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Master's Programmes
Studying at UCL Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction (RDR)
At UCL RDR, we offer master's programmes with taught and research components which aim to meet the growing need for experts trained to analyse and provide solutions to complex issues. In all our master's programmes, students explore the characterisation, quantification, management and reduction of risk and disasters, along with their associated impacts, from a diverse range of scientific, technical, socio-economic, political, environmental, ethical and cultural perspectives.
- Why study at UCL RDR?
UCL is one of the world's leading universities, regularly featuring in the top 10 in global rankings. It was named University of the Year 2024 by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
The Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction (RDR), leads multidisciplinary research, knowledge exchange and advanced teaching across UCL. We have global, national and local recognition, evidenced by international attendance at our annual Academic Summit, our Annual Conference addressed by the UK Government's Chief Scientific Advisor, and our training of London Resilience's gold command. As a student, you will be encouraged to join our active seminar series, high-profile public discussion meetings and the networking events we host.
London is one of the world's great cosmopolitan cities. It is an international hub for global finance and risk management, NGOs, and engineering consultancies. The department nurtures networks across London, and beyond.
- Which master's programme? - Programme themes
Risk and Disaster Reduction
In order to increase resilience to disasters, we need specialist knowledge gained through detailed studies. Academic research can drive changes in practice and policy by enabling evidence-based theory to underpin risk management industry. Combining a multidisciplinary approach to risk and disaster reduction with a detailed research project in your topic of choice places you in a position to become a leader in this sector. You will gain expertise in research techniques and knowledge about current practices and problems in different sectors and disciplines.
Evidence-based research
- Identifying current questions in the field of risk and disaster reduction
- Learning how to conduct research
- Using detailed studies to propose solutions
Risk, Disaster and Resilience
The disaster risk management industry needs professionalising. Academic study can underpin this, enabling you to apply evidence and research based theory to this sector. Through a multidisciplinary approach to risk and disaster reduction, you will learn to become a future leader driving policy change and innovation in order to preserve lives and sustain economies which could otherwise be destroyed or damaged by disaster. You will gain expertise in analysing complex challenges and providing sustainable solutions.
Physical and Social Science of Natural and Anthropogenic Hazards
- What is known and unknown
- Current research and uncertainties
Building Resilience
- What are the barriers to risk and disaster reduction and how do we overcome them?
- Developing a common language to communicate complex concepts in an accessible way.
Risk and Disaster Science
The global challenge of understanding risk, increasing resilience and reducing exposure to hazards has generated demand for a new type of scientist in government, business and NGOs, who can work across boundaries. In a science-led programme, you will learn how to assess and quantify risk, reduce disaster risks and manage emergencies for natural and anthropogenic hazards, humanitarian and health crises, conflict and climate change.
Science of Earth Hazards
- Analyze different hazard risks: seismic and triggered events, space weather, epidemics, conflict and climate.
- Scenarios and case studies drawn globally providing breadth of experience.
Statistical and Modelling Tools
- Statistical treatment of risk.
- Catastrophe risk modelling.
Cross-cutting themes across all masters programmes:
Quantifying Risk:
- What is risk and how do we measure it?
- Components of risk: hazard, vulnerability, exposure.
Understanding Vulnerability:
- From fragility curves describing damage of buildings to social vulnerability of individuals and society
Multidisciplinary Holistic Approaches - from Theory to Practice:
- Integrating scientific knowledge into disaster risk reduction
- Communicating with stakeholders
- Skills to conduct and appraise research and policy
Managing Disasters:
- How to apply plans to manage real emergencies
- Funding
The UCL RDR MSc in Risk Disaster and Resilience is one of the eligible programmes for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme. This scholarship is available to Commonwealth citizens, refugees or British-protected persons who are permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth Country. The scholarship covers full tuition fees, a maintenance allowance, and air travel to and from the UK at the beginning and end of the programme. You must have applied for the MSc by the scholarship application deadline. Further details on the CSSS here.
UCL offers a range of financial awards aimed at assisting both prospective and current students with their studies. The searchable database can be found here. The RDR also often offers departmental scholarships.
UCL also attracts students who have received funding from their own government or other external sources, so prospective applicants are advised to check with the Ministry of Education in their own country or from the British Council for information about other potential funding opportunities.
