XClose

UCL Graduate degrees

Menu

Natural Hazards for Insurers PG Cert

Climate and environmental change, increasing development and urbanisation, and mounting exposure to natural hazards are imposing growing pressure on insurers and reinsurers to seek ways of limiting exposure and reducing vulnerability. The PGCert Natural Hazards for Insurers provides students with a better understanding of natural hazards and the means by which their impacts on the market can be mitigated or avoided.

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

Please note:

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the structure and delivery of this programme is currently under review, we advise that you contact the programme lead named in the contact box for more information before you apply.

Programme starts

September 2020

Modes and duration

Part time: 10 months

The programme involves 10 months of study over a 12 month period.

Application dates

All applicants
Open: 1 November 2019
Close: 2 September 2020
Notification
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the structure and delivery of this programme is currently under review, we advise that you contact the programme lead named in the contact box for more information before you apply.

Tuition fees (2020/21)

UK/EU:
£5,255 (PT)
Overseas:
£12,960 (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. This programme may be studied on a part-time basis only; the fee shown here is the part-time tuition fee.

Accreditation:

The PGCert Natural Hazards for Insurers is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). Students may claim one hour of structured CPD towards the CII member CPD scheme for every hour of study. Successful completion of the programme qualifies the candidate for 60 non-unit specific credits at Advanced Diploma level towards the CII exam framework. Alternatively, completion may be counted towards either associateship or fellowship of the CII.

Location: London, Bloomsbury

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, or three years' appropriate experience in the financial services sector.

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

Strong emphasis is placed on developing an improved understanding and analysis of natural hazards, including relevant research, data and uncertainty, and new approaches to risk management. Content focuses on hazards of most interest to the market, such as windstorm, flood and earthquake, but also addresses geotechnical hazards that include dam and reservoir failure and hazardous wastes.

Students undertake modules to the value of 60 credits.

The programme consists of two taught core modules (20 credits each) and an independent project (20 credits).

Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Natural Hazards for Insurers.

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

  • Geological and Geotechnical Hazards
  • Meteorological Hazards
  • Independent Project

Optional modules

There are no optional modules for this programme.

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.

Research project/report

All students undertake an independent project, which culminates in an 8,000-word dissertation and an oral presentation.

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

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, discussions, self-directed study and problem-solving exercises. The taught modules are assessed through a combination of examination and coursework, and the independent project is assessed through an 8,000-word report and an oral presentation.

The programme requires a total of 600 hours of student study time, of which about 20% will be direct contact time with teaching staff through lectures, seminars, practical exercises and project supervision. Formal out-of-office time is limited to 23 afternoons throughout the programme.

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 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 cover the cost of preparing and presenting their independent project.

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

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

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (CSSS)

Note:
Applications for this scholarship are now closed for 2020/21
Value:
Full fees, flights, stipend, and other allowances (1 year)
Eligibility:
Overseas
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

Why study this degree at UCL?

Top hazard scientists at UCL and other leading academic and research institutions have worked with market professionals, the Chartered Insurance Institute and the Under 35s Reinsurance Group to develop and deliver this flexible professional programme, which has been running for over 20 years.

Students benefit from our welcoming environment and world-class facilities, including the UCL Hazard Centre, which was one of the first centres of its kind in the world. They also interact with students on the MSc Geophysical Hazards, which leads to a mutually beneficial learning and knowledge exchange environment.

The programme is delivered by academics from UCL and other leading UK universities,
the British Geological Survey and industry and market practitioners.

Accreditation:

The PGCert Natural Hazards for Insurers is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). Students may claim one hour of structured CPD towards the CII member CPD scheme for every hour of study. Successful completion of the programme qualifies the candidate for 60 non-unit specific credits at Advanced Diploma level towards the CII exam framework. Alternatively, completion may be counted towards either associateship or fellowship of the CII.

Department: Earth Sciences

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 specifically designed for insurers, reinsurers and other stakeholders in the financial sector, who require the intellectual and practical tools to make more informed decisions in their day-to-day encounters with natural hazard exposure and loss.

Application deadlines

All applicants
2 September 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 Natural Hazards for Insurers at graduate level
  • why you want to study Natural Hazards for Insurers at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your certificate

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