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MSc Emergency Management and Resilience

MSc Part-time 3 years, Full-time 15 months

The MSc Emergency Management and Resilience develops the knowledge and practical skills needed to manage emergencies, reduce risks and strengthen resilience in organisations and communities.

The MSc Emergency Management and Resilience develops the knowledge and practical skills needed to manage emergencies, reduce risks and strengthen resilience in organisations and communities.

Award
MSc
Start date(s)
11 January 2027, 13 September 2027
Course specifications
Course length
Part-time (3 years),Full-time (15 months)
Campus location
University: City Campus

Why choose this course?

This course is delivered by the Emergency Management & Resilience Centre at the University of Wolverhampton and further information about all our courses including attendance patterns and other information can be found at www.wlv.ac.uk/emrc.

Develop the strategic knowledge and practical insight to prepare for, respond to and recover from complex emergencies with the MSc Emergency Management & Resilience at the University of Wolverhampton. Designed for professionals already working in emergency planning, resilience, emergency services, government or related fields, as well as those looking to move into the sector, the course explores emergency and disaster management from an international perspective. Standout modules such as Foundations & Frameworks and Disaster: Understanding, Insight & Learning examine the policies, principles and lessons that shape effective preparedness, response and recovery.

You will explore contemporary challenges through modules including Societal Resilience and Contemporary & Future Issues, considering vulnerability, risk reduction, disruption to communities and the changing hazards and threats facing organisations and society. The programme is delivered by the University’s Emergency Management and Resilience Centre and is taught by subject specialists involved in advisory work and research at local, regional and national levels. The fully online format combines recorded teaching, guided reading, discussion activities and independent study, allowing you to develop your expertise alongside professional commitments.

The course culminates in the Emergency Management and Resilience Dissertation, where you will design and complete an independent research project in an area relevant to your professional interests. You will also develop advanced skills in leadership, communication, risk management, contingency planning, multi-agency working and critical decision-making. These skills are relevant across emergency services, health services, local and national government, the armed forces, voluntary organisations and the private sector, with the University reporting that students have used their studies to support promotion, secure new roles or move into emergency management and resilience careers.

What's unique about this course?

  • Flexible study options – complete the MSc over one, two or three years, making it suitable for working professionals.
  • Specialist teaching – learn through the University’s dedicated Emergency Management and Resilience Centre.
  • Real-world, internationally informed learning – examine UK emergency-management practice alongside lessons from global incidents, disasters and resilience frameworks.
  • Comprehensive, future-focused curriculum – explore disaster learning, crisis communication, societal resilience, risk reduction and emerging challenges.
  • Career-relevant research expertise – complete an independent dissertation that applies advanced research skills to contemporary emergency-management and resilience challenges.

What happens on the course?

Distinctive features: The course focuses on international requirements and practice of delivering emergency/disaster management. It facilitates subject matter from a wide range of international emergencies and frameworks for comparison and consideration.

Delivery methods such as live lectures, workshops, recorded lectures, guided reading which may either support preparation for live lectures or assignments, also allowing for peer to peer / lecture discussion boards or chat, to connect with peers.

This is an exciting opportunity for learning at distance wherever you are, enabling access to the University's resources. This course is designed, delivered and amended as necessary to support all students in having equal chance to succeed and progress in line with the WLV central inclusive framework. Working with students through regular tutorials to support individual needs & circumstance, regularly checking the delivery is fit for all student’s needs.

The course brings together the practical delivery of emergency management with insights from academic literature, new research, and established models. This integration allows for discussion, new considerations and the development of ideas and practice methods to be considered based on evidence and careful deliberation. This content will delve behind how and why things are done in emergency management, giving special attention to why different aspects are undertaken the way that they are, and whether there are lessons to be learnt to improve our risk reduction, prevention, preparedness, response and build back better/recovery.

The programme is delivered by subject specialists who are involved in significant advisory roles and research within emergency management locally, regionally and nationally, and who participate in national communities of practice to develop and share expertise across the world.

Find out more about our courses on our dedicated website.

Employability on the course

Graduates can pursue careers in emergency planning, crisis management, business continuity, disaster risk reduction and resilience across government agencies, emergency services, charities and private organisations. The course also supports progression into leadership, consultancy, policy and research roles.

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

Graduates can pursue careers in emergency planning, crisis management, business continuity, disaster risk reduction and resilience across government agencies, emergency services, charities and private organisations. The course also supports progression into leadership, consultancy, policy and research roles.

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

This course is ideal for those looking for career advancement and those seeking to move into an emergency planning, business continuity, disaster management, or other resilience related career.  These courses aim to enhance your professional credibility and employability; will develop your personal and professional practice; and provide you with knowledge and understanding of essential concepts, up-to-date research, and evolving practice both within the UK and internationally.

The University of Wolverhampton has been delivering postgraduate provision for emergency Management since 2012 and established the Emergency Management and Resilience Centre.  Our courses are extremely popular with practitioners in emergency management, or those aspiring to enter this area of work.

We cater specifically for this ensuring every one of our modules is specifically designed and focussed on emergency management and resilience and led by the Emergency Management and Resilience Centre staff.  You will not study any module that is delivered for any other purpose or that is led by staff from other courses. 

