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Overview
Risk management is a crucial part of running any business. If you can manage day-to-day business problems and remain calm in the face of a crisis, you may have what it takes to work in the field of risk and crisis management.
Our MSc Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management degree will build on your existing skills and help you to become an expert in managing crises. You'll graduate ready to steer organisations through critical situations as a risk manager, ensuring their success and yours.
This Master's course uses an organisational and people focused approach to risk management, rather than a financial or cyber risk approach like many other degrees in the sector.
On this Institute of Risk Management (IRM) accredited course you'll learn to identify, assess and manage strategic, organisational, environmental and technological risks, as well as threats presented by unpredictable situations. You'll explore topics including counter-terrorism, political violence, and emerging and strategic risks.
You’ll complete a one day simulation activity where you’ll work in teams to manage a crisis as it unfolds in real time. You’ll work with various viewpoints from within a business during the simulation.
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Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
Course highlights
- Learn from expert guest speakers who provide insight into real-life scenarios and a practical take on managing risk on every module
- Study key topics including strategic risk and leadership, crisis management, business continuity, and organisational and environmental risk
- Learn to manage risk more effectively, and make a difference in your workplace
- Understand the current tools and techniques used in risk management
- Learn from qualified, research-active staff with consultancy experience and links to industry
- Study alongside professionals from a wide range of industries
- Hear from key speakers from organisations such as:
- BP
- Shell
- MOD
- Hampshire Fire
- Pharmaceuticals
- Large multinationals
Accreditation
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 Enterprise 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.
The University of Portsmouth has earned business accreditation from the AACSB in recognition of the outstanding quality of its business and management education. Less than six percent of the world's schools offering business degree programs hold AACSB business accreditation.
This post-grad study has reignited the excitement for my future career, equipping me with the tools and confidence to better contribute to advancing the risk management discipline to help, in a small way, improve social and corporate resilience to increasing sources of adversity. Studying on this programme is everything I hoped it would be and much more.
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsEntry requirements
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
September 2025 start
- A second-class honours degree or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, view the equivalent entry requirements we accept for your country.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees (September 2025 start)
- Full time: £12,600
- Part time: £6,300 per year
(including Transition Scholarship)
- Full time: £12,600
- Part time: £6,300 per year
- Full time: £17,900
- Part time: £8,950 per year
University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount.
Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.
You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Funding your studies
Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.
If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.
Loans, scholarships and bursaries
Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.
Funding for international students
Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.
Fees and funding for Master's courses
Explore Master's funding options, including loans, scholarships, bursaries and more.
Additional costs
These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees, so you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending. Additional costs could include:
- Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
- Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
- General costs: Such as photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
- Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Read more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Modules
Full-time
Core modules
By combining a literature review with your own rigorous data collection and analysis, you'll demonstrate the analytical abilities and problem-solving skills that are highly valued by employers.
With supervision from an academic specialist, you'll develop an in-depth understanding of contemporary risk management issues.
This module is your chance to plan and execute practical research that evidences intellectual effort, objective analysis and coherent arguments. You'll finish this module equipped with the knowledge and skills to assess needs, weigh consequences and advance the field through your own contributions.
Applying theory and practitioner-focused frameworks, you’ll recommend integrated, robust responses to disruption from supply chain shocks to natural disasters.
This module provides timely knowledge, skills and mindsets that enable agility, restoration and growth during and post-crisis.
You'll develop an understanding of the strategic risk landscape and risk considerations that influence strategic decisions, culture and stakeholder impact.
Through scenario planning, addressing uncertainty, emerging risks and risk appetite and tolerance exploration, you will support and lead organisational resilience through integrated risk management.
Critically examine risk issues across a range of contexts and build strategies tailored to the needs of individual organizations.
With opportunities to evaluate approaches and to assess the various impacts of sustainability initiatives, you'll develop practical skills for embedding effective risk management across operational processes.
This module prepares you to navigate the key challenges of organisational risk, and to respond strategically to safeguard stakeholders.
Central to the module is a consideration of the key challenges in the application of project risk identification and response frameworks. This will be linked to the research dissertation as a project to be managed, preparing students for the research element of the programme.
Part-time
Core modules
Applying theory and practitioner-focused frameworks, you’ll recommend integrated, robust responses to disruption from supply chain shocks to natural disasters.
This module provides timely knowledge, skills and mindsets that enable agility, restoration and growth during and post-crisis.
You'll develop an understanding of the strategic risk landscape and risk considerations that influence strategic decisions, culture and stakeholder impact.
Through scenario planning, addressing uncertainty, emerging risks and risk appetite and tolerance exploration, you will support and lead organisational resilience through integrated risk management.
Critically examine risk issues across a range of contexts and build strategies tailored to the needs of individual organizations.
With opportunities to evaluate approaches and to assess the various impacts of sustainability initiatives, you'll develop practical skills for embedding effective risk management across operational processes.
This module prepares you to navigate the key challenges of organisational risk, and to respond strategically to safeguard stakeholders.
Core modules
By combining a literature review with your own rigorous data collection and analysis, you'll demonstrate the analytical abilities and problem-solving skills that are highly valued by employers.
With supervision from an academic specialist, you'll develop an in-depth understanding of contemporary risk management issues.
This module is your chance to plan and execute practical research that evidences intellectual effort, objective analysis and coherent arguments. You'll finish this module equipped with the knowledge and skills to assess needs, weigh consequences and advance the field through your own contributions.
Central to the module is a consideration of the key challenges in the application of project risk identification and response frameworks. This will be linked to the research dissertation as a project to be managed, preparing students for the research element of the programme.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
How you'll spend your time
We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.