Current and past students have received Chevening Scholarships to attend the course. The scheme is aimed at developing global leaders and is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations. For further information please visit The Chevening Website.
We also welcome Fulbright Scholars. This scholarship provides full fees and living expenses for applicants from the USA. Further details here
Disabled students can also apply for a Snowdon Scholarship of up to £30,000. Find out more on their website.
Please note that for many external funding schemes, you need to hold an offer as part of your funding application. Please ensure that you apply for a place on the Masters programme at least two months before you must demonstrate your offer.
Relevant links:
Further information
- Types of programmes (MSc/MRes)
All of the UCL RDR Masters' and related programmes are centred around RDR core taught modules.
The main differences between the programmes are the total number of credits needed, the number of taught modules taken and whether there is an independent research project.
Master's of Science (MSc) and Research (MRes) programmes
MSc and MRes students undertake the equivalent of a full year of study. All of our masters programmes include an independent research project.
The MSc programmes are suitable for students who want to have a wide range of taught courses and do an independent research project which constitutes about one third of students' time.
For MRes students' the dissertation is the focus of the programme, with taught modules designed to support their learning and development. The MRes programme is ideal for students wanting to complete a considerable piece of research, possibly as training for a research career or for furthering their existing career.
Post-Graduate Diploma (PGDip) and Certificate (PGCert) Programmes
These programmes comprise of taught courses with no independent research project. These programmes are aimed at students to want to increase their knowledge and are looking for courses with less of a time commitment than a master's.
PGCert students undertake modules to the value of 60 credits: any four RDR taught modules (15 credits each). The programme may be completed as a stand-alone PGCert, or it may be used as a stepping-stone towards subsequent completion of a PGDip, which contains twice as many modules, or Master's.
- Taught modules
UCL RDR postgraduate programmes are based on core taught department, programme and skills modules. These vary between programmes so please check the individual programme information to find out which modules comprise the different programmes.
A full list of modules provided by the department can be found here (also includes a list of some of the modules provided by other UCL departments that may be available as optional modules for UCL RDR students).
- Frequently asked questions
(1) Are there any possibilities for help with funding?
UCL offers a range of financial awards aimed at assisting both prospective and current students with their studies. The searchable database can be found here.
UCL also attracts students who have received funding from their own government or other external sources, so prospective applicants are advised to check with the Ministry of Education in their own country or from the British Council for information about other potential funding opportunities.
Current and past students have received Chevening Scholarships to attend the course. The scheme is aimed at developing global leaders and is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations. For further information please visit their website.
(2) Is there an English language requirement?
Yes – there is a minimum requirement. Further details can be found here:
English requirementsCLIE also offers a number of part-time academic English courses to support your time at UCL.
These courses are aimed at enhancing English language skills and overall confidence and are offered during the three academic terms. Courses include: Academic Reading, Pronunciation & Public Speaking, Advanced Grammar and Academic Writing.
Note that we require the UCL 'good' level for our Risk, Disaster and Resilience programmes and our Risk and Disaster Reduction programmes, and the UCL 'standard' level for our Risk and Disaster Science programmes.
(3) Is my academic / employment background suitable for this course?
For our Risk, Disaster and Resilience programmes and our Risk and Disaster Reduction programmes, we will accept students with a 2.1 Bachelors degree (or international equivalent) in any physical, social, or environmental science subject, or a humanities subject.
For our Risk and Disaster Science programmes, we would additionally require that your undergraduate degree has a mathematical component or that you have an A-level (or equivalent) in maths.
If you think your academic background doesn’t quite fit these areas or you don’t quite meet the required grades, we will also consider applicants with significant (several years) relevant work experience. If you are still uncertain, please contact irdr-enquiries@ucl.ac.uk for advice.
(4) Who is the typical UCL RDR student? Will I fit in?
There isn’t a typical UCL RDR student. We embrace the diversity of our student body and believe that our students benefit from the variety of backgrounds of their classmates.
Some students come straight from their undergraduate degrees, some decide to study with us to improve their CV after a few years in the workplace, and some come to us once they already have a substantial career behind them. Some students come to the department to enhance their capabilities in their current position or area of expertise, whilst others use it as a means to change their career direction.
