MSc Disaster Management and Resilience

Delivered fully online, this MSc course in Disaster Management & Resilience can be studied over approximately 1 or 2 Years to suit your requirements.  This provides you with flexibility, especially if you are already in full-time employment or have other commitments.  We have specifically designed the course to aid professionals working in the field already and for those wishing to embark in such a career who have transferable or existing knowledge, skills, or qualifications.  

We provide a focus on bringing together core theories with the real-world requirements of delivering disaster management, emergency management, and societal resilience to allow you to develop your expertise.  We use real-world case studies and policies from a wide range of international disasters and frameworks for comparison and consideration allowing you to discover, challenge and discuss issues which affect resilience.   You will develop skills in using evidence to provide a firm foundation for your ideas and arguments allow you to communicate these effectively.

Using these skills we will delve behind how and why things are done in disaster and resilience 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 work towards disaster risk reduction, prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.

This is an opportunity for you to develop master’s level education in the concepts, theories and academic skills surrounding disaster management and resilience.  Including areas of societal resilience, vulnerability, risk reduction, disruption to the functioning of community/society and recovery, along with an understanding of how these are relevant, and can be applied, to professional practice.

Our team is experienced in and passionate about disaster, emergency and resilience management and we look forward to discussing the opportunities ahead in building a resilient society for current and future disaster risks, and in developing our profession to meet these challenges.

• National and International Perspectives with Real-world Relevance

  This programme explores disaster management, emergency management, and societal resilience through both national and international lenses. You will examine policy, frameworks, and professional practice alongside global case studies, international standards, and comparative approaches. By analysing lessons from national incidents and major international disasters, you’ll develop a well-rounded understanding of how different systems operate and how resilience is built at local, regional, national, and global levels.

  Flexible Online Study Designed Around You

  As a fully online programme, you can learn from wherever you are in the world while progressing through flexible blocks of scheduled or independent study. Delivery includes recorded podcast sessions, guided readings, reflective tasks, and topic based discussion boards. This accessible learning model enables you to engage deeply with the content while benefiting from full access to the University’s academic resources and virtual learning environment.

  Supportive Learning Environment

  Regular engagement with tutors allows for personalised support, helping you balance your studies with professional commitments, shift work, family/caring responsibilities, and/or international time zones. Our approach ensures the curriculum is accessible, adaptable, and supportive for all learners.

  Grounded in Practice & Evidence

  You will connect practice, policy, and statutory frameworks with insights from national and global research, academic literature, practitioner experience, and established models from around the world. This integrated approach encourages critical thinking, comparison, and innovation—supporting you to challenge assumptions, explore new ideas, and apply evidence informed improvements to your professional and academic practice.

  The curriculum goes beyond documenting current disaster and emergency management practice to explore how and why approaches vary across different nations, sectors, and organisations. You will examine the challenges that often hinder learning from incidents and consider strategies to overcome these barriers, enabling more effective lesson identification and application. Through this, you will develop the insight needed to strengthen risk reduction, preparedness, response, and recovery at both national and international levels.

The learning activities will include a mixture of recorded sessions, guided reading, and topical discussions.

If studying full-time, you will usually study 4 modules per year and you will study 2 modules at a time, plus the dissertation. If studying part-time, you will usually study 2 modules per year, alongside the dissertation in the second year. 

Each week of a module consists of a recorded subject session of about an hour.  Each of these is supported by guided reading, wider independent reading, and a discussion topic.  The module is completed through the submission of a single assignment which is designed to expand and support your learning.

You will be supported by tutors, as well as your module leader/programme leader who you can engage with through our virtual learning environment.  During your dissertation module you will be able to attend monthly online drop-in sessions.  You will also be assigned a research supervisor who is there to support you as you undertake your dissertation research.

You will also have full access to our Learning Centres which provide access to wide range of online information sources, including eBooks, e-Journals, and subject databases.  Learning Centres also provide students with academic skills support via the Skills for Learning programme.  Students can access skills workshops, skills resources, or ask for one-to-one help on a range of skills such as academic writing and referencing.

The University also has a host of other services to support you, so please take a look at the Student Support website: www.wlv.ac.uk/current-students/student-support/ . If you have any other questions whilst studying, or need help or advice then ASK@WLV team is also there for you: www.wlv.ac.uk/current-students/askwlv/.

7EP034 Frameworks, Incident Complexity and Learning

This module brings together the foundations of emergency / disaster management with deeper insights into how we learn from emergencies, crises, and disasters. You’ll explore the key frameworks, models, and principles that shape emergency management in the UK and internationally, and you’ll learn how real‑world incidents reveal practical challenges, gaps, and opportunities for improvement by using established models.

The module also helps you develop the academic, reflective, and analytical skills you’ll rely on throughout your postgraduate study. By the end, you will understand not only what emergency / disaster management looks like, but also why systems work the way they do — and, importantly, how they might be improved.

7EP039 Communication, Information & Risk

This module explores how communication and information shape resilience, emergency response and decision‑making. You will examine the information needs of communities, responders and organisations, and analyse how communication flows between agencies, the public, the media and digital platforms influence outcomes during emergencies.

The module also introduces the critical role of risk assessment and risk perception in communication effectiveness. You will investigate how people interpret risk, how risk assessments can be used to inform communication strategies, and how issues such as uncertainty, misinformation and trust influence public behaviour.

Through practical activities, case study analysis and reflective exercises, you will develop the ability to communicate complex information clearly and ethically, understand multi‑agency information challenges, and design communication approaches that support resilience.

