Who is it for? 

The Master of Disaster Management is a continuing education programme aimed at professionals from a wide variety of disciplinary backgrounds, such as risk managers, engineers, healthcare professionals, military officers, architects, social scientists, logisticians, and journalists.

The programme accommodates students with a bachelor’s degree and at least two years of work experience.

World renowned

The programme is world renowned, and we engage with leading professionals from many UN agencies, the Red Cross and Red Cresent Movement and many other humanitarian organisations.

Key Benefits 

The Master of Disaster Management offers a holistic approach to disaster risk management, equipping you to:

  • Navigate through a rapidly evolving and complex field of disasters, climate change and humanitarian action.
  • Discuss and design relevant disaster risk management plans, and demonstrate a solid understanding of core humanitarian values.
  • Contribute to building resilient societies due to reduce impacts of disasters and increasing problems of climate change.
  • Make strategic evidence based decisions based on information gathered from diverse stakeholders.
  • Communicate and collaborate effectively and sensitively with all parties involved.

Additionally, you will form a strong global network with fellow students, fostering interdisciplinary exchange.

Critical need for comprehensive disaster managers in all sectors

With the growing threat of impacts from disasters and humanitarian crises, expertise in disaster risk management is more crucial than ever. Climate change, urbanisation, conflicts, and societal inequity intensify the need for effective preparation, response, mitigation, climate change adaptation and recovery strategies.

Disaster risk management necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, involving a range of professionals and organisations. Embracing holistic risk reduction and climate change adaption enhances the effectiveness of disaster risk management and significantly reduces disaster losses and damages.

Structure

Choose between full-time or part-time study

The Master of Disaster Management is a one-year programme that can be completed as a one-year full-time programme or up to three years of flexible part-time study. You can also choose to enrol in just a single course.

Please note that the courses require full-time study, and you must be able to be absent from work during the periods when you attend courses. The duration of each course is approximately 4–5 weeks.

If you choose the flexible study programme, you have the option to distribute the courses over three years, allowing you to work during intervals between courses.

A holistic approach to disaster risk management and humanitarian action

On the Master of Disaster Management, priority is given to research-based teaching complemented by interdisciplinary practice-based exercises and activities such as teamwork, study visits to UN City in Copenhagen and other humanitarian organisations, discussions, and case studies.

Experience and knowledge exchange across disciplines are highly prioritised and considered crucial parts of the learning process and outcomes. They provide valuable insights into different stakeholders' approaches and processes, while also preparing for interdisciplinary collaboration. This holistic approach enhances strategic and effective cooperation in addressing climate change problems, escalating humanitarian emergencies and disasters.

Watch as two alumni share their student journey and experiences in the programme.

Continuous accreditation
The Master of Disaster Management is accredited by The Danish Accreditation Institution and undergoes continuous quality assurance processes by the University of Copenhagen.

The programme

Each ECTS credit is equivalent to 27.5 hours of study, which includes preparation, course activity, and exam.

Courses

Click the course to apply and view the full description and details.

Examination Schedules

View exam and re-exam details by clicking the link below.

Teaching Staff

The Master of Disaster Management programme combines a faculty of academics from the University of Copenhagen with high-profile experts from international agencies, offering a balanced blend of research and current practical case studies.

Head of studies

Emmanuel Raju

Emmanuel Raju

Associate Professor and Head of Studies

Field Stories

Disaster risk creation in urban resettlement processes
Millions of lives at risk if Covid-19 hits slums and refugee camps

Student experience in the Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Methods course, Chennai 2024

Testimonials

Tiara Youmans, student MHD

The concentrated study sessions gave me a great opportunity to travel to Copenhagen and focus 100% on the study.

Tiara Youmans, Division Disaster Director, The United States

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees

Master's programme

EU, EEA or Swiss citizens: 125,500 DKK.
Non-EU, non-EEA, or non-Swiss citizens: 165,000 DKK.

Citizens from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland are eligible for reduced tuition fees according to EU legislation.

The full programme tuition fee is paid in instalments, one per semester, which must be paid prior to the start of the semester.

The fees for individual courses are listed under each course.

Funding

The University of Copenhagen does not offer grants or scholarships for the Master of Disaster Management. However, you can view other funding opportunities below:

 

You might consider financing parts of your tuition fees through the Gross Salary Scheme. A gross salary scheme is a tax advantage that allows you to include the tuition fee expense as part of your gross salary. In essence, the tuition fee will be deducted from your salary before taxes are applied.

