Crisis and Disaster Management MSc

Are you calm under pressure, capable of lead others in the face of a crisis, and ready for an interesting, rewarding career where you can make a difference? If that sounds like you, our MSc Crisis and Disaster Management degree course could be just what you're looking for.

On this course, you'll learn about topics such as hazards, vulnerability and the risk of disaster, crisis management and humanitarian responses, all underpinned by the practical aspects of an emergency situation, including planning and logistics.

You'll graduate with the skills you need for a successful career in the emergency planning and disaster management sector, either in the UK or overseas. You'll also get transferable skills in project planning, data reviewing and communication, putting you in a strong position to pursue a career in other industries.

On this course, you'll:

• Learn new skills including disaster risk reduction techniques, and mapping using GIS, GPS and remote sensing technologies
• Be supported by expert staff and researchers who are active in the field, with extensive industrial and consultancy experience working for government agencies, businesses and NGOs
• Complete a work placement with an emergency planning, crisis management or disaster response organisation and complete a personal project based on your work experience
• Take part in study visits and field training with UK emergency services, the military and NGOs
• Gain transferable skills such as project planning, data reviewing, report writing, team work and presentation
• Get to use field equipment including GPS survey kits, computer lab with Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and image processing software (QGIS, ArcGIS, ERDAS Imagine)

Work experience and career planning

We'll help you to identify placements, internships, voluntary roles and opportunities that will complement your studies.

When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills to work in the field of crisis and disaster management, or elsewhere.

After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.

Placements

You'll get the opportunity to undertake voluntary work placements within emergency planning or disaster management organisations in the UK or overseas. In most cases these placements will form the basis of your research project. This will be beneficial to your studies, but it’s also a great way to gain valuable work experience.

Many students have undertaken their research project abroad, in destinations including the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Montserrat, Sierra Leone, Tenerife, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and the USA.

Careers and opportunities

When you graduate, you'll have the knowledge and practical skills needed for a career in the emergency planning, crisis management or disaster response sectors, both in the UK and overseas. Opportunities exist within sectors including:

• Humanitarian agencies and NGOs
• Emergency management
• Emergency logistics and contingency planning
• Flood management
• Military-civilian emergency liaisons
• (Re)insurance and risk management
• Utility companies
• Civil defence
• Disaster relief
• Epidemiology

The MSc Crisis and Disaster Management degree course also features research and analytical components, ideal if you are interested in pursuing further research at PhD level.

We'll give you as much support as possible in finding employment through close industrial contacts, careers events, recruitment fairs and individual advice.

Professional accreditations

The Crisis and Disaster Management course is endorsed by the Emergency Planning College (EPC) of the UK Cabinet Office.

If you've attended appropriate professional development short courses at the Cabinet Office Emergency Planning College (EPC) you may be eligible for exemption from attendance of up to two thirds of our degree programme. Accreditation of Prior Learning requires evidence of good practice in the topics of study, and of applying this appropriately in your workplace.

If you want to take advantage of this offer, after enrolment on the course a personal tutor will help you to submit your evidence.

Visit the Crisis and Disaster Management MSc page on the University of Portsmouth website for more details!