Postgraduate Course

Course details

Study options

Full-time: 1 year, Part-time: 2 years

UK fee

£9,450 for the full course* (2024/25)

International fee

£14,900 for the full course (2024/25)

Start date

September

Location

Kedleston Road and One Friar Gate Square, Derby Campus

At Derby, you don’t just study the theory and background to resilience, through security, intelligence and planning for emergency and disaster risk reduction and response. You will take these aspects into real-life situations and develop knowledge, skills and vocational attributes that will give you the necessary experience to develop or enhance career paths in these fascinating areas.

A unique combination

Our MSc degree has been carefully designed to improve your knowledge and understanding of key aspects of Intelligence, Security and Disaster Management.

Our programme brings together insights from a wide range of disciplines across Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Public and Environmental Health. This unique combination will enable you to develop a comprehensive understanding of contemporary issues such as:

90%of students agree they are satisfied with the quality of their coursePostgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024
Graduate, Rhea Sutton, standing in front of a volcanic range.

Dealing with emergencies for the British Red Cross

Rhea Sutton is putting the skills she learned in our MSc Intelligence, Security and Disaster Management degree directly into practice. She is an Emergency Response Officer for the British Red Cross in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Read Rhea's storyRead Rhea's story

Developing your skills through sector engagement

The programme offers an innovative blend of theoretical knowledge and practical insights that will support you to become an outstanding professional in the fields of Intelligence, Security and Disaster Management or other related sectors.

Our programme offers a range of opportunities to interact with professionals from different authorities, services and organisations in the United Kingdom and beyond. You will be exposed to the latest research and practice-based knowledge as you deepen your understanding of how to respond to critical challenges such as natural disasters, mass casualty events, violent extremism and the threats posed by climate change. This exposure to the operating environment in the UK is complemented by opportunities to engage with multiple experts and intergovernmental organisations based across the United States of America (USA), Europe, South America, Asia and the Pacific region.

Our strong collaborative networks, locally and globally, mean you will be exposed to outstanding guest speakers and contributors who can cater to a range of student interests. These connections to expert practitioners will give you valuable insights into how the concepts taught in this programme are applied in practice within the UK and around the world.

You will also gain valuable insights from leading practitioners in these fields around the skills and knowledge required to excel in your future career.

External Recognition

Our programme is recognised by the United Kingdom National Security Secretariat. It is listed on the Civil Service Platform called the Crisis Management Excellence Programme (CMEP). Coordinated by Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBR), CMEP exists to support the professionalisation of crisis management in government through a combination of formal training, informal knowledge sharing, exercising, and a cross-government community of like-minded professionals.

Multi-Faith Centre, Kedleston Road

Postgraduate Open Event

Join us at an upcoming Postgraduate Open Event, where you will get the opportunity to meet our expert academics and find out more about your course.

Book your Postgraduate Open EventBook your Postgraduate Open Event

What you will study

The MSc Intelligence, Security and Disaster Management course is made up of three stages – Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc. You will study modules such as:

You will study this module:

  • Introducing Risk and Managing Disasters (Core 40 credits)

And you will choose options from:

  • Health Protection 
  • Understanding Radicalisation
  • Geoscience and Security

You will study this module:

  • Research and the Skilled Practitioner (Core 20 credits)

And you will choose options from:

  • Global Environmental and Public Health
  • Contemporary Issues in Intelligence and Security
  • Concepts of Global Terrorism
  • Disasters and Humanitarian Aid Response

You will study this module:

  • Independent Research Study

During this triple module (60 credits) you will carry out an extensive and academically rigorous study of a topic of your choice relevant to any, or any combination of, the fields of intelligence, security, disaster and/or crisis management, risk reduction, response and/or resilience.

Please note: modules are subject to availability, and may change to suit the needs of industry.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

How you will learn

You will be taught by a passionate, enthusiastic and skilled team, together with expert guest lecturers and speakers from across the fields of intelligence, security and disaster management including UN agencies, first response agencies, NGOs and public sector entities. You will learn through

The programme teaching team combines several years of experience teaching security and disaster management related modules using the above outlined teaching methods.  

Dr Dolapo Fakuade (Programme Leader)

Dr Rachel Rafferty

Dr Andrew Wilson

Dr Mohammed Ilyas

How you are assessed

The course will assess your skills, knowledge, and understanding including transferable skills through essays based on case studies, scenarios, presentations, briefings and risk assessment and analysis, data mapping and research-based tasks. Assessment is through 100% coursework.

You will also be assessed through independent study based on a topic of your choice. Additional practical assessment may be undertaken as simulation exercise, based on observation, interaction and a range of experiential approaches to problem-solving.

Who will teach you

Dr Dolapo Fakuade
Programme leader

Dr Dolapo Fakuade leads MSc Intelligence, Security and Disaster Management at the School of Law and Social Sciences. She brings international perspectives from teaching, research and practice garnered from working in different countries.

View full staff profileView full staff profile

Entry requirements

For the MSc you will usually need:

We also welcome applicants who have substantial professional experience but do not have a degree, subject to personal statements, references and interviews with the programme leader.

Fees and funding

2024/25 (August 2024 - July 2025)

TypeFull-timePart-time
UK

£9,450 for the full course*

£1,050 per 20 credits

International

£14,900 for the full course

N/A

Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.

* UK full-time fees paid within one academic year are rounded down to the nearest £50 if applicable

Additional costs and optional extras

About postgraduate awards

Please note at postgraduate level, you’ll need to gain the following number of credits in total to obtain the respective awards. If you have any questions please contact us.

AwardCredits
Postgraduate Certificate60 Credits
Postgraduate Diploma120 Credits
MA or MSc180 Credits

This means you will gain 180 credits in total to complete the full MA or MSc. If you are studying part time you will normally complete your studies over two or three years, depending on the course structure.

Funding your studies

Find out more about fees, postgraduate loans and support you may be entitled to.

Find out about funding your studiesFind out about funding your studies

Alumni discount for Derby graduates

We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.

Find out about the Alumni discountFind out about the Alumni discount

Students chatting to each other

International student scholarships

We have a range of scholarships and discounts available to international students which can be used together to offer a reduction in your tuition fees.

Find out if you're eligible for an international scholarship Find out if you're eligible for an international scholarship

How to apply

Please look at our application deadlines before you apply.


Careers

An MSc Intelligence, Security and Disaster Management opens up many career options, including:

Daniel Nang-Tege

How Daniel's masters is helping him to help others

A passion for improving conditions for communities in developing countries is what drove Daniel to study our MSc Intelligence, Security and Disaster Management.

Read case studyRead case study

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

Contact us Contact us

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

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