Overview
In a world where simultaneous and dynamic emergencies are the new normal, individuals and organisations face ever more challenging situations. Standards in the sector are high but they need to be higher; employers are now demanding that emergency management practitioners are trained, qualified and accountable.
This course is designed to enable you to develop the necessary knowledge and practical skills needed to identify, critically analyse, assess and successfully manage a range of emergencies; operating confidently in policy development, strategy implementation, and response and recovery planning and management. This postgraduate course has been externally reviewed by an external expert in the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (UK Cabinet Office) and meets the requirements of government and other organisations, helping to ensure that our graduates have the skills and knowledge to deal with complex and large-scale emergencies upon successful completion of the course.
You may choose to study via our flexible route, undertaking one of our postgraduate certificates prior to ‘topping up’ to the full master’s degree.
Our graduates have gone on to work in a range of organisations with emergency response duties, including local government, the uniformed services, health and other public sector agencies, as well as private sector companies and consultancy.
Why Coventry University?
An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.
COVID-19
The University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to Covid-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedStudent experience
All the support you need, in a top student cityRegister your interest
Course information
Employers recognise that the challenges found in postgraduate study positively change the way you analyse problems and create solutions. This course provides you with a space to network with others from a diverse range of experience and disciplines, to learn and apply concepts, theories and academic skills to professional practice.
The course’s flexibility and delivery pattern of 4.5-day blocks enables full-time students to develop their knowledge alongside opportunities to gain practical experience. The part-time route allows those already in emergency management to balance their studies with other commitments and apply academic rigour to their practical experience.
Within this course you will explore the academic tools that enable the analysis and evaluation of emergencies, emergency management, emergency preparedness and emergency planning processes. The course is designed for current and future leaders, and approaches the subject from both tactical and strategic perspectives, so that you can go on to devise emergency preparedness capabilities including plans and emergency plan testing and training programmes relevant to the broad range of threats and risks faced within the UK and beyond. There will be opportunities to take part in training and exercises through simulated emergency scenarios in our state-of-the art, immersive Simulation Centre.
Using both legislative and best-practice approaches, you will examine the responsibilities of emergency response organisations (Category 1 and 2) and aligned organisations with a role to play in preparing for, and responding to, emergencies. These organisations include the emergency services, government, health services, the charitable sector and those who support Critical National Infrastructure, as well as a range of private businesses.
You will cover important legal and political frameworks of the UK, European and international emergency management sector, giving special attention to the 2004 Civil Contingencies Act, which established a new legislative framework for civil protection in the United Kingdom and has significantly increased the demand for professionals in this area.
Modules encompass the full cycle of risk management processes, using this to inform contingency planning; putting in place emergency plans; creating business continuity plans to ensure critical functions continue in the event of an emergency; developing communications plans to warn, inform and advise the public in the event of an emergency; and approaches to sharing information and co-operating with other local responders and national government to enhance coordination and efficiency. As part of this you’ll examine risk from all angles, whether that’s exploring mitigations for local flood management or the impact of international terrorism.
Responding to the pressure on central and local government to increase levels of preparedness and develop more effective responses to realised risks and threats, we additionally aim to support the development of your appreciation of community-based approaches to emergency planning and planning.
Finally, the course provides an understanding of the underlying issues faced by emergency planning and management practitioners, such as multi-agency cooperation and coordination, and leadership in times of emergency. You will look at how these issues may be addressed in practice, with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of Integrated Emergency Management. Such approaches will be supported by an in-depth exploration of training and exercising, enabling you to develop substantial personnel and organisational resilience.
Coventry University was the first UK university to establish courses in disaster management and emergency planning over 20 years ago (Hulse & Moseley 1998) and is still a leading provider of Higher Education courses and Consultancy services in emergency and disaster management capabilities. We have more than 25 years of alumni who sit in senior positions in emergency management across the world.