We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.
It is our expectation that all international students will join us here on campus in Portsmouth.
Course structure
This Master's degree will take:
- 1 year (full-time)
- 2 years (part-time)
If you study this course full-time, you can expect:
- to attend campus for two 3-day blocks for each module, typically Tuesday-Thursday once per month
- campus days to run from 9:00am to 5:00pm
- to work on assignments between teaching blocks
- teaching to begin in September, then continue with 3 days in October, November, December, January, February, March and April
- to start your dissertation in April, and to submit this in September
If you study this course part-time, you can expect:
- to attend campus for two 3-day blocks for each module, typically Tuesday-Thursday once per month
- campus days to run from 9:00am to 5:00pm
- to work on assignments between teaching blocks
- teaching to begin in September, then continue with 3 days in October, November, December, January, February (the end of your first year)
- to consider your dissertation topic over the summer before your second year
- to attend 3 days of teaching per month in your second year in both October and November
- to submit your dissertation the following September
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you apply for Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) to gain exemption from some modules, your timetable may look slightly different. You can earn RPL from academic or professional qualifications, or professional experience.
If you hold the IRM International Diploma in Enterprise Risk Management, you are exempted from 90 credits of this Masters programme and will only complete one taught module, and the dissertation.
Teaching
Master's study is deeper and more specialised than an undergraduate degree. This means you'll focus on something that really matters to you and your career as you work closely with academics committed to the subject.
You'll spend more time in independent study and research than you did for your undergraduate degree, but the majority of your teaching time will be in-person and face-to-face.
Teaching methods on this course include:
- lectures
- seminars
- workshops
- tutorials
- crisis management simulation
Assessment
You'll complete individual and group presentations and case study work.
You'll be assessed through:
- case studies
- reports on major organisations or disasters
- dissertation
Learning from leading and transformative researchers and highly experienced practitioners who collectively share a passion for developing a technical and advanced understanding of core risk management and resilience concepts has recalibrated my understanding of what it takes to be an effective risk management and resilience leader.
Term dates
September start
The Master's academic year runs from September to the following September. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter. Over the summer you'll be writing your project/dissertation.
Career development
By studying an IRM accredited course in this specialised subject, you’ll graduate ready to work with companies across the world to manage and mitigate risk.
Because of an increase in British and International Standards in Risk and Crisis Management, Organisational Resilience and Continuity, there's a growing demand for risk specialists. Career opportunities in this field keep growing, in part thanks to our reliance on technology, the increased risk of conflict, and extreme weather conditions.
You’ll build your professional network during the course as you hear from guest speakers on every module and have the opportunity to network with other students and industry specialists.
Graduates of this course have gone onto industries such as:
- Oil and gas
- Health service
- Financial sector
- Security industries
- Military
- Emergency services
- Auditing
- Security management
You could also continue your research in the related areas of risk, programme and business management.
MSc Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management Mentoring Programme
Launched in collaboration with our main Partner, Daisy UK, this mentoring programme is an opportunity to develop your risk network, learn from experienced experts in the field, and to enhance and supplement your in-class learning and discussions.
You'll be mentored by industry leading experts in risk, crisis and resilience, with monthly one-to-one sessions for six months during your studies.
Many of our mentors are award-winning practitioners so you can be sure that you are learning from the best and are drawn from national and international organisations.
The programme has been an enriching experience, and I have gained valuable knowledge, skills, and connections that will undoubtedly benefit me in my career.
Career planning
During your course you'll have expert career support from our Careers and Employability Centre, your tutors and our Business and Law Career-Ready Programme. This support will continue for 5 years after you graduate.
Career support
You'll benefit from:
- Networking events
- Regular emails from the Career Ready Programme sharing job opportunities, application tips and events
- Applied projects with companies such as IBM, Boeing and Hampshire County Council
- Workshops to enhance your employability skills
- Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
- 1-to-1 appointments
- CV and cover letter advice
- Interview preparation and practice
- Support starting your own business
Supporting you
Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to postgraduate study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your course.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you'll also have access to our student engagement officers. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing, and refer you to specialist support services if you need extra help or support.
The Maths Cafe offers free advice and help with maths skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your maths skills at a workshop, or use our online resources.
You'll have help from a team of study support tutors. Based within the Faculty of Business and Law, these tutors are familiar with the specific requirements your assignments and work closely with faculty academics. This means they can give you focused support with the specific study skills you need to be successful on your course. They're available face-to-face, by phone, email, and by video call.
They can help with:
- academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations, projects and literature reviews)
- reflective writing skills
- critical thinking skills
- delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
- understanding and using assignment feedback
- managing your time and workload
- revision and exam techniques
If you're a mature student, specialist support to help you return to learning is available.
During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.
Support is available for skills including:
- University study
- Getting into the right study mindset
- Note-taking and note-making skills
- Referencing
- Presentation skills
- Time management, planning, and goal setting
- Critical thinking
- Avoiding plagiarism
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
Joining us as an international student
You'll feel at home in our international community and our diverse city. You'll be joining over 5,000 international students from more than 150 countries who are studying with us.
Learn more about international student life and how we can help you with visas, applications, arrival and settling in.
How to apply
Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.
There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start date in September, as long as there are places available. If you wait until September to apply, you may find that the course is full.
If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.
You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.
Extra information for international students
If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.
You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Ready to apply?
I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate
If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2024, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:
- a shorter application form to complete
- access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
- a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses
After you apply
Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
Learn more about how we assess your application.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.