The MSc in Climate, Risk and Society takes a natural science approach to climate risk. Designed to equip you with an in-depth understanding of how human influence on climate is creating new risks, challenges and greater social vulnerability, it also teaches the necessary skills to develop effective responses to such natural and socio-political threats.
The course is likely to appeal to those with a background in social science, natural science or engineering. It explores how climate risk is defined and managed by individuals, governments and organisations, and considers the decisions they make when addressing uncertainty and the threats it poses to environments and communities across the globe.
During your studies, which will be taken over one year full-time or two years part-time, you will be taught about understanding risk as well as risk, science and communication, risk frontiers, and climate risk and society. You will also complete a major project; this can take the form of a research-based dissertation where you carry out original independent study or a vocational dissertation that combines external placements with independent research.
To further embed practice into the course, we work closely with the University’s Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience (IHRR). Through this, you will gain a vital insight into practitioner and academic perspectives at the forefront of risk thinking and practice. The IHRR also hosts an annual seminar series tailored specifically to students on the climate risk postgraduate programmes.
The Department’s postgraduate community is a vibrant body which offers a supportive network. When you join us you will become part of an active group that is both social and academic, participating in research events and attending talks throughout the year.
Course structure
Core modules:
Understanding Risk provides an overview of the key theories and concepts that reflect the interdisciplinary nature of risk involving human action and environmental events. You will learn the basic concepts and terms used to describe and communicate risk, as well as studying interventions involved in managing, preventing or mitigating against risk to populations, and building an understanding of the determinants of risk and its social inequalities.
Risk, Science and Communication gives you an overview of the natural, engineering and social science methods used in risk research. It provides training in the generic science, media and communication-based skills that risk research requires – in particular, written and spoken communication and the tools of public engagement.
Risk Frontiers is delivered by the Institute of Hazard and Risk Research. This module looks at current risk research and provides training in the generic skills of interpreting, criticising and collating the emerging research. What you learn will help meet the demands of the risk industry and associated areas such as disaster reduction, security, development and humanitarian relief.
Climate Risk and Society will provide an advanced understanding of human influence-based climate change as an issue that poses new risks to society, and will help you to develop tools for responding to these emerging natural and socio-political threats. You learn to think critically about how evolving understandings of risk, resilience and vulnerability shape efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
The Dissertation (Research or Vocational) builds on your learning in core and optional modules. It offers the option to develop your independent research skills through a research dissertation in which you carry out original independent research supported by our staff. Alternatively, you can choose the vocational dissertation route which combines research with collaborations or placements with external organisations. We offer vocational dissertation partnerships and project options through our large and growing partner and alumni network, or we can support you in developing your own vocational research collaborations.
The remaining module is chosen from:
Spatial and Temporal Dimensions of Hazards is a science-based module that considers issues relating to locations and timings, along with the key physical characteristics, of a variety of hazards. It offers both theoretical and practical training in how to understand and quantify such dimensions of hazards.
Hydro-meteorological Hazards provides fundamental knowledge of hydro-meteorological hazards, with a focus on flood and drought risk, their causes and the changing environmental conditions that influence them, including projected climate change. The module will also look at the ways that such hazards might be investigated and dealt with as part of an overall management strategy.
The course offers an interactive and participatory approach in which we aim to get to know you and work with you individually. Classes are delivered using a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops and practical sessions, with approaches to learning structured around the content of the module.
You will receive approximately eight hours of module contact time per week during terms one and two, although this can vary from week to week. In total, for full-time study, you should expect to devote around eight hours per day to work during term time, including all of your assessments.
Throughout the course, you will be supported by an academic advisor and you will also be assigned a dissertation supervisor.
Assessment
All modules require the completion of coursework, including traditional tools of assessment such as essays, presentations and reports but also alternative forms such as podcasts and portfolios featuring a compilation of work.
In the final term and over the summer, you will complete a research-based or vocational dissertation, bringing together elements of learning from across all the taught modules.
The tuition fees for 2024/25 academic year have not yet been finalised, they will be displayed here once approved.
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).
Studying in a department with a global reputation for the quality of research, our postgraduates are well placed to continue research at a higher level or progress into a rewarding professional career.
Taught courses are designed to develop the transferable skills that are highly sought after by employers such as the ability to analyse and communicate information and make decisions, and our postgraduates are much valued in areas such as government, non-governmental organisations and the charity sector.
Other roles in which postgraduates make a real difference to people and communities include property and surveying, environmental consultancy and management, conservation, town planning, geopolitical risk, market research, development work, health, public policy, social research, logistics, youth and community work, education, energy, utilities, tourism, banking, law, PR, IT, publishing, journalism and the media.
The Department of Geography is a global academic centre for the study of physical and human geography. Our high-quality research and our industry connections combine to create a learning experience underpinned by the theory and practice to take on the challenges we face as a result of natural events and human activity.
We provide a leading-edge environment in which to study, giving a learning experience that is tailored to suit particular interests. We offer MA and MSc degrees in Climate, Risk and Society and in Environmental Hazards and Risk, and MAs in Geography (Research Methods) and in Risk, Security and Politics.
Our academic staff are experts in their field with research activity in the Department divided into seven clusters comprising Politics-State-Space, Economy and Culture, Urban Worlds, Geographies of Life as well as Sea Level, Ice and Climate, Catchments and Rivers, and Hazards and Surface Change.
The postgraduate community plays a crucial role in contributing to the Department’s research goals, by conducting original research and by learning from research-led teaching about understanding and implementing the process of turning policy into practice. An in-house conference provides the opportunity for postgraduates to present ideas.
Ranked Joint 1st Nationally based on GPA (REF 2021)
Facilities
The Department of Geography is located on the main campus of Durham University at Lower Mountjoy, not far from the historic centre of the city with UNESCO World Heritage status.
Facilities are state-of-the-art after a £1.7 million investment and our laboratories are equipped with an extensive suite of analytical and geotechnical instruments which are overseen and supported by a team of dedicated technical staff.
Also available to postgraduates are a dedicated computer lab, world class library and research facilities, one of the few dedicated cartographic units in the region and field and labwork support.
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