As a Coventry University graduate, upon successful completion of the course you should have gained the skills you need to move your career in emergency preparedness and management forward, both in the UK and overseas. These skills and knowledge are transferable - dealing with risk, problem solving, decision making under uncertainty, team and leadership skills and place you in an enviable position to pursue a career in a wide range of public sector and industry occupations.
Course Specification
Download PDF
Modules
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
In more detail...
Coventry University is one of the few higher education institutions that aims to provides 4.5-day face-to-face postgraduate-level modules that provide the depth and rigour required for development, reflection and networking in this sector.
A curriculum designed and mapped to industry standards.
Coventry University is a leader in digital learning. This expertise is applied to our campus delivery, which is supported by our innovative online social learning platform, allowing you to undertake substantial parts of your study at home where you can revisit classroom delivery.
Opportunities for recognition of prior learning and experience (RPL/RPEL) on a case-by-case basis (evidence required). Please see the course specification for further information.
All assessments are designed to be of value to both you and your employer – no examinations.
Our student-centred approach; Coventry University has been rated 5 Stars for Teaching Excellence and Employability (QS Stars 2020).
Access to our library's electronic resources 24/7, including thousands of books, ejournals and newspapers.
Dedicated support for those who are new to Higher Education, or returning after a long break, with additional modules designed to transition you into postgraduate study and support you as you learn to research.
- Be supported by expert staff, researchers and our wide-ranging alumni network who are active in the field, with extensive industrial and consultancy experience working for Category 1 and 2 responders, government agencies, businesses and NGOs.
- Choose or switch to study either full-time (one year) or part-time (two years). Please see the course specification for further information.
- Start in September, January or May.
- Option to progress from the Postgraduate Certificate to the full MSc, taking into account the credits already achieved. Please see the course specification for further information.
- Learn from guest speakers (subject to availability) who are experts in their field, providing insight into real-life scenarios.
- Access to our award winning Simulation Centre with its 10m curved-screen immersive virtual training environment with XVR Simulation platform. Eight break-out rooms connected with audio and CCTV to the control room for operational, tactical and strategic simulations.
- Enhance your career prospects and extend your industry network by studying with emergency planners, incident and crisis managers from the public, private and charitable sector, both in the UK and internationally.
Further develop your skills and knowledge in assessing and managing dynamic risks and security threats, community resilience, emergency planning, emergency response, command and control, crisis coordination, integrated emergency management, interoperability, learning theories and pedagogy for emergency management capabilities, stress management, leadership, governance and organisational systems, business continuity, complexity analysis, organisational resilience, training and exercise design, organisational adaptation and transformation.
Develop high-level analytical, decision-making and communication skills and make an immediate difference in the organisation where you work.
Modules are delivered as 4.5-day face-to-face events that provide the depth and rigour required for development, reflection and networking in this sector. Campus delivery is supported by our innovative online social learning platform, allowing you to undertake substantial parts of your study at home where you can revisit classroom content and find additional materials. You also have access to our library's electronic resources 24/7, including thousands of books, ejournals and newspapers.
On this course you will be taught via:
- seminars and discussion
- practical sessions and workshops
- simulation exercises
- study visits*
Your working paper tutor will assist you in developing your study and research skills.
This course can be offered on a part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Please request information about studying this course part-time.
Please note that if you are an international ‘Tier 4’ student, you will be required to take the course on a full-time basis. You must attend academic skills seminars during intervening weeks to fulfil UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirements. For more information, visit our page on Tier 4 compliance.
* May be subject to availability, limited places and additional travel costs.
Assessment for all modules is by 100% coursework.
This course is be assessed using a variety of sector-appropriate methods which vary depending upon the module. All written assignments are submitted online and presentations can be recorded. Assessment methods include reports, proposals and business cases, presentations, posters etc. There are no exams.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.
On successful completion, you should be able to:
- Evaluate risk, its components and influencing factors, approaches to assessment, prioritisation and role in planning, managing and recovering from crises and emergencies.
- Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of policy and approaches for mitigating, preparing for, managing and recovering from emergencies or crises for responding agencies and organisations and affected communities.
