UCL Institute for Risk & Disaster Reduction
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Graduate teaching portal

UCL is uniquely well-placed to lead research and teaching in risk and disaster reduction, with at least 70 academics across 12 departments and seven faculties involved in world-class research and practice in the field.

The following courses at UCL deal with risk and disasters, with further additions to follow:

In all of the IRDR postgraduate programmes, students will explore the characterisation, quantification, management and reduction of risk and disasters, along with their associated impacts, from a diverse range of scientific, technical, socio-economic, political, environmental, ethical and cultural perspectives. They will acquire advanced levels of knowledge of empirical, theoretical, and practical aspects of risk, disaster and resilience, and will gain research experience and the ability to effectively communicate research. All of the lRDR post graduate programmes are based around four core courses:

Additional courses in urban planning for disasters and climate change; anthropology of risk, power and uncertainty; societal resilience to disasters; geophysical hazards; seismic risk; security and terrorism risk reduction; and research skills are available.

Risk and Disaster Reduction, MRes

Duration: Full-time 1 year; Part-time 2 years

The dissertation is the focus of the MRes programme, with taught modules targeted at supporting learning and development. This programme is ideal for students who want to complete a considerable piece of research, possibly as training for a research career.

Risk, Disaster and Resilience, MSc

Duration: Full-time 1 year; Part-time 2 years

This course is suitable for students who want to have a wide range of taught courses, whilst still completing a substantial independent project. The taught courses are the focus of the programme, with the project constituting one third of the programme credits.

Risk, Disaster and Resilience, PG-Dip

Duration: Full-time 1 year; Part-time 2 years

This programme contains the same  taught courses as the MSc, but no independent research project. Please apply via the MSc graduate prospectus page.

Risk, and Disaster Reduction, PG-Cert

Duration: Part-time 1 year

This programme is suitable for students interested in learning about Risk and Disaster Reduction, but without enough time for a full Masters programme. It is one third the amount of course credits as a Masters and is comprised of the four core IRDR taught modules.

For more information on all of these courses, please download the IRDR postgraduate prospectus

Applying to our courses

For further information on all of these courses please download the IRDR postgraduate prospectus:

Instructions and advice for applying to our courses can be found here:


Built Environment: Sustainable Heritage, MSc

Duration: Full-time 1 year; Part-time 2 years (flexible 3-5 years)

Admitting Department: The Bartlett, Faculty of the Built Environment

Designed for a new generation of heritage leaders, this programme provides the interdisciplinary skills needed to deliver the heritage programmes and projects of the future. The programme combines aspects of cultural heritage - historic buildings, collections, sites and landscapes - with the best preventive conservation policies, projects, methodologies and practices.

Graduate prospectus page


Earthquake Engineering with Disaster Management, MSc

Duration: Full-time 1 year; Part-time 2 years

Admitting Department: Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering

The Earthquake Engineering with Disaster Management MSc combines specialist earthquake engineering knowledge with an understanding of the social, economic and political impact of earthquake events in order to produce engineers that can provide holistic design solutions and be able to work in both engineering and disaster management roles.

Graduate prospectus page


Geophysical Hazards, MSc

Duration: Full-time 1 year; Part-time 2 years

Admitting Department: Earth Sciences

This MSc provides an introduction to geohazards, research methods and field techniques, together with advanced courses in seismology, volcanology, hydrogeological hazards and meteorology. A key goal is to provide an essential grounding in quantitative modelling that can be widely applied to several fields, from pure research to the commercial sector.

Graduate prospectus page


Natural Hazards for Insurers, PG-Cert

Duration: Part-time in two 8-week blocks

Admitting Department: Earth Sciences

Climate change, increasing urbanisation and mounting exposure to natural hazards are imposing growing pressure on insurers and reinsurers to seek ways of limiting exposure. This programme offers students a better understanding of natural hazards and the means by which their impacts on the market can be mitigated or avoided.

Graduate prospectus page

Admissions

Enquiries about applications should be directed to Admissions. The preferred method  of communicating with us is by telephone rather than email or facsimile. Our experience is that applicants find it easier to explain their queries when they telephone us. If you have not received an acknowledgement within two weeks of having submitted your application, or a response by the date stated on the acknowledgement letter, please telephone Admissions. We shall do our best to determine the cause of any delay.

Admissions
UCL Registry
University College London
Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT
United Kingdom

EMAIL admissions@ucl.ac.uk
TEL +44 (0)20 7679 7742/7381
FAX +44 (0) 20 7691 3112

Other Useful Contacts

For a printed copy of the Graduate Prospectus, or degree programme information, please contact the Study Information Centre. For further information, or specific questions, you may want to contact individual departments.

Study Information Centre

University College London
Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT

WEB Enquiry Form
EMAIL study@ucl.ac.uk
TEL +44 (0)20 7679 3000
FAX +44 (0)20 7679 3001

The UCL Address

University College London
Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT
United Kingdom

TEL +44 (0)20 7679 2000

We do not currently have any open calls for applications to a funded PhD studentship.

 If you can self-fund or have another source of funding and are interested in PhD study in the UCL Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, please contact Dr Rosanna Smith rosanna.smith[at]ucl.ac.uk