PGDip Global Crisis, Conflict, and Disaster Management

Full Time: 12 months | Part Time: 24 months

Start dates: September 2018

The number, intensity, and impact of diverse forms of crises, emergencies, conflicts and disasters are increasing. During the past ten years alone, an estimated 1.5 billion people have been affected by some form of disaster, complex or conflict-related event.

This new and innovative multidisciplinary programme examines the role of global (national, regional and international) law, policy, and practice across the spectrum of possible conflicts, ‘man-made’ and ‘natural’ disasters. It further considers significant crises not escalating to the scale of conflict or disaster, as well as complex emergencies. The programme reflects current and changing global priorities such as the Post 2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction; UN Climate Change Conference 2015; UN Sustainable Development Goals 2015; and the World Humanitarian Summit 2016.

There are a number of overarching themes and questions, including: the relationship between different legal regimes; the role law does and should have in responding to crises, conflicts, or disasters; the relationship between law and non-legal disciplines; humanitarianism, sustainability, resilience, disaster risk reduction, and disaster management.

Entry requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5 (or equivalent).

You are normally required to have a good undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent from a university outside the UK). If you have other qualifications and a number of years' relevant work experience then you may also be eligible to apply.

Standard requirement is a 2:1 or higher in an undergraduate degree. However, our participants come with a variety of relevant legal and non-legal experience and all applicants are considered on individual merit.

What will you study?

Planned Law modules include:

Global Architecture of Crisis, Conflict and Disaster Management
Human Rights Law, Policy, and Practice
Disaster Management
Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability and Resilience
Public International Law
International Refugee Law
International Law and the Regulation of Armed Conflict
International Criminal Justice and Post-Conflict Peace-building
Climate Change Disasters
Technologies and Weaponry

Non-law modules are expected to span such topics as:

Development (eg foundational concepts, food security, gender)
Political (eg contemporary diplomacy, conflict in the Middle East, terrorism)
Economic (eg macro/micro-economics for developing countries, economics of public/social policy, climate change and economics) (MSc pathway only)
Preparing for Floods

(MSc students will have economics modules and a broader selection of politics modules to choose from.)

Please note that all modules are subject to change. Please see our modules disclaimer for more information.

Practical training opportunities

A series of non-assessed, employability orientated, practical training events, inside and outside the classroom, will take place throughout the programme aimed at consolidating and applying substantive knowledge learnt as well as developing transferable professional and personal skills. This will include the opportunity to undertake a fantastic and unique practical ‘fragile/hostile environment training’ package delivered by external professional trainers¹.

^1. Subject to payment of an additional fee, and a minimum number of students wishing to take this element.

How much will it cost?

New UK/EU students: £7,760 per year

New international students: £16,050 per year

Please note

The fees listed are for full-time study, unless otherwise stated, and relate to courses starting in the 2018/19 academic year. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information on fees and funding, including for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

Additional Costs

These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Part-time

New UK/EU students: £2,794 year one

New international students: £5,490 year one

Students may be eligible for a 10% fees discount if they are currently employed by a recognised NGO, have left NGO employment within 6 calendar months prior to enrolment on the programme, or will commence employment with an NGO within 3 calendar months of graduating from the programme. It will be necessary to produce appropriate documentary evidence of NGO employment to qualify for this discount.

What career can you have?

The skills gained by undertaking a postgraduate Law programme are in great demand from both legal and non-legal employers. As with any postgraduate taught Law programme, completion of the various entry points will be an asset for students seeking employment in international courts and tribunals, United Nations agencies, legal practice and advocacy in the international law field, international NGOs, the public service (in the areas of foreign relations, international development, etc), law reform agencies, the media (journalism and broadcasting), and academia (with further postgraduate study).

Graduates of this programme will be uniquely positioned and clearly distinguishable to prospective employers. In addition to acquiring knowledge of the key principles and topics associated with a traditional Public International Law and Human Rights related LLM programmes or a master's degree in crisis, conflict and/or disaster management issues, graduates of this programme will also develop a unique understanding of cutting edge law and policy, become more multidisciplinary conversant and therefore better equipped to work in inherently multidisciplinary environments.

The flexible nature of this programme allows students to select the degree qualification which best suits their background or area of expertise.