Disaster and Emergency Management BSc (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
Students using the interactive screen in the simulation centre.

As the world faces an increasing number of natural and anthropogenic disasters, as well as complex emergencies such as climate change, food insecurity and conflict, the need for effective disaster risk reduction and management has become a global challenge.

Course option

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

UCAS codes

N252

Start date

September 2025


Course overview

This course is aimed at those with little or no experience of the sector but with a strong vocation to work to improve the capacity and capability of those at risk and supporting organisations.

  • Disaster and emergency management professionals play a critical role in lessening the impact of human, technological and environmental catastrophes. Professionals work with numerous partners to quickly and accurately assess situations and communities affected, advising on all aspects of response and recovery, as well as future prevention or management strategies.
  • Multi-disciplinary in nature, this course draws on aspects of technology, physical science, engineering, sociology and human geography.
  • We place considerable emphasis on the acquisition of practical skills – from table-top or virtual emergency response scenarios, to laboratory exercises and field-based management of disaster, both in the UK and overseas through two mandatory international field trip modules2 (see Fees and Funding section for more details).
  • This course is designed to equip you with the necessary knowledge to identify, critically analyse, assess, respond to and recover from, a growing range of crisis, emergency and disaster situations and to operate confidently in practitioner, policy and management sectors.
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Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

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Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

We work collaboratively with agencies across a variety of sectors (subject to availability) to develop exciting practical emergency and disaster simulation exercises in our unique Simulation Centre4 and our classrooms. These exercises and other interactive sessions form a major part of the teaching and learning, with sessions running in every year of the course in this manner.

  • Course features can include guest lectures (subject to availability), site visits and field trip practical activities in the UK and internationally, offering you the chance to witness disaster risks and reduction measures in a range of contexts, from a variety of organisations who are undertaking this work in the field2.
  • Have an opportunity to participate in or design an emergency exercise in the university’s Simulation Centre4.
  • Participate in a variety interactive classroom sessions2.
  • Undertake fieldwork to better understand the risks and challenges faced by communities and disaster and emergency responders in the face of a range of natural and anthropogenic risk situations2.
  • Be supported by a scheduled series of academic personal tutorials.
  • Be supported to develop your employability and self-marketing skills.

What you'll study

In your first year, you will be introduced to the key terms, models and frameworks in disaster and emergency management and planning, reviewing established practice and academic literature.

Modules

In your second year, you will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with risk and preparedness, sustainable environments in society, and urban design for resilient communities, among others.

Modules

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee3 of £1,250. For more information, please go to the Fees and Funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or participating institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Modules

In the final study year, you will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with ethics, governance and resilience, building resilient communities, and formulating, evaluating and reshaping professional practice, among others.

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.


How you'll learn

We invite expert guest speakers (subject to availability) from industry, who talk about their experience and the current issues in disaster preparedness and response, humanitarian actions, sustainable development and more2.

We encourage you to join one of our student societies, such as the International Disaster Concern Society (membership fees and entry criteria may apply), which may provide further opportunities to gain real experience of working in the humanitarian sector2.

In the past, the Society has organised trips to Tanzania, and to large-scale emergency exercises, as well as organising additional guest speakers. Please note that these activities and any associated additional costs are student-led and are independent of the Disaster and Emergency Management BSc (Hons) course.


Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection. During your first year you can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

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'll be digging deeper into topics, review what you've learnt and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you'll spend more time in independent study.

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:

  • phase tests
  • essays
  • group work
  • presentations
  • reports
  • projects
  • coursework
  • exams
  • individual assignments
  • laboratories.

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.


International experience opportunities

Disasters and emergencies occur all over the world, as such the field as a whole is international in outlook in many ways. Even if you intend to practice in the UK, there are lessons that can be learned from consideration of international case studies and comparing them to practice in the UK. Successful completion of this course should equip you to work in a range of related careers either nationally or internationally.

