Introduction to Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management

Course Leader Dr Sara Hadleigh-Dunn explains that there’s no getting around the importance of risk management in modern organisations – whether it’s strategic, financial, operational or compliance-related.

"Risk, crisis and resilience management is a strategic way of conceptualising potential risks and making your organisation more resilient for the future by putting contingency measures in place. The ability to prepare comprehensive plans for if or when crises strike is valuable in a huge range of industries.”

Sharpen your ability to critically think and plan with this expansive MSc, and become a vital player in organisations worldwide.

IRM accreditation

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This course is accredited by The Institute of Risk Management (IRM). Once you graduate you will be entitled to exemption from all 6 modules of the International Diploma in Risk Management. You can apply for GradIRM membership after you graduate, and if you have 3 or more years of relevant experience you can upgrade to Certified Membership.

Course details

MSc Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management 

3 start dates per year: January, May and September

Next welcome week: 22 January 2024

Next course start date: 29 January 2024

Application deadline: 15 January 2024. Apply as soon as possible to secure your place.

Duration: 2 years (part time)

Format: Online, with optional face-to-face events. You can also study an MSc in Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management on campus.

Total course fees: £11,250 (including a £250 acceptance fee)

Tailored support: Contact our course adviser team today for application advice 

Application form: Start your application for January 2024 now

Get in touch

Why this MSc Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management?

Risk management is a major priority for many organisations across various industries. It’s critical in ensuring corporate sustainability, resilience and profitability.

That’s why a demand in competent, informed and experienced risk managers exists, and why an MSc in Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management could open many career opportunities to you.

On this course, you’ll learn what counts as risk and how to manage this within an organisational setting. You’ll explore different facets within industries, including varying perceptions of risk, how to prepare for risks and crises, management approaches and techniques and how to lead employees in difficult times.

By the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge and experience to create a robust risk culture within a business and develop appropriate strategies to manage risk. You’ll have critical thinking, decision making and analysis skills that you can use immediately to help organisations prepare for crises.

What you’ll study

Our MSc Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management course will give you the knowledge, skills and experience needed to excel within the field.

On this course, you'll:

  • Identify risk across sectors and develop appropriate strategies and techniques to prepare for and cope with crises

  • Discover how to develop a strong risk culture to enable more effective risk management

  • Gain the ability to stay calm under pressure and make decisions and communicate them effectively, clearly and concisely regardless of audience

  • Learn to understand differing perceptions of risk and cultural differences in approaches to risk, as well as the impact these might have

  • Develop critical thinking and analysis skills to evaluate problems in an organisational context

All course materials are available on-demand and can be accessed from wherever you are in the world. Find out more about how you'll learn with us.

How is the course valuable in the industry?

Watch this virtual Q&A featuring current student and Risk Manager, Rebecca Geldart. She discusses how she finds the course valuable because she can immediately apply the content she learns in her job, which gives her a sense of accomplishment and adds value to her role.

Want to watch the full Q&A? Register to gain access.

Read the video transcript on this page

Modules

On this module, you’ll learn about the interdisciplinary nature and theoretical frameworks of risk and effective risk management within organisations. You’ll consider the importance of human factors and people skills in risk management and perception, critically reviewing leadership theories and the key role employees and other stakeholders hold in an organisation’s risk approach.

You’ll examine the many facets of organisational and environmental risk on this module, specifically in regards to its management, ethical corporate responsibilities and sustainability. You’ll learn how to identify the associated issues and challenges affecting organisations as well as the most appropriate responses and a strategy’s impact.

No risk management strategy is effective without well-developed crisis planning and transparent continuity. On this module, you’ll examine the differences between crisis and risk management, as well as the challenges organisations face in maintaining strong governance, continuity and crisis management plans. You’ll critically review and assess training and crises preparedness, and gain the knowledge to design appropriate scenarios for your organisation.

This module focuses on project risk management processes, technologies and systems. You’ll consider key challenges in applying project risk identification and response frameworks. You’ll also critique research reports and assess risks in areas such as new product development, change management, Research & Development (R&D), technology transfer and systems integration.

Using your own data collection and analysis, you’ll plan and carry out a rigorous and practical research project related to risk management. You’ll demonstrate an ability to make decisions and plan objectively and critically, developing coherent arguments and assessments of needs and consequences. All skills you demonstrate in your dissertation, are incredible valuable to prospective employers.

How you're assessed

All assessments for the course are based on coursework submitted online. Your performance is assessed through coursework including:

  • Written assignments
  • Reflective work
  • A dissertation

You'll also have the opportunity to receive formal and informal feedback from your tutors to help you improve your work.

Natural disasters are an organisational risk

Teaching team

Kate Buttriss

Kate Buttriss

Course Leader

I recently joined the teaching staff following a successful 20 year career with a major financial institution, where I held the post of Senior Vice President in Information Security, specialising in supplier risk management.

MSc Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management webinar

Find out how risk management is essential for organisations across a variety of sectors:

Watch now

Looking for a full-time course?

You can study an MSc in Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management on campus:

Find out more

Entry requirements

To join this course, you must have:

  • A second-class honours degree or equivalent in any academic subject seeking to pursue or to continue a career in Risk Management.  Applicants with appropriate work experience and professional qualifications may also be considered. 
  • English language proficiency at IELTS level 6.5 with no component score below 6.0 (or other acceptable proof), if English is not your first language

If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible to apply, please speak to one of our course advisers on +44 (0)23 9400 3692, or email info@study-online.port.ac.uk

Career prospects and opportunities

Our MSc Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management is built to give you the competitive edge needed to establish a successful career in your chosen industry.

In addition to building on your specialist knowledge and analysis abilities, the data collection and research projects you’ll undertake will aid you in developing the self-direction and care that organisations desire.

These skills, coupled with the support you can receive from our exceptional Careers and Employability Service, will help position you as a valuable hire to employers across the world.

To learn more about the paths of progression available to you after graduation, visit our Careers and opportunities page:

More on career options

Ready to join us in January 2024?

Apply now
Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management student