XClose

UCL Graduate degrees

Menu

Earthquake Engineering with Disaster Management MSc

The Earthquake Engineering with Disaster Management MSc combines specialist structural and earthquake engineering knowledge with an advanced understanding of resilience and risk modelling for natural hazards. The programme is designed to produce engineers who are able to work in the civil and structural engineering sector, as well as taking roles in risk and catastrophe modelling or disaster management.

Covid-19 programme updates

Due to COVID-19, there may have been updates to this programme for the 2020 academic year. Where there has been an update, these are indicated with a red alert and a link which will provide further information.

Key information

Programme starts

September 2020

Modes and duration

Full time: 1 year
Part time: 2 years
Flexible: up to 5 years

Application dates

All applicants
Open: 1 November 2019
Close: 11 August 2020
Notification
Due to the large number of applications received, this programme is no longer accepting applications for 2020/21 entry. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Applications for 2021/22 entry will open later in the year.

Tuition fees (2020/21)

UK/EU:
£13,640 (FT)
£6,810 (PT)
Overseas:
£28,530 (FT)
£14,320 (PT)


Note on fees: The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website. Fees for flexible, modular study are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session.

Optional qualifications: This degree is also available as a PG Diploma with fees set accordingly.
Accreditation:

This degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree. See www.jbm.org.uk for further information.

Location: London, Bloomsbury

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class UK Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline (such as engineering or architecture), or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Extensive work experience covering related areas will be considered in addition to academic qualifications.

English language requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Standard

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

International students

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.

Select your country:

About this degree

Graduates of Earthquake Engineering with Disaster Management MSc will be able to:

  • Analyse, Design, Monitor and Assess structures to current seismic codes, as well as modern unconventional methods.
  • Evaluate Vulnerability and Resilience of ordinary and special structures against earthquake and extreme loading conditions.
  • Determine the efficiency and economic viability of pre-disaster risk mitigation and post-disaster risk management solutions.

MSc students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The MSc programme consists of SIX Core Modules (90 credits), TWO Optional Modules (30 credits) and a Research Project (60 credits).

The Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) consisting of SEVEN Core Modules (105 credits) and ONE Optional Module (15 credits).

Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a MSc in Earthquake Engineering with Disaster Management. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Earthquake Engineering with Disaster Management.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Compulsory modules

Students will take all of the SIX Core Modules from the below list.

  • Introduction to Seismic Design of Structures
  • Seismic Risk Assessment
  • Structural Dynamics
  • Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
  • Structural Vulnerability and Resilience
  • Advanced Seismic Design of Structures

Further details for each Core Module can be found on our MSc programme page.

Optional modules

Students will choose TWO Optional Modules from the below list, subject to timetable clashes and availability.

  • Advanced Structural Analysis
  • Catastrophe Risk Modelling
  • Integrating Science into Disaster Risk Reduction
  • Earthquake Seismology and Earthquake Hazard
  • Project Management

Further details for each Optional Module can be found on our MSc programme page.

Covid-19 module updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be updates to the modules for your chosen programme of study this year. Some modules may not be available or may need to be moved to a later term or year of study. These updates are relevant for 2020-21 academic year only.  The full list of modules will be available in the module catalogue from late August.  From the first week of September, you will be invited to complete module selection from Portico, our student record system. There may need to be additional updates or changes to modules during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available.

Dissertation/research project

All MSc students undertake an independent Research Project (60 credits), which is presented as a dissertation of approximately 12,000 words.

There are a number of reserach projects which are co-supervised with our industrial partners, subject to availability.

Fieldwork

A week-long field trip is organised every year to an area which has recently suffered from a damaging earthquake, to observe the extent of the destruction and the latest structural strengthening techniques. Read our Seismic Field Trip 2019 news article to find out more.


Covid-19 field trip updates
Due to COVID-19 updates, there may need to be changes to planned field trips for this programme. This will depend on travel restrictions, social distancing measures, and the availability of the relevant venues. Your department will keep you updated if field trips are able to occur and/or any alternative options available.

Teaching and learning

Taught modules are delivered in the form of lectures and seminars, in collaboration with experts from the industry and academia, as well as governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Various online resources and multi-media trainings are offered for students’ self-study.
Each module will have a number of assessment components in the form of technical and design reports, lab reports, nuemrical computer programmes, presentations and examinations.

