MSc International Disaster Management

Applications for 2026 entry:

Stage 1: Application received by 7th December 2025 ; Application update by 20th February 2026

Stage 2: Application received by 1st March 2026 ; Application update by 1st May 2026

Stage 3: Application received by 3rd May 2026 ; Application update by 19th June 2026

Stage 4: Application received by 5th July 2026 (Deadline) ; Considered if seats are available (applicant will be informed)

Due to competition for places, it may be necessary to roll your application forward to the next decision date.

Applications received after the Late Submission deadline will be considered at our discretion based on availability of places.

This programme is for those who want to understand why disasters happen, how they can be prevented, and what it takes to help communities recover and thrive. Whether you are beginning your career or have professional experience, this programme will deepen your expertise and expand your impact.

From climate-driven emergencies to conflict displacement, from pandemics to infrastructure failures, the world faces an escalating landscape of complex crises. Organisations across civil society, disaster agencies, and the private sector, urgently need professionals who can analyse these challenges, design effective responses, and build lasting resilience.

Throughout the programme, you will explore fundamental questions that shape the field:

• Why do hazard events become disasters?
• How do vulnerabilities limit the ability of communities to manage hazards?
• How do organisations prepare for and manage hazards?
• How can we improve decision-making and communication during crises?
• How do we build resilience in local communities and governments?
• What alternatives and innovations are possible for mitigating and managing disasters?

The curriculum integrates three interconnected spheres — disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, and humanitarian action — reflecting how these fields operate together in real-world practice. You will engage with frameworks that guide international policy, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sustainable Development Goals, while developing the analytical skills to critique and improve upon them.

Gain a commanding understanding of disaster risk reduction theory and practice, from the Sendai Framework to the Sustainable Development Goals. You will be able to analyse policy at international and national levels, identifying what works, what fails, and why.

Think Across Disciplines

Draw on insights from diverse disciplines to understand how disasters unfold and how responses can be improved. This interdisciplinary approach enables you to see connections that specialists miss.

Evaluate Evidence and Policy

Critically assess the research academic literature and policy documents that shape disaster management practice. You will learn to interrogate assumptions, weigh evidence, and construct well-reasoned arguments.

Apply Knowledge to Real Contexts

Understand how disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery operate differently in high-income and low-income settings — and develop the judgement to adapt approaches accordingly.

Build Professional Capabilities

Strengthen your skills in analysis, communication and teamwork through independent and collaborative projects.

Conduct Original Research

Complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice, developing the expertise to design, execute, and present rigorous academic research with real-world relevance.

This MSc International Disaster Management allows you to:

Learn from Active Researchers

Your lecturers are not just teachers — they are researchers whose work directly informs policy and practice. You will engage with cutting-edge scholarship on topics ranging from climate adaptation to forced displacement, from health emergencies to conflict recovery.

Connect with Practitioners

HCRI maintains close relationships with humanitarian organisations, government agencies, and NGOs. Throughout the year, visiting practitioners share frontline insights through guest lectures and seminars, giving you direct access to professionals shaping the field.

Join a Global Community

You will study alongside students from diverse backgrounds and nationalities, many of whom bring professional experience from disaster management, development, healthcare, and public policy. This peer network is a professional asset.

Engage Beyond the Classroom

HCRI offers opportunities to participate in workshops, disaster simulations, and public events that extend your learning. Attend conferences, contribute to research projects, and connect with HCRI's wider community of alumni and associates.

Be Part of a Research-Intensive Environment

As part of a Russell Group university, you will have access to exceptional library resources, research support, and academic infrastructure — everything you need to produce work of the highest standard.

Graduation requires completion of 180 credits. A total of 120 credits of coursework are required for students to progress to the 10,000-word dissertation (60 credits).

Each course has two assessments to prepare you for future employment:

• Contingency plans
• Essays Fieldwork reports
• Knowledge translation projects
• Group presentations
• Mapping tasks
• Quantitative assessment
• Risk analysis reports
• And more!

Common career destinations for MSc International Disaster Management students

Risk reduction and management exist in all employment sectors. However, with an increase in the cost of disaster events and climate uncertainty, disaster risk management is increasingly important. This list of career sectors are common destinations for our International Disaster Management students:

• Research
• International development
• Non-government organisations
• Risk reduction and resilience organisations
• Educational services
• International, national or local government
• Overseas institutes and policy
• Security and defence
• Cemmercial organisations/consultancy firms

University Career services

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service , available to students while studying, and for two years after graduation.

This includes:

• Personalised advise and training on writing your CV
• Interviews practice
• Support with job searching