MSc in International Disaster Management

The MSc in International Disaster Management is aimed at students interested in critically analysing key concepts in disaster management theory, research, policy and application, including vulnerability, governance, disaster risk reduction, and enhancing resilience to disasters through prevention, preparedness, response and recovery efforts.

Program Highlights

• Develop skills and knowledge to critically analyse and apply key concepts in disaster management theory, research, policy and application, such as vulnerability, resilience, governance, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.
• Learn from an interdisciplinary team, drawing on ideas and methods in geography, history, politics, development studies, the arts and medicine.
• Develop knowledge and critical thinking skills to help prepare for a career in disaster management.
• This is a first and foremost an academic programme focussed on developing critical thinking and research skills. For those more interested in developing applied disaster management skills as a matter of priority, we advise that you seek other opportunities.

Our reputation is just one reason why Manchester is the best place for you to study for your master’s. We offer you far more than just a qualification. You will be part of a culture of world-leading research and professional excellence.

At The University of Manchester, our research has a direct impact on students. The best international teaching and learning institutions are also great research institutions, and Manchester falls firmly into that category. You will be taught by staff who are recognised internationally to be at the forefront of their subject, and who can incorporate the very latest thinking and discoveries directly into your course.  You'll quickly develop skills, knowledge, and experience that will make employers sit up and listen. We have strong collaborative links with industry and public services. These inform our research and ensure that your course is tailored to the needs of employers. And to help further our research, we invest significantly in facilities and resources, some of which will be available for students on taught courses to use too.

We teach over 90 different Humanities courses at The University of Manchester and provide enrichment activities that celebrate the breadth of Humanities degrees we offer, including Law, History, English, the Social Sciences, Geography, Business, and Languages. The University of Manchester is large, yet compact enough to give the best of both worlds: city life and a campus community. Our campus occupies a large area close to the city centre, allowing students, staff, businesses and the wider public to come together, share ideas and collaborate. It is dominated by grand Victorian buildings but also has quiet corners, landscaped gardens, cafes and common rooms where you can relax and spend time with friends.

Getting around the campus is easy. Everything is within walking distance or connected via a free bus service. What’s more, you’ll have access to one of the best resourced academic libraries in the country and IT facilities to ensure you’re connected on campus and in our halls of residence.

Knowledge and critical thinking skills gained on the course have prepared graduates for national and international careers in emergency management and planning, programme management, consultancy, data migration, defence primary healthcare, and research.

Organisations our graduates have worked for include:

• NGOs such as German Red Cross, International Committee of the Red Cross (IFRC), Refugee Council, Shelter, Oxfam, and Age UK Manchester;
• Security and Defence/Intelligence Fusion;
• National Health Service;
• Local and Central Government/Civil service.

The University of Manchester’s current rankings place us among the world’s best universities.

• The only university in the world to rank in the top ten for social and environmental impact every year of the Times Higher Education Impact rankings
• The second most targeted university by the UK's top 100 recruiters, according to the High Fliers report on The Graduate Market in 2024
• Fourth in the UK, sixth in Europe, and ninth in the world, in the QS World University Sustainability Rankings, for our environmental, social and governance impact. 
• Manchester has been voted the top UK city to live in based on the 2022 The Economist's Global Liveability Index. The city has also been voted among the best cities in the world by Time Out (2022) readers.