Emergency Management and Resilience MSc

Postgraduate
Conversion course

Firefighter with a hose battling a building on fire

Learn the knowledge, skills and competencies necessary to enhance organisational resilience and integrated emergency management arising from civil contingencies.

Year of entry

2024-25 2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time

Course code

EECT010

Start date

September 2025
January 2026
May 2026

How to apply

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Course overview

Explore the issues that underlie many problems faced by emergency and crisis management practitioners and how these issues may be addressed. Develop the necessary skills and knowledge needed to respond to a range of emergencies and implement strategic policies.

This postgraduate course has been reviewed by an external expert from the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (UK Cabinet Office) and meets the requirements of government and other organisations, helping to ensure that our successful graduates have the skills and knowledge to deal with complex and large-scale emergencies.
You will explore the use of academic tools to analyse and evaluate emergencies, emergency management, preparedness, and planning processes.
This course is designed for current and future leaders, covering both tactical and strategic approaches. You should learn to develop emergency preparedness plans and training programmes to address a wide range of threats and risks in the UK and globally.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 9th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

Advance your skills in evaluating complex situations, developing creative and innovative solutions, and implementing lessons learnt.
The course covers a wide range of topics to reflect the multidisciplinary nature of the subject. It includes current and evolving techniques and tactics for preventing, planning, preparing for, or responding to various emergencies. You will critically evaluate technical data, information, and best practices in emergency planning and incident management.
Members of our current teaching team have practical experience and have carried out employment, consultancy and research in emergency and incident management and allied professions. This includes command and control design, the design and management of simulated emergency exercises, emergency planning, risk mapping, and the preparation of response frameworks for mass evacuation (staff subject to change).
You may have opportunities to take part in training and exercises through simulated emergency scenarios in our immersive Simulation Centre.⁴

Accreditation and professional recognition

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

As part of this course, you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited1 by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for the 2025-26 intake. Upon successful completion of the module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost. Further details can be found under the modules and on the  Professional Development module page. Please visit the CMI website for full details on the CMI accreditation.

What you'll study

This practitioner-facing course covers a range of specialist topics within the field of risk and its mitigation, emergency preparedness, response, recovery and resilience. Common practice is critically evaluated using case studies and the application of theory and concepts.

Modules

Emergency Planning and Preparedness – 15 credits

This module aims to give you a critical understanding of the key concepts, issues, processes, and structures involved in developing effective strategies for emergency and disaster preparation, response, and recovery. Explore methods for creating, implementing, testing, and evaluating preparedness plans for various natural, social, and technological hazards.

Compulsory

Integrated Emergency Management: policy and Issues – 15 credits

This module aims to develop your skills in analysing issues related to fulfilling duties in emergency management. You should learn to design integrated emergency plans for the UK and other More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs). Theories and concepts, including the role of the state and public policy, will be examined to help you critically evaluate emergency management policies and practices.

Compulsory

Community Preparedness, Recovery and Resilience – 15 credits

Explore the concept of community resilience in emergency and disaster management, addressing its varying theoretical and practical interpretations. You should gain a deep understanding of resilience and its links to community preparedness and recovery efforts. Using UK and international case studies, you will examine factors influencing resilience and assess the roles of professionals, communities, public services, and NGOs. The module also covers methods for engaging with community groups, sustainable approaches, and evaluating the effectiveness of resilience interventions.

Compulsory

Risk, Incidents and Leadership – 15 credits

This module focuses on understanding different interpretations of risk and developing leadership and decision-making skills for managing incidents and crises. You will explore non-technical skills, risk reduction methods, and leadership models, using theories to evaluate challenges within command-and-control frameworks. The module also examines how lessons from incidents can drive improvements and addresses the barriers to implementing change effectively.

Compulsory

Training and Exercise Design and Delivery – 15 credits

Explore how to plan, design, and manage exercises and exercise programmes for disaster, crisis, and emergency management. This module highlights the role of exercises in preparedness and organisational resilience, exploring theories and methods for training and evaluation. You will assess training principles, tailor them to emergency management needs, and learn to evaluate exercises and the lessons they provide. The module also covers project management skills required to organise and oversee these exercises effectively.

Compulsory

Foresight, Insight and Strategy – 15 credits

Examine strategies for long-term planning in a world shaped by change and uncertainty. Traditional 5–10-year plans are often inadequate in addressing global trends like social justice, climate change and political shifts. You will explore modern techniques for predicting and planning future actions, focusing on strategies that tackle complex and interconnected challenges. The module covers systems and strategic thinking with an emphasis on meeting the evolving needs and expectations of stakeholders.