- Apply relevant approaches to assessing complexity and interaction and develop, monitor and evaluate resilience in processes, systems, organisations and communities at risk from known and emergent threats in a sustainable way.
- Undertake detailed analysis of multi-stakeholder engagement, communication, cooperation and governance in all aspects of policy and strategy development, implementation and management at all scales.
- Manage information, evaluate uncertainty, ambiguity and complexity in knowledge, method and management, and make appropriate and defensible decisions.
- Demonstrate a critical awareness of issues and challenges at the forefront of research and practice in emergencies and resilience.
- Evaluate and use appropriate methods of enquiry and analysis, and progress good practice in the discipline over the course of their career.
- Apply the skills demanded to research, evaluate high level material in order to produce an independent working paper that meets ethical requirements of the university, synthesises both academic and sector perspectives and presents findings and recommendations in a professional way.
Each 15 credit module will consist of 150 hours of activities with typically about 30 hours of contact time associated. The activity time will be made up of a mixture of guided and self-guided study. Taught modules are normally delivered in a block (typically 4.5 days of campus-based delivery). This will include a combination of, but may not be limited to, face-to face teaching such as lectures, small-group sessions, workshops, online classes and support sessions.
Students will have access to an experienced team of tutors and lecturers who will support their studies. Each module will have dedicated online content to support the learning.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
This course focuses on emergency and disaster management within an international context, drawing on case studies and the experience of agencies working in the UK, US, Canada and Australia.
International, EU and UK students (dependant in intake of students each year) take classes together, participating in discussion-based seminars and workshops, so all students have the opportunity to benefit from the personal experiences of other students, as well as staff, from other parts of the world.
Global ready
Did you know we help more students travel internationally than any other UK university according to data from the experts in higher education data and analysis, HESA?
In 2018/19, we were able to provide a total of 5,469 experiences abroad that lasted at least five days.
Much of this travel is made possible through our Global Leaders Programme, which enables students to prepare for the challenges of the global employment market, as well as strengthening and developing their broader personal and professional skills.
Explore our international experiences1st for
International experiences
Sending more students overseas than any other UK uni 2016/17
5,469
Student experiences
The number of student trips abroad for at least 5 days in 2018/19
12,000
and counting
The number of students we’ve helped travel internationally since 2016
12
global programmes
As well as trips, we offer other opportunities like language courses
Entry Requirements
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, which could include (but is not limited to) travel, accommodation and activities.
This course may incur additional costs associated with any equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire.
EU student fees
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.
For tuition fee loans:
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
For maintenance loans:
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
Career prospects
Graduate Immigration Route visa
Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
The need to enhance resilience to emergencies, together with organisational duties arising from the Civil Contingencies Act continues to create a demand for qualified emergency planning and management professionals.
Our graduates have gone on to work in a range of organisations with emergency response duties, including local government, the uniformed services, health and other public sector agencies, as well as private sector companies.
The course aims to support the development of your skills in problem-solving, teamwork and leadership, project management and communication, all of which are qualities employers demand. We strive to produce graduates who can make difficult decisions whilst being culturally sensitive, ethical and compassionate, the capabilities required by international relief and development organisations, private sector consultancies, national government, local authorities and United Nations agencies operating around the world.
Our faculty’s employability and placements unit the Talent Team, which won the ‘Best Placement Service in the UK’ award at the National Undergraduate Employability Awards in 2015 and 2016, will help you in finding work experience while you study and employment on graduation. Choosing to undertake a work placement should improve your chances of finding graduate employment.
Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university’s Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.
Where our graduates work
Graduates have secured roles in:
- Retail, manufacturing, automotive, nuclear, oil and gas, aviation
- Emergency services and civil contingencies
- Utility and Critical National Infrastructure organisations
- Health services
- City resilience
- Financial sector
- Risk and resilience consultancy
- Humanitarian agencies and NGOs
- Military
- Flood management
- (Re)insurance and risk management
- Security and events industries
Disclaimer
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2021/22 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