7EP040 Research in Emergency / Disaster Management

This module develops the research knowledge and skills you need to design, justify, and plan a high-quality research study in emergency management or resilience. You will explore how research questions are formed, how to choose and defend a suitable methodology, how to collect and analyse data, and how to address ethical, organisational, and practical challenges.

By the end of the module, you will produce a detailed, fully justified research proposal ready to support your MSc dissertation.

7EP037 Societal & Future Ready Resilience

This module explores the emerging future of emergency management and resilience, integrating the core principles of societal and organisational resilience with evolving paradigms influencing emergency/disaster management, leadership, governance, ethics, and professionalism.

Students will evaluate global resilience frameworks, analyse complex hazards and future threats, and develop strategic, evidence-based recommendations for improving emergency and resilience systems. The module blends theoretical, practical, and future‑based perspectives, preparing students to operate effectively in an increasingly uncertain world.

7EP038 Emergency / Disaster Management Dissertation

This dissertation module enables you to undertake an independent, original research project in an area of Emergency Management, Disaster Management and/or Resilience. You will develop advanced research skills, build your professional identity as a researcher/practitioner, and contribute new insight to contemporary issues in the field.

You will apply ethical and methodological considerations, refine your proposal for ethical approval, work with a supervisor, and undertake research aligned to sector standards and professional guidance. You will also learn how to communicate your findings through clear academic writing and produce work suitable for professional and academic audiences.

Emergencies and disasters continue to occur globally.  Organisations across the world need to continually manage their ability to respond to, and recover from, a variety of emergencies/disasters within the context of current, legislation, guidance, and policy.  This can present challenges at the local, national, and international levels.  

Each major organisation will have in place a range of emergency/contingency plans that rely on advanced skills in risk management, emergency planning, communications, multi-agency co-operation, project management and leadership.  Most organisations have emergency planning departments/roles and career opportunities exist for working in the field of emergency management at local, national, and international levels. This course will give you those advanced underpinning skills, principles and concepts and enable you to engage with strategic, national, and international guidelines.

Participating in academic study at all levels will encourage analysis and criticality and hence will improve the opportunity for promotion and advancement. Successful completion of an academic qualification will facilitate students in providing a justification for progression. Alternatively, this may be an opportunity for you to move into this area of work or seek more advanced research opportunities on completion of your studies.

Personalising Your Learning: Within this module, you are encouraged to personalise your learning by engaging with topics that reflect your interests, professional background, or areas in which you wish to develop further. You can do this by drawing out relevant themes during discussions and by selecting two or three key issues to examine in greater depth within your assessments. The assignment briefs are intentionally broad, giving you the flexibility to shape your work around your individual goals.

Developing a Self-directed Focus: This process of self-directed focus allows you to engage more meaningfully with content that is most relevant to you. It enables you to use your time effectively by concentrating your research on areas of personal or professional significance. As a result, you can develop deeper insights, consider a range of perspectives, and apply this enhanced understanding both within your academic work and your workplace practice.

Reflecting on Your Development: Throughout your modules, you will also be encouraged to reflect on your learning, considering how new ideas may influence your thinking or shape the way you approach your professional or future employment role.

Developing Academic and Digital Skills: Throughout the course, you will be supported to develop strong academic and digital skills. You will receive guidance on academic writing, critical reading, research methods, digital collaboration, and using the Virtual Learning Environment effectively. Activities such as group and individual tasks, independent study, and discussions or debates help you gain deeper understanding as you progress through the course, building confidence and independence over time.

Integrating Professional and Practice-Based Learning: Professional and practice based learning is integrated into the curriculum through case studies, consideration of organisational learning, and opportunities to align assessments with your workplace, personal, or professional interests. You will explore real incidents, operational challenges, and sector wide learning to develop your ability to apply theory in practical, meaningful ways.

Embedding Digital Fluency: Digital fluency is embedded across the course. You will use digital tools for taught sessions, research, collaboration, presentation, and analysis, and you will learn to navigate the ethical use of technologies—including responsible use of AI, data security, and digital communication—reflecting expectations of modern emergency management professionals.

You will develop an advanced working knowledge of the principles, practice, concepts, and underpinning policy within Disaster Management & Resilience, based on established evidence, practice and research.

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

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 Disaster Management, 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 legislation and other appropriate national and international policies and guidelines with 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 research in a selected area of Disaster Management, Emergency Management and/or Resilience.

Course fees for each year can be viewed on our main university website page relevant to your course.

UK Military personnel can use Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC's) towards payment for the course.   Our ELCAS registration number is 1332.

We strive to make your time at the University of Wolverhampton a pleasurable experience and are proud of the support we provide to our students. We recognise that on occasions you may encounter challenges, especially if you are also employed in full or part-time work whilst you study. Flexibility to assist you is provided wherever possible and a wide range of support is available for both your personal and academic needs.

We understand that many students have concerns about improving their academic study skills, especially those with little higher education experience or for those returning to study. We include teaching and support to assist in developing study, writing and research skills as part of the course with specific opportunities to practice and get feedback.  This supports you in building confidence and ability in these areas, and aiding you to complete your studies successfully.

Our Library provides online support and sessions related to developing your academic skills in addition to the drop-in and group sessions on our campuses which focus on skills for academic study and writing.

Please see our Courses on the main University website for more information, for details of costs and to apply.

You can also contact us directly for an informal discussion about the course, the options open to you, and for us to answer any other questions you might have.

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