We also ensure that the teaching is specifically focussed on the UK. This means that we will examine emergencies, policies, practices, and theories from around the world, but we ensure these are related back, and applied, into the context of the UK.

Our course content is also designed to allow experienced practitioners within Emergency Management to extend their knowledge and understanding.  We examine established practices but with new insights which can be applied to Emergency Management within the workplace, allowing you to adapt and advance your understanding and apply this to your practice.

Overall, our graduates think differently about what, why and how they deliver emergency management and resilience.  They are able to use an evidence based approach to deliver and advance Emergency Management and Resilience for themselves, for their organisations, and for the benefit of society as a whole.

The course aims to offer a flexible approach to the subjects studied and those already working in this area will be able to further develop their knowledge, skills and experience.  The course will ensure you develop a sound working knowledge of the principles, practice, concepts and underpinning policy within this important field of work, based on established evidence, practice and research.

You will develop valuable proficiencies in communication, leadership, and critical thinking as well as a wide range of inter-personal, self-management, research and project management skills.

The course promotes personal responsibility and an awareness of others in relation to inclusivity, wellbeing, equity, and diversity. 

Our course learning outcomes for the MSc award clearly state that on successful completion of the course you will be able to:

  • Use initiative and take responsibility in order to learn independently, solve problems in creative and innovative ways.
  • Demonstrate a range of transferable academic and professional skills appropriate to a career in Emergency Planning, Emergency Management or other Resilience roles; such as critical analysis, presentation skills, appropriate use of academic conventions in the production and presentation of work, and coherently structured arguments supported by thorough evidence.
  • Communicate effectively, with colleagues and a wider audience, in a variety of media.
  • Develop a critical understanding of differing perspectives and theories incorporating the legal underpinning of preparing for, responding to, and recovering from a range of emergencies, disasters or other such disruptive challenges.
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive, critically aware, understanding of subject relevant UK legislation and other appropriate national and international policies and guidelines and the skills and knowledge required to implement these in a range of organisations.
  • Develop advanced level skills in the critical appraisal of research and design, implement and evaluate a substantial piece of academic, or evidence based practice, research in a selected area of Emergency Management and/or Resilience.

Location Mode Sep intake Fee Jan intake Fee Year
Home Full-time £11015 per year £11015 per year 2026-27
Home Part-time £3672 per year £3672 per year 2026-27
International Full-time £18645 per year £18645 per year 2026-27

These fees relate to new entrants only for the academic year indicated for entry onto the course, any subsequent years of study may be subject to an annual increase, usually in line with inflation.

You will develop valuable proficiencies in communication, leadership and critical thinking as well as a wide range of inter-personal, self-management, research and project management skills.

A recognition of the critical role Emergency Management and Resilience plays in the global arena when considering the impact of managing, responding to and recovering from hazards, risks, and threats is deeply embedded throughout the programme.

During session and as part of your own research we will delve behind how and why things are done in emergency management, give special attention to why different aspects are undertaken 

the way that they are, and how lessons identified can be actively applied to improve prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery activities.

Attendance Pattern

If studying part-time, you will usually study 3 modules per year.  Each module has 5 days attendance delivered over 10 weeks on alternate Friday's, with two of these days being taught online through videoconferencing.  The other 3 days are delivered at our Telford Campus.  This equates to 15 Friday's each year.

If studying full-time, you will usually study 6 modules per year and you will study 2 modules at a time, plus the dissertation. Each module has 5 days attendance delivered over 10 weeks on alternate Friday's, with two of these days being taught online through videoconferencing.  The other 3 days are delivered at our Telford Campus.  You will attend on every Friday alternating between modules each week.

Whether full or part time, when you study your dissertation module there is a full day launch which you will need to attend followed by monthly online drop-ins to support you and maintain contact whilst you undertake your research.  You will also be able to meet with your supervisor at a schedule you agree with them as you proceed.

Postgraduate Loan (Home Fee Status):

You may be able to get a postgraduate student loan from Student Finance England of up to £13,206 to help pay for a Master’s degree. Applications are made through Student Finance England and more information on the regulations and eligibility criteria can be found at Masters Loans gov.uk.

* Any RPL will invalidate your eligibility as you must study a minimum of 180 credits


Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as Overseas (International) students for fee purposes. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)


Postgraduate Loyalty Discount:

You can get 20% discount on a taught on-site postgraduate course if you’re a University of Wolverhampton Graduate.

The University offers a generous 20% Loyalty Discount to students progressing from an undergraduate programme to a taught postgraduate programme, where both courses are University of Wolverhampton Awards.

There is no time limit on how long ago you completed your degree as long as this is your first Masters level qualification.

The discount applies to the first year of enrolment only. Students who receive a loyalty discount are not entitled to any further tuition discount or bursary. For full terms and conditions click here.


Self-funded:

If you are paying for the fees yourself then the fees can be paid in 3 instalments: November, January and April. More information can be found by clicking here.


Sponsored - Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

Your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


Charitable Funding:

You might also want to explore the possibility of funding from charitable trusts. Please contact Association of Charitable Foundations, Directory of Social Change or Family Aid. Most charities and trust funds offer limited bursaries targeted to specific groups of students so you will need to research whether any of them are relevant to your situation.


You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

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