Natural Hazards for Insurers
This postgraduate certificate course offers students a better understanding of natural hazards and the means by which their impacts on the insurance market may be mitigated or avoided.
Increasing urbanisation, climate change and environmental degradation are rapidly raising exposure to natural hazards in the developed and developing world. This is imposing growing pressures on insurers and reinsurers to seek ways of limiting exposure, reducing vulnerability and building resilience. This UCL postgraduate certificate Natural Hazards for Insurers course offers students a better understanding of natural hazards and the means by which their impacts on the market may be mitigated or avoided. There is a strong emphasis on developing an improved understanding of the nature of available hazard data, the conclusions we can draw from them, limitations, and relevant cutting-edge research. The course provides the intellectual, analytical and practical tools for making more informed decisions in day-to-day encounters with natural hazards, exposure and loss. It is therefore particularly relevant to professionals working in catastrophe risk within the insurance and reinsurance sector.
Students benefit from our welcoming environment and world-class facilities. The part-time course is staffed by academics from UCL and other universities, the British Geological Survey, and partners from NGOs and the business sector. UCL welcomes both self-funded students and those sponsored by their workplace.
Prospectus:
PGCert Natural Hazards for Insurers
Further Enquiries:
Dr Alexander Steele
Course topics
Content focuses on hazards of most interest to the market (e.g., windstorms, floods, wildfires, earthquakes), but also addresses geotechnical issues such as marine pollution incidents and energy resource issues. Students undertake three modules to the value of 60 credits, which equates to a total of 600 hours of student effort. This consists of two taught modules (each worth 15 credits) and an independent project (worth 30 credits). Students take one compulsory taught module and then choose one option from a selection of advanced modules…
GEOL0062 Geological, Geotechnical & Hydro-meteorological Hazards (15 credits)
This is an introductory module that provides an overview of natural and anthropogenic hazards. Topics covered include hazardous natural processes; interconnected, cascading and multiple hazards; volcanic hazards and risk; earthquake sesimology and seismic hazards; tsunamis; mass movements; tropical cyclones; wildfires; tornadoes; inland and coastal flooding; and anthropogenic hazards such as marine pollution incidents and dam failure.
GEOL0064 Independent Project: Insurance and Natural Risks (30 credits)
All students undertake an independent research project, which culminates in an 8,000-word report and an oral presentation. Topics for research should incoporate aspects of both risk from natural hazards and (re)insurance market interests. Further information about supervision arrangements, format, and other details are provided early in the Spring term.
Students must choose one taught module from the options below...
CEGE0033 Seismic Risk Assessment (15 credits)
This course covers fundamental components of earthquake risk assessments, including an introduction to GIS and seismic risk assessment tools. Topics include earthquake mechanics and energy; seismic waves; building vulnerability to ground shaking; and seismic loss estimation.
GEOL0041 Physical Volcanology and Volcanic Hazard (15 credits)
This module covers dynamics of volcanic processes including effusions of lava flows and domes; explosive eruptions; magma rheology and dynamics; fracturing of volcanoes; monitoring techniques; eruption forecasting; and hazard evaluation and mitigation.
GEOL0066 Meteorological and Hydrogeological Hazards (15 credits)
The module provides advanced methods for evaluating and forecasting meteorological and hydrogeological hazards. Topics covered include the analysis of climate change and meteorological hazards; wind risk; flood estimation; and slope collapse and the dynamics of mass movements.
HPSC0093 Science Policy in an Era of Risk Uncertainty (15 credits)
This module brings together key thinkers, debates, and cutting-edge research on how society engages with uncertainty and risk. It aims to discuss the challenges of integrating interdisciplinary data sets, and examines the potential for more deliberative and participatory engagement with stakeholders.
Course teaching
Who teaches the course?
The course is staffed by academics from UCL and other universities, the British Geological Survey and partners from the business sector. The core teaching team is from the UCL Hazard Centre, one of Europe’s leading multidisciplinary hazard academic centres for hazard and risk research, education and knowledge exchange. The UCL Hazard Centre sits within UCL’s Department of Earth Sciences.
Teaching and learning
The course is delivered through lectures, seminars, discussions, directed reading, and problem-solving exercises. Student performance is assessed through coursework in the form of essays, reports and practical exercises. The independent project is assessed through an 8,000-word report and an oral presentation.
Why should I study this postgraduate course at UCL?
Top hazard scientists at UCL and other leading academic institutions have worked with the Under 35s Reinsurance group and market professionals to develop a flexible course that accommodates the demands of a full-time career. The part-time course is designed specifically for professionals already working in the insurance and reinsurance sector, or for those keen to enter roles in catastrophe risk.
The course is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), the premier professional organisation for those working in the insurance and financial services industry. Successful completion of the course qualifies the candidate for 60 non-unit specific credits at Advanced Diploma level towards the CII exam framework. Alternatively, completion may be counted towards Associateship or Fellowship of the CII (major achievement). Candidates may claim one hour of structured CPD towards the CII member CPD scheme for every hour of study.
The opportunity also exists to upgrade to Masters level.
UCL+
- Register interest in your chosen subjects
- Receive notice of graduate open days, events and more
Resources:
Course Director:
Dr Alexander Steele
Postgraduate taught courses:
All postgraduate courses.
All enquiries:
alexander.steele@ucl.ac.uk