Covid-19 contact hours on campus
In Term One, while campus will be open, all the learning activity for the core content of your modules will take place online – including lectures, tutorials, seminars and assessments. By “core content” we mean everything you need to learn to complete the module successfully. In addition to these online contact hours, we will be offering some face-to-face educational activities for students on campus, and we will provide alternative online activities for those students unable to join us on campus. These activities, which will include contact with academic staff, will be relevant to your programme of study may include seminars, academic and employability skills workshops, small-group or individual tutorials, lab and practice-based teaching. UK Government safety guidelines will limit the amount of ‘in person’ activity we can offer and while it will vary from programme to programme, is likely to be no more than 1-2 hours per week. This will vary across departments, particularly if your programme includes laboratory/practical/studio/workshop sessions. You will be updated with more specific details as they are available and your timetable will indicate which sessions will be on campus and which will be available online.
Covid-19 practical component updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be changes to the availability of the practical components for your chosen programme. Any updates relate only to the 20/21 academic year and may not apply to all students across the programme depending on your year of study.  Your department will keep you updated if the practical component of your programme is able to occur and/or any alternative options available.   There may need to be additional updates or changes to the practical component during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and/or Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available. 
Covid-19 assessment updates
There may be changes to the format of assessments for modules in this programme due to COVID-19. These will be summarised for each module on the module catalogue from 17 August 2020.   If any changes to assessments need to be made during the academic year due to updates in government guidance, these will be communicated to you as soon as possible from your department.    
Communicating further Covid-19 mitigation plans
We are continuing to follow UK Government guidance, as well as the expertise of our researchers, including specialists in health, education, human behaviour and infection prevention, to make sure UCL is as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it becomes necessary to make further changes to your programme as a result of new guidance/regulations, UCL and your department will communicate these as soon as this becomes clear. We will keep you up-to-date with our plans throughout term one, so you have the information you need to be able to take decisions that are right for your circumstances. Please ensure that you keep in touch with your department by regularly checking your UCL emails, Moodle courses, the Coronavirus FAQs for Students page and any UCL online groups or social media you follow.

Additional costs

Students are expected to pay for their means of travel for the field trip. The amount is usually around £100, depending on the destination.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Funding

This programme qualifies for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme, suitable for nationals residing in Commonwealth developing countries who wish to study a one-year taught UK Master's programme.

The scholarship covers tuition fees and air fares to and from the UK.

Scholarships relevant to this department are displayed below.

Brown Family Bursary

Note:
This scheme is now closed for 2020/21
Value:
£15,000 (1 year)
Eligibility:
UK
Criteria:
Based on both academic merit and financial need

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

Careers

There is an excellent employment prospects for our graduates.

Students graduate with strong structural and geotechnical engineering skills and rarely taught knowledge of risk assessment and disaster management. Making them ideal to take roles in consultancies, construction companies, insurance industry, disaster management and relief sector, as well as government departments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Employability

You will be a new type of global engineer, able to tackle challenges in any area that require knowledge and understanding of structural and geotechnical engineering, risk assessment and disaster management.

This MSc programme improves your employability in the consultancy and construction industry, working as a structural designer, civil or geotechnical engineer, with a well-established path to become Chartered Engineers after the required professional experience.

Furthermore, the graduates are readily employed by the insurance and finance sectors, as well as government departments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Why study this degree at UCL?

UCL Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering is an energetic and exciting multidisciplinary department with a tradition of excellence in teaching and research, situated within the heart of London.

The department hosts EPICentre, UK’s leading natural hazard research centre. This provides a unique opportunity for the MSc students to study and research alongside the world-class experts of the field.

Students also benefit from EPICentre’s strong links with the engineering and insurance industry, through professional engineers, catastrophe modellers and disaster managers, who deliver lectures and seminars and support students with their research projects as industrial supervisors. This exposes the students to cutting-edge research, while introducing them to real-world challenges. Take a look at our EPICentre Seminars & Discussions article for further information.

Students will benefit from a week-long field trip to an area that has recently suffered from a damaging earthquake to observe the extent of the destruction and explore the latest structural strengthening techniques. Read our Seismic Field Trip 2019 news article to find out more.

The programme provides a route to a professional career in civil, structural, geotechnical and earthquake engineering, as well as new opportunities in the insurance and disaster relief sector such as risk evaluation, catastrophe modelling and disaster management.

A wide choice of optional modules is available (subject to timetabling requirements), enabling students to customise their learning. 

Accreditation:

This degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree. See www.jbm.org.uk for further information.

Department: Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering

Subscribe to the StudyUCL YouTube channel to learn more about life and studying at UCL.

Application and next steps

Applications

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £80 for online applications and £105 for paper applications. Further information can be found at: www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/application.

Who can apply?

The programme is suitable for students with any engineering or architecture background, who are interested in structural design, monitoring and assessment, catastrophe modelling, risk assessment and disaster management of natural hazards.

Application deadlines

All applicants
11 August 2020

For more information see our Applications page.

Apply now

What are we looking for?

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Earthquake Engineering with Disaster Management at graduate level
  • why you want to study Earthquake Engineering with Disaster Management at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of a challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.

Page last modified on 13 August 2020