International fieldwork is a key component in the second and final years of the course and these locations are regularly reviewed. Previous students have had the opportunity to visit various locations around Turkey. Both field trips are mandatory, but at no extra cost to you.

Additionally, you may choose to take a placement in industry between your second and final years2. In recent years, previous students have undertaken placements in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Malta and numerous locations around the UK.

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability, and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements, and are therefore not guaranteed.


Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

Requirement What we're looking for
UCAS points 112
A level BBC
GCSE Five GCSEs graded 4 / C or above to include English and Mathematics
BTEC DMM
IB Diploma 29 points
Access to HE The Access to HE Diploma to include 30 Level 3 credits at Merit. Plus GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 / C or above

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

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Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

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.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0 overall (with at least 5.5 in each component area)

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.

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Not got the required grades? We offer this degree with an integrated foundation year.


Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year
Not available
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £19,850 per year
Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 of £1,250 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see the university’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

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 permits 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.

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).

Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

*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.


Facilities

Your studies will be centred in high-specification learning environments that benefit from extensive social learning facilities, well-appointed laboratories, industry-standard equipment, lecturing facilities and classrooms, facilitating our innovative teaching methods across a diverse suite of courses.

Two students wearing lab coats using geotechnics lab facilities

Geotechnics Laboratory  

This specialist lab contains triaxial cells, direct shear box apparatus, a dimensional compression oedometer, California Bearing Ratio apparatus, soil classification equipment and Marshall test apparatus for asphalt mixes.

Three people wearing fluorescent jackets in the simulation centre

Simulation Centre

Our Simulation Centre uses an interactive screen and real-life scenarios to create a ‘virtual’ training environment. Role-play exercises are part of the course to help prepare you for situations in the workplace.

A birds eye view of students working on computers at desks in Informal study areas

Informal Study Areas

You will have access to a range of informal study areas. These include hot-desk computers, with access to specialist software you may need for studying, and bookable spaces where you can meet with academics or work in small groups.

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

Upon successful completion of the course, you should be able to:

  • critically analyse a range of historical events, conceptual perspectives, models of and factors which, influence hazard, vulnerability and risk. Apply these and related terms appropriately in various disaster, emergency and crisis-related contexts
  • analyse the benefits and limitations of a range of approaches to risk assessment and utilise them appropriately
  • evaluate the benefits and challenges of implementing effective risk mitigation
  • critique approaches to managing residual risks via preparedness systems and emergency planning, and propose good practice approaches
  • assess the need for organisational resilience and good governance in effective disaster, emergency and crisis management
  • evaluate and apply community-centred frameworks for resilience, sustainability and development
  • have the ability to work effectively with others within the context of multi-disciplinary, multi-agency teams, respecting inputs from fellow professionals, beneficiaries and other stakeholders, and to reflect on one's own performance and role within the team
  • develop and apply technical and analytical skills, to develop practical solutions to challenges faced in disaster and development contexts
  • become an independent learner, demonstrating high level communication, ethics, research and evaluation skills.

Our blend of academic and practical study seeks to provide you with a specialist understanding of all aspects of disaster management, as well as the specific emergency planning and management skills needed to prepare you for employment in this sector.

The course aims to develop 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 demonstrate the capabilities required by international relief and development organisations, private sector consultancies, national government, local authorities and United Nations agencies operating around the world; namely, the ability to make difficult decisions whilst being culturally sensitive, ethical and compassionate.

Where our graduates work

Recent graduates have gone on to work for the public sector, for example, in the emergency services, the NHS, The Environment Agency, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Cabinet Office, Department for International Development, as well as sectors such as high-risk manufacturing, energy and aviation companies; the military; consultancy with PricewaterhouseCoopers; financial risk, insurance and banking; as well as international disaster risk and response agencies, such as the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center; RedR, India; Oxfam GB and the Catholic Overseas Development Agency (CAFOD).

Further study

You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

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