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

Online MSc Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management

Mode: 100% online (with optional face-to-face events)
Length: 2 years (part-time)
Fees: £11,600, including a £350 acceptance fee (funding and instalments available)

You can also study an MSc in Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management on-campus. 

Discuss my options

Course overview

In today’s dynamic business landscape, there's a higher demand than ever for professionals with the foresight and knowledge to navigate organisations through uncertain times. Our MSc in Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management is designed to equip you with the vital skills required to meet this demand. Together, we’ll explore the complex interplay between risk assessment, crisis response, and building organisational resilience.

You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of what counts as risk, how to build a robust risk-management culture, and how to help organisations handle crises. On top of this, you’ll also learn how to leverage risk in a way that benefits organisation – because in uncertainty lies opportunity. Have you got what it takes?

Why choose this MSc?

 

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Industry-ready knowledge

The skills you acquire on this course can be immediately applied to your day-to-day work.

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Advanced career opportunities

The breadth of knowledge you gain will be sought-after by employers worldwide, and lead to rewarding new roles.

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Forward-thinking people skills

The soft skills and leadership qualities you cultivate will give you the confidence to guide employees through challenging situations.

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Strategic mindset

You’ll develop the critical thinking skills and analytical mindset required to foresee, prevent, and manage organisational risks and 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
John Smith

Professor

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John Smith

Professor

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John Smith

Professor

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John Smith

Professor

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John Smith

Professor

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John Smith

Professor

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MSc Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management webinar

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

Watch now

Watch our video to hear from a student

Discover how MSc Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management student Anita Mahase feels she has benefited from studying the course.

 

Careers in Risk Management

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

Video transcripts

For me, as I said earlier, the program really helped build that resilience within myself. And I learned so much more about myself, like how far I can be pushed.

And just to say, I didn't give up. I didn't defer. I stuck it out and yep, I would recommend the program to someone who would like to go along that route.

Just be prepared for that time commitment. It is a lot of extra time you need to put into it. If you think, oh it's only going to be this amount of hours this week. Actually there's a lot more reading behind it, especially, you know, a hard topic. There's a lot more stuff you want to read into after reading something, because, essentially, you've gone down a rabbit hole of stuff. Yes. But actually then that helps you when you get started.

Yeah to keep reading yourself in it's like you always found something of more interest and you kept going down that route. I'm like, oh no no no no no go back go back go back.

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 9431 1545, or email info@study-online.port.ac.uk

Phil Crook

Your Course Leader

Phil Crook 

I joined the University of Portsmouth after a 30-year career in the UK Fire and Rescue Service. This included secondments to the UK National Resilience Project, being a member of the UK International Search and Rescue Team, working with the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the UN Simulation and Training Network.

Ready to join us in September 2024?

Apply now
Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management student