If you are working in Denmark, you can learn more about the gross salary scheme (In Danish: Bruttolønsordning) at the Danish Tax Agency

 

 

If you are an US Citizen please be aware of the possibility of a student loan via the William D. Ford Direct Loan for American students.

 

 

Please also view our list of scholarships and loans by country.

 

Become a disaster risk management and humanitarian action professional.

Apply

Admission

The programme welcomes new students every year, with studies beginning end of August.

Admission criteria

Qualifying degree
All Bachelor's or Master’s degrees. The qualifying degree must be obtained from a recognised higher education institution in Denmark or abroad.

Work experience
You must have at least 2 years of relevant work experience after having completed the qualifying degree. Work experience must be full time (minimum 25 hours/week). In special circumstances, the admission committee can assess internship and volunteer work as professional work experience.

English proficiency
You must have a standard of English equivalent to level B in Danish secondary education.

Selection criteria

 

Eligible candidates are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis from the beginning of the application period.

 

Priority is given to students admitted on Master of Disaster Management. Once the enrolled students have been admitted to individual courses, the remaining seats are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis

 

Collect documentation for your application

 

An official certified diploma and transcript of academic records, with stamp and signature from your home university.

In case the original documents are not available in one of the following languages: Danish, Swedish, Norwegian or English, you are required to upload a certified translation with the copy of the original document.

 

 

A CV with your relevant work experiences which clearly states workplaces, specific work periods and job responsibilities.

 

 

You can document your English language proficiency in one of the following ways:

Native English language
Native English speakers from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK or Ireland may submit a copy of the page of their passport that has their photograph as proof.

Diploma from a Nordic university
Nordic applicants can demonstrate their English proficiency by submitting a certified copy of a high school diploma proving that they have passed English level B or by submitting a certified copy of a bachelor's or master’s diploma from a Nordic university.

Degree from an English speaking country
Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK or Ireland can demonstrate their English proficiency by submitting a certified copy of their degree certificate if their degree was taught in English. A semester or year spent on a student exchange programme is not sufficient.

English working language
Applicants working in companies with English as the official working language can demonstrate their English proficiency by submitting a letter from their employer, on official headed paper, stating that their working language is English.

English language proficiency test
Applicants can demonstrate their English proficiency if they have passed a recognised English language proficiency test with an adequate score. We accept the following tests:

Name of test

Minimum score

Information required for online check of test

IETLS (academic)

IELTS Home Edition

6.5 (overall test score) 

6.5 (overall test score)

Only overall score will be considered.

TRF Number (Test Report Form Number)

TOEFL

  1. Internet-based test (IBT)
  2. TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition
  3. ITP TOEFL-test

(MyBest Scores are not accepted)

 

83

83                                                   

560

Registration number

Cambridge Advanced (CAE)

Passed at level C1 or C2

ID-number and Secret Number

Cambridge Proficiency

Passed at level C1 or C2

ID-number and Secret Number

ELTS and TOEFL tests older than 2 years will not be accepted (counted from the programme application deadline). The Cambridge Assessment English may have been gained at any time.

 

 

For programme applicants a statement of motivation, 1-2 pages is required. For individual course applicants a brief statement of motivation is required.

In the statement, we advise you to

  • Focus on the study programme and its content. Demonstrate understanding of the programme's structure.
  • Outline your goals upon completing the programme.
  • Highlight relevant qualifications and experiences and relate them to the programme.
  • Explain how the Master of Disaster Management programme aligns with your career aspirations.

 

 

 

A copy of your passport (photo page) is required for non-Danish citizens. If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen with a permanent Danish residence permit, a copy of this permit must be uploaded.

 

 

The rules for Danish residence documents depend on your citizenship.

If you are admitted to the programme and require a visa and/or a residence permit, we will assist you in the application process. Please note that the visa application process can only begin upon receipt of the initial tuition fee installment.

Read more about the rules for obtaining Danish residence permit and visas here.

 

 

Contact

Guidance and admission

Mariel de Guia Britanico
Programme Coordinator
Tel.: +45 35 32 71 95

Christine Gulstad
Study Administration Officer 
MDMaadmissions@sund.ku.dk 
Tel.: +45 35 32 12 73

Master of Disaster Management

Continuing Professional Development
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen
Blegdamsvej 3B
2200 Copenhagen N - Denmark