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Risk and Disaster Reduction MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

This is the programme information for 2026/27 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Risk and Disaster Reduction MPhil/PhD (2025/26), click here

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2026/27)

£6,400

£3,200

Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)

£34,700

£17,350

Duration

3 calendar years

4 calendar years

Programme starts

October 2026

February 2027

May 2027

Applications accepted

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but should be submitted at least three months prior to your preferred start date.

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally, a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this course is: Level 1

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Students learn how to conduct original, cross-disciplinary and internationally-relevant scientific research with significant, positive societal impact within an intellectually and globally diverse student body. There is a focus on multidisciplinary research methods – in the laboratory, on-site, talking to people, analysing documents, conceptual analysis and others, depending on the nature of the research. Research may employ theoretical, statistical, modelling, social survey and desk-based techniques. Students' skills in research, teaching, public engagement, communications, consultancy, and knowledge exchange are emphasised.

Who this course is for

The programme aims to train the next generation of innovative, creative and objectively critical researchers, thinkers, practitioners and decision-makers in risk and disaster resilience. Our PhD students find jobs across sectors, including academia, government, the private sector, and the non-profit sector.

Read about what it takes to become a UCL graduate research student

What this course will give you

In addition to world-class research facilities and information resources, PhD students will gain skills essential to employment, such as teaching, proposal writing, experience of media and public engagement, organising events, and oral and written communications. The department holds various events including an annual PhD Student Forum, Spring Academy, seminars and conferences. The PhD offers research training alongside learning opportunities in other areas.

Find out how your research could have an impact

The foundation of your career

Our PhD graduates have gained employment in a wide variety of positions in London and around the world both within and outside of academia. The department's extensive links and established credibility with the private sector, the non-profit sector, government, international organisations and academia provide graduates with a high-level network for winning positions, along with the skills and qualifications to apply for advertised posts and fellowships.

Employability

A Risk and Disaster Reduction MPhil/PhD provides excellent networks and training for careers in research, research communication, public policy, (re)insurance, catastrophe modelling, risk management, international development, humanitarian assistance, engineering and many other fields. The department provides dedicated careers support for students, including networking events often attended by recruiters from the financial sector to the public sector to disaster prevention and response organisations.

Networking

Networking occurs throughout the year, not just through the array of the department's events, but also through the opportunities on offer at UCL, London's Global University. Staff in the department have extensive professional networks and can connect students with colleagues in the sector. The dedicated departmental student society also offers networking opportunities for its members.

Teaching and learning

This MPhil/PhD programme, based in UCL's Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction, offers the opportunity to focus on a research topic of interest while learning from other disciplines across the social sciences, physical sciences, engineering, health and medicine, law, arts and humanities.

Leading international researchers in all aspects of risk and disaster are part of the department, and there are many opportunities to collaborate with internationally renowned scientists around UCL, elsewhere in the world, and in industry, government and non-profit organisations with whom we have close links. Further details of our research areas and academic expertise can be found at www.ucl.ac.uk/risk-disaster-reduction

In addition to regular supervision, each student must submit the full dissertation and complete an oral exam (‘Viva’ or ‘defence’). More details can be found on the department website, or by emailing the PhD administrator.

A typical full-time PhD student is expected to spend an average of approximately 36.5 hours per week working on their PhD, although this will vary, with some periods of more intensive research.

PhDs are mainly self-directed study, with contact hours and supervisions to be agreed between each student and their supervisory team.

We ask students to participate in the intellectual community within the department, and that they also communicate their research ideas and results to a wide audience. Therefore, in addition to their research, there are a number of events and activities throughout the year in which students are expected to participate, including but not restricted to the annual RDR Spring Academy and PhD Forum.

Research areas and structure

Research environment

The UCL Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction (RDR) aims to build a thriving environment for research and research impact. Participation in the department's research requires that students participate in the wider RDR community, and that they also communicate their research ideas and results to a wide audience.

Students can expect to have excellent supervision in a stimulating intellectual environment, as well as dedicated skills training and career development support.

: Students may study full time over three years on-site.
: Students may also study part time over five years.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£6,400	£3,200
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£34,700	£17,350

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

There are no programme-specific costs.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Please note that decisions whether to offer a place on our PhD programme are made primarily by the academic staff member who will take on the role of primary supervisor. They will make this decision on the basis of your project proposal, personal statement, other sections of your application including academic record and references, an interview and their availability to supervise. It is therefore important that your application identifies both your proposed supervisors (primary and subsidiary) and includes well-prepared project proposal and personal statement sections. Applications are accepted at any time with start dates throughout the year, but typically start in September. Please note that many scholarships have specific deadlines that may vary.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This course requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.