About half of our students come from the UK, about a quarter from other EU countries, and the remaining quarter from outside of the EU.
(5) Can I apply for more than one of the UCL RDR postgraduate courses?
We recommend that you only apply for one of our programmes. Once you have been accepted, it is usually possible to switch to a different course, unless there is a different entry requirement that you do not meet.
(6) Can I study part time?
Yes. All our master's programmes can be studied as a one-year full-time programme or two-year part-time programme.
In addition, the Risk, Disaster and Resilience programme can be studied in a "flexible learning" style This means that you can take a small number of modules per year such that you can complete your programme in up to five years.
We generally recommend taking the full-time or part-time approach so you can focus on your studies, but flexible learning may suit those who are keen to learn more about the subject, but are unable to give enough time commitment each year for the full time or part time programmes.
If you need a Tier 4 student visa to study in the UK, note that this is only available for full-time students.
(7) How will the masters programmes be taught?
All of our MSc programmes are comprised of eight taught modules (2/3 of the course credit) and a project (1/3 of the course credit). For the MRes, there are only five taught modules, with a larger project component.
Each taught module runs for 10 weeks with four hours of classes per week. The teaching semesters are October to December and January to March. We try to keep teaching within three days of the week, but this can vary according to the optional modules that you choose. Teaching is predominantly in-person and on campus.
Teaching hours are between 9am and 6pm.
For part-time study, students select half of the taught courses in each year for MSc programmes, but are recommended to take more than half in the first year for the MRes so that they can focus on their research project in the second year.
UCL Centre for Languages & International Education (CLIE) also offer a number of English language courses including:
Pre-Master’s course- UCL RDR Master's pre-arrival reading list
You may wish to visit the following papers in preparation for your UCL master's programme. It is not obligatory to do this reading before the term starts, but it is recommended that you dip into some of it.
- Alexander D. et al., (2020) Building Emergency Planning Scenarios for Viral Pandemics, UCL-RDR Covid-19 Observatory
- Alexander, D. and G. Pescaroli 2019. What are cascading disasters? UCL Open: Environment 2019;(1):03: pp. 1–7. DOI: 10.14324/111.444/000011
- Kelman, I. 2020. Disaster by Choice: How our actions turn natural hazards into catastrophes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K.
- Kostkova, P., Brewer, H., Lusignan, S., Fottrell, E., Goldacre, B., Hart, G., Koczan, P., Knight, P., Marsolier, C., McKendry, R., Ross, E., Sasse, A., Sullivan, R., Chaytor, S., Stevenson, O., Velho, R. and Tooke, J. (2016) Who Owns the Data? Open Data for Healthcare, Frontiers in Public Health, 4 (7), pp. 1–6.
- Rodríguez, H., Donner, W. and Trainer, J. (2018) Handbook of disaster research. 2nd ed. Cham: Springer.
- Yadav, P. (2016) Social Transformation in Post-conflict Nepal: A Gender Perspective. London: Routledge.
- Yadav, P. (2020). Can women benefit from war? Women’s agency in conflict and post-conflict contexts. Journal of Peace Research, vol 58 (3): pp. 449–461.
You can find a full suggested reading list here.
- Apply now
Apply through the UCL application portal
On the application portal, UCL Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction (RDR) programmes can be found by selecting the keyword "risk".
Apply now through the UCL application portal
Together with essential academic requirements and your CV, you will submit a personal statement, which should be individual to you. This is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.
Time to decision
Once UCL has received and verified all of your application documents and references, we aim to make a decision within 1 month.
Please ensure that your referees submit your references (they will receive requests directly from UCL admissions and cannot provide the reference via any intermediary), and you provide all documents requested as soon as possible because your application will not be passed to the admissions tutor for consideration until UCL admissions receives and verifies all of these items.
- Induction
If you have been offered a place on one of our postgraduate programmes, you can find all the information you need to start at the department on our Induction for Master's Students page. As well as bringing together the information you have been sent by email, this page also contains video summaries of our modules to help with your module selection.
- Taster lectures
Catch up on some of our past taster lectures for an insight into the subjects we cover on our master's programmes.
