The global challenge of understanding risk, increasing resilience and reducing exposure to hazards has generated demand for a new type of professionals who can work across boundaries in every sector.
Based in central London, at the heart of the international hub for global finance, risk management and humanitarian response, UCL IRDR educates students to meet the growing need for experts trained in disaster risk reduction from industry, consultancies, governments and NGOs.
“London itself is an unparalleled breeding ground of ideas for anyone interested in research” (MSc student 2015/16).
UCL IRDR provides unique and dedicated support for traditional careers (i.e., insurance, consultancy, academia, governments and NGOs) and non-traditional careers (i.e., start-ups and independent experts) in risk and disaster reduction for our masters and PhD students, and graduates.
Career support is an essential complement to our academic programmes. The IRDR Careers events are led by Sarah Jeal and supported by the UCL careers team. In addition, students have experienced personal tutors to support bespoke career development plans. We help students to identify their career goals and get best prepared to achieve them.
IRDR students and alumni receive support on:
- Personal Development
Personal development plan and advice for PhDs
Personal tutorials and advice for masters students
Volunteering for the Humanitarian Institute
- Training
Workshops on entrepeneurship
Workshops on consultancies and job hunting skills
Masterclasses from international practitioners
Autumn 2019 workshops:
- Entrepeneurship for Global Humanitarian Impact
- Making a career and network in the humanitarian sector
- Business Resilience in the Canary Wharf Estate
- Industry insight
Seminars from industry leaders (i.e. RMS, Willis Towers Watson, Resilience Global, UK Cabinet Office, etc.)
- UCL Careers
Information hub and a wide range of careers fairs
Support for career choices and job applications

IRDR enterprise workshop on Entrepreneurship for Global Humanitarian Impact at UCL Business Incubator (BaseKX)
“The workshop on developing entrepreneurial humanitarian solutions was fantastic. It built a great toolbox for working through the basics and clearly leads to a next step which is an idea generation workshop, which could be developed into a few strong commercials, road-tested ideas. Great initiative by UCL Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction” - IRDR MSc student
Recruit our students:
Selected by rigorous criteria, our global student community can meet the most diverse recruitment needs. Taught by world-class researchers and practitioners, delivering programmes through a combination of lectures, presentations, problem-solving exercises, field trips, etc.; IRDR graduates are equipped with excellent scientific knowledge coupled with practical and analytical skills. As a recruiter, you can be confident that much of the initial work has already been done for you.
Ways you can engage with our students:
- Advertise or look for vacancies
Employers: Target your opportunities, internships and placements to specific programmes. We will advertise your opportunities free of charge.
- Raise your profile
Participate in our industry insight sessions and deliver company presentations. You can get involved in these activities throughout the year.
- Masters Projects
Benefit from an independent perspective on strategic issues by harnessing the expertise of our students. We welcome projects from all industry sectors and will be happy to discuss your needs further.
- IRDR Careers and Opportunities Fair
Participate in our annual Careers and Opportunities fair in February, present and discuss job opportunities in your organization and meet the talents.
- Summer work placements
Our Global Humanitarian Studies BSc students are encouraged to take a four-week work placement in the summer between their second and third years. We're always looking for organisations that are willing to provide these opportunities, so please contact irdr-enquiries@ucl.ac.uk for an informal chat if you would be interested.
Employers who have engaged with IRDR:
Commercial
Arup
AXA
Qatar Re
RMS
Willis Tower Watson
Total
EDF
National Grid
Governments
UK Cabinet Office
London Resilience
London Fire Brigade
Met Office
Embassy of Japan in London
MSB Civil Contingencies Secretariat
NGOs
Resilience Global (Rescue Global)
Save the Children
OXFAM
Doctors Without Borders
Catholic International Development Charity
London First
Resilience First
If you are an employer who would like further information on how to engage with UCL IRDR, please contact Sarah Jeal, Communications and Events Manager, at irdr-comms@ucl.ac.uk.
UCL IRDR Alumni and member network
The UCL IRDR is keen to maintain the connection with its alumni and member community and hosts a number of events to strengthen the tie. Alumni are welcome to join IRDR public events, masterclasses, seminars, etc.
- UCL IRDR Network Roundtable Dinner
The roundtable dinner is held every year in November. All IRDR students, alumni and network members are invited to join. The evening also includes the annual prize giving for this year's graduates from IRDR programmes. Find out more about the 2018 IRDR Network Roundtable Dinner
- UCL IRDR Linkedin Community
IRDR alumni and network members can join our exclusive Linkedin community which allows you to receive IRDR updates, share your updates, catch up on what your fellow alumni are doing, and connect with other alumni and current students.