OCP

Applications for the September 2025 and January 2026 intakes are now opened until March 5th 2025.

                                                                                                     

What is the OCP vision for LEAP?

The goal of LEAP is to ensure we develop a talented workforce and future leadership that reflects the great diversity of the organization.

We aim to integrate higher education into the career paths of MSF rising and current leaders and especially to those who have fewer opportunities to access it.

We look to complement operational humanitarian experience with academic expertise in both medical and non-medical subject areas.

We want to support our staff in developing and strengthening their leadership and operational management potential and their capacity for strategic vision, innovation, and critical reflection.

 

Who is it for?

At OCP we think future leaders can be anywhere in the organization today, so we see LEAP as needing to be as inclusive as possible.

This means that:

· If you are presently working with OCP or part of the active OCP pool.

· If you have a proven C1 English level (more details below) and have certain abilities to produce written work.

· If you have minimum of 12 months MSF field experience (Applicants will still be considered if they can also demonstrate significant experience working for other NGOs in the humanitarian sector).

·  If you have an upper second-class bachelor’s degree (2:1) or international equivalent or significant professional experience in the humanitarian sector even without any degree (please note, admission without an undergraduate degree is ultimately at the university's discretion).

· If you're flexible towards your missions/positions.

 

The LEAP is open to you regardless of:

· Your position.

· Whether you are national, international and headquarters’ staff (International mobile and locally recruited staff contracted by OCP, International mobile and locally recruited staff contracted by OCP branch offices or partner sections and currently working in OCP projects, staff currently working in OCP HQ locations, branch offices and partner sections).

· Whether you are medical or non-medical.

 

We particularly encourage our female staff to apply. 

We particularly encourage applications from those who have some management experience within their role. 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...). 


The LEAP Programme represents a significant investment on the part of MSF in its staff and is intended to help staff develop into strong humanitarian leaders. 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.


Course delivery and study pathway

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

Masters’ degree inHumanitarian 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. 

 

 


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.

 

 

How will we prioritize applicants?

It's a selection based on people's potential, motivation, critical thinking and relevant experience as reflected in their application and assessed by a selection committee made of representatives of several HQ departments. There will be a limited number of 10 places each year. Participants will be split to start in the September 2025 and January 2026 semesters (there will be an opportunity for candidates to state their preference). The final selection for both cohorts will be done by the committee in May 2025.

Please note that this is a highly competitive programme: 

10 places for both pathways (Post-graduate Diploma and Master)correspond to a small fraction of the total number of applications.

 


 

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.



English Language Information

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 to apply to the university.

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

 

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.