Compulsory

Research Perspectives and Practice – 15 credits

This module aims to equip you with the skills to critically evaluate, design research, and collect data related to emergency and crisis management. You will learn the processes and principles for conducting research and explore both intensive and extensive research methods. This includes social surveys, documentary analysis, archival research, census data, and quantitative analysis. You will also study more in-depth methods such as interviewing, ethnography, and other qualitative techniques. The module will also cover issues related to research dissemination and ethics.

Compulsory

Business Continuity and Crisis Management – 15 credits

While business continuity and crisis management techniques have traditionally been used, risks are increasingly unknown, complex, and dynamic, requiring more adaptive management practices and responsive governance systems. Develop your evaluative skills to assess internal and external risks and apply appropriate strategies for managing them within organisations.

Compulsory

Working Paper – 50 credits

This module aims to help you identify a key issue or need within the sector. Working with a supervisor, you will create an industry-focused paper that researches and evaluates the evidence, making recommendations for change and addressing potential barriers to change at the team, institutional, or national level.

Compulsory

Leading Diverse Workforces – 10 credits

This module aims to equip you with the knowledge and understanding needed to lead and develop people in a diverse and inclusive way. You will explore leadership theories, culture, wellbeing, and approaches to improving equality, diversity, and inclusion strategies. These practices can be applied creatively within leadership roles across different organisational settings. You will also have the opportunity to develop strategic priorities for leadership, equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Successful completion of this module will make you eligible to be considered by CMI for the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice award as an additional qualification.

Compulsory

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.

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

seminars and discussion
practical sessions and workshops
simulation exercises
study visits.²

Delivery is supported by our online social learning platform so you can revisit classroom content and find additional materials at any time. You’ll also have access to our library's electronic resources 24/7, including thousands of books, ejournals and newspapers.

Prefer to study 100% online? Click here to view our online course

Teaching contact hours

A typical 15-credit module requires a total of 150 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

essays
group work
presentations
reports
projects
coursework
individual assignments.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

An undergraduate degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a relevant discipline.

Relevant professional experience will be considered.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

An undergraduate degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a relevant discipline.

Relevant professional experience will be considered.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£11,200	Request fee information
EU	£11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

People walking in front of a building which has a big library sign

Lanchester Library

The library is usually open 24/7, in term-time. It’s where you can access your course’s specialist Academic Liaison Librarian. It’s also home to specialist teams which can support you with your academic writing and maths and statistics questions.

Glass modern building with a spire in the background

The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student life on campus. Facilities include a food court, convenience store, multi-faith centre, medical centre, hairdresser, coffee shops and the Your SU offices. It has fully licensed function spaces and a bar.

Two people working together with a laptop in front of them

Careers and employability

Get one-on-one career and employability guidance lasting up to 36 months from the end of your course. We’ll help you find placements and graduate roles, offer CV and application checks, mentoring, skills workshops, employer events and more.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

The course aims to support the development of your skills in problem-solving, teamwork and leadership, project management and communication in major incident and emergency.

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 current teaching staff and the university’s employability experts can support your search for employment in the UK or overseas by making use of our alumni network, industrial contacts, careers events, recruitment fairs and individual advice.²

Where our graduates work

Previous graduates have gone to work here in the UK and abroad, including Denmark, Finland, Germany, Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, the United States and Canada. Some have taken up roles as planning officers, emergency planners, disaster risk reduction analysts and deployable emergency response managers, while others have joined emergency services, public administration, health services and other public sector agencies, as well as private sector companies and consultancy, including:

non-governmental organisations
multi-lateral organisations
national and local government
health services and epidemiology
military
(re)insurance and risk management
City resilience
risk and resilience consultancy
security and safety sector.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online.

Full-time applications

Full-time applications - any start date

Part-time applications

September 2025 start date

January or May 2026 start date

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

International codes:
EECT010

Full-time international students should apply directly to the university. Please read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degrees view our International hub.

You can also download our international mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations, partnerships and memberships

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply. See the relevant body website for more details). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships are subject to successful renewal in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. If the accreditation, recognition or membership of this course changes, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

Where relevant, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) module content is undergoing assessment by the CMI to confirm that all criteria are met to the required standard. Whilst it is expected that students who successfully pass the module will be eligible to be considered by CMI for the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice as an additional qualification, we cannot confirm this until the accreditation is approved. This is a normal part of the continuous improvement process for our courses to ensure they remain up-to-date and reflect best practice.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University 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.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

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 current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. 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.