MSc
Risk Management
Management tools and techniques to successfully handle risk in the workplace
Course Overview
Why take this course?
Risk management has grown into more than just a specialist subject in the education of managers, risk specialists and others.
This course is a thorough grounding in risk management, including current tools and techniques, the crisis management implementation process, and the ability to contribute to managing risk and business effectiveness.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Attend lectures by guest speakers in industry who bring real-life issues and scenarios into the classroom
- Gain a proven ability to analyse risks, threats and opportunities, assess needs and devise solutions in order to implement business continuity planning and crisis management
- Tap in to our Library’s vast selection of electronic resources, which can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection
What opportunities might it lead to?
Successful graduates of MSc Risk Management will be exempt from two modules from five at Level 1 (Module 1 Principles of Risk and Module 2 Risk and Organisations) and Level 2 of the Institute of Risk Management (IRM) International Diploma, providing one of the following units has been successfully completed: Environmental Risk, Corporate Governance or Business Continuity. Completion of the IRM International Diploma (five Level 1 core units and the Level 3 practical assignment) offers an entry route to full IRM membership which, in addition to providing extensive benefits, provides valuable networking opportunities.
The breadth and depth of the course really exceeded all expectations and has encouraged me to research certain aspects of risk management even further.
Darren Simpson, MSc Risk Management student
Key Facts
- Duration
- 1 year full time, 3 years part time
- Entry
A good honours degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 in all individual components, or equivalent.- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £6,000
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man part-time students: £2,000 p/a* (3 years)
International full-time students: £11,000 p/a*
International part-time students: £3,670 (3 years)
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- pbs.postgradadmissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 8200 - Department
- Portsmouth Business School
Structure & Teaching
You will complete a total of five units (including your dissertation) involving attendance of six days for each unit, in three-day unit blocks. You will study several key topics covering areas of project management theory and methods, while gaining an insight into their practical application in a business context.
Here are the units you will study:
- Strategic Risk and Risk Behaviour: This explores the theoretical frameworks and interdisciplinary nature of risk and effective risk management in organisations. The importance of human factors and people skills in risk perception and management are also considered, examining the roles of the individuals, teams and leaders in the context of developing and implementing risk management policies and strategies.
- Organisational and Environmental Risk: This unit will investigate theories of environmental and organisational risk management and the approaches that an organisation may employ to achieve these successfully. The role of environmental and organisational risk management within the context of legislation will also be explored.
- Crisis Management and Governance: This unit studies the development of effective, transparent continuity and crisis planning. The challenges facing organisations in ensuring robust governance, continuity and crisis management plans, highlighting the differences between this and generic risk management will be explored. Training and exercise preparedness will also be reviewed, enabling students to design appropriate scenarios for their organisations.
- Project and Research Methods: This focuses on project risk management processes, systems and technology. 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.
- Dissertation: This unit comprises the final part of the course. You will undertake a 15,000-word management research project (dissertation) that combines a review of previous research undertaken in your chosen topic, with your own data collection and analysis. The research dissertation provides a unique opportunity for you to demonstrate the subject knowledge you have acquired, as well as your analytical abilities and problem-solving skills that are highly regarded by potential employers. During this phase, your research will be supervised by an experienced academic with expertise in your chosen topic area.
Teaching and Assessment
Teaching and learning is through intensive three-day blocks of lectures, seminars and activity-based case studies. Classes are challenging but informal and friendly, and you are encouraged to participate in discussion and debate. Our aim is to enhance your risk management skills by analysing complex problems, exploring the uncertainties involved, evaluating possible solutions and planning risk management implementation.
How are you assessed?
All assessment is via coursework, the majority of which will be in the form of written assignments. You will also complete a self-directed research dissertation.
Facilities & Features
Flexible Learning
Benefit from web, email or phone access to many of our facilities and services
Support
Tutors are available to support your studies via online tutorials, email and telephone conferencing
Academic Skills Unit (ASK)
Our workshops are designed to improve a number of essential academic skills
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information including thousands of online ejournals
Flexible Learning
You will benefit from web, email or phone access to many of our facilities and services. Our student website, LookUP, will be your one-stop shop for all news, information and links to other services, and 24/7 online access to the University Library’s vast electronic book, journal and database collections will help you find the right resources for your research.
Support
We aim to provide you with as much support as possible. There are tutors available to support your studies via online tutorials, email and telephone conferencing. You will also be assigned a personal tutor who will offer support and guidance throughout your studies.
Academic Skills Unit (ASK)
The ASK unit will help you become a successful university student. Our workshops are designed to improve a number of essential academic skills from essay writing and understanding plagiarism to revision and exam techniques. This is a great way to refresh yourself on university study ensuring you perform to your full potential.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
This course is an ideal route into a wide range of risk management roles. Organisations face risk every day and so demand the strategic decision making skills of qualified risk managers. You can expect to find roles in a wide range of sectors including business, retail, insurance, health, government, transport and the environmental sector.
Alternatively, you may wish to pursue opportunities for research in the related areas of risk, programme and business management.
Career planning
One of the benefits of studying at Portsmouth is the support that we provide to our Master's and Research Degrees students in career planning. Our careers and recruitment service – Purple Door – can assist you in career research and finding employment opportunities. Help is also available if you wish to find a part-time job while studying your degree. We offer our postgraduate students and alumni one-to-one appointments with a careers adviser, or an online service for those not able to travel back to the University. Our alumni can call on our career services for five years after graduation.
In addition, regular employability events offer you the chance to meet employers, find out about different career sectors and improve your applications or CV. The Graduate Summer Programme provides a range of guidance and employability seminars and workshops.