on your application.

Every candidate will receive an individual response with a short note regarding their application.

To apply, you must respond directly to the Microsoft Form below. You will need to provide some documents...

·     An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae.

·     A short motivation video where you explain how the LEAP relates to your career plan and how it could influence your work. The video (filmed with a smartphone, webcam, or camera) should be no longer than 3 minutes.

·     A 500-word discussion note presenting a specific situation you have encountered and that, according to you, could benefit from a wider reflection. Please identify one or several key questions in relation to that issue and justify why you think it’s important.

·     If you hold a bachelor’s degree, a scan of your diploma.

·      If you do not hold a bachelor’s degree, two work certificates, at least one of them from MSF(please note, admission without an undergraduate degree is ultimately at the university's discretion). 

·     Results of an officially recognized English test* showing a minimum C1 level (please consult this document for more information regarding English requirements).

·     A copy/scan of your valid passport (if you have one).

*If you have never taken such a test, or if your results are not satisfactory to the above requirements, you can submit the results of an online E F SET test for the first step of the selection process (free of charge). Please do the 90 min one, the others will not be accepted.

All your documents MUST BE NAMED as follows:
NAME/First Name/Content of the document

(ie: "SMITH Peter-Video..." or " JOHNSON Mary-English test...")

Application form:

·   If you have an Outlook address (MSF nominative e-mail address), please fill this Microsoft form: Application form (Outlook address)

·   If you don’t have an Outlook address, please fill this Microsoft form: Application form (no Outlook address)

Note for non- Outlook users: You will have to send an email with your documents to leap@paris.msf.org. If you can’t send the video directly by email, please use WeTransfer.

Please be sure to send all your documents at the same time and in the requested format.

Incomplete applications will not be considered by the selection committee.

What funding and conditions for those who work for OCP?

A key principle of LEAP is to offer higher education to those who have fewer opportunities to access it. Therefore, attendance costs for staff (visas, flight tickets to Manchester/Liverpool, per diems etc.) for the face-to-face sessions and English language tests (if applicable) will be covered by OCP.  MSF UK will cover the course fees and accommodation in the UK. 

For detailed information on the LEAP conditions in OCP, please refer to OCP Conditions and Student Commitment Form 

Please note, OCP used to offer its sponsored applicants a specific contract for the entire period of the Master's. This is no longer the case. This change had to be made for practical and legal reasons. It became difficult to implement the contracts due to the versatile nature of MSF's work.

Information for those managing LEAP applicants:

If you are an HRCo or line manager responsible for the management of LEAP applicants, please see the HR Information page  and the OCP Conditions and Student Commitment Form  document for further information on the expected study time/commitment for LEAP students and what resources the mission/ HQ will need to provide.

Important: If the applicant is successful, the mission and LEAP student will need to adhere to the OCP Conditions and Student Commitment Document. This form is an agreement between the student, mission, and their OC on the study conditions, and responsibilities of managers and students.

Contact Details

If you would like more information about the OCP conditions for LEAP or about your application, please contact: leap@paris.msf.org.

For questions related to the academic content of the LEAP courses and for queries about your specific academic background and eligibility please email: leapmsf@manchester.ac.uk and leap@london.msf.org.

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