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This postgraduate certificate programme offers students a better understanding of natural hazards and the means by which their impacts on the insurance market may be听mitigated or avoided.
Increasing urbanisation, climate change and environmental degradation are rapidly raising exposure to natural hazards in the developed and developing world. This is imposing growing pressures on insurers and reinsurers to seek ways of limiting exposure, reducing vulnerability and building resilience. This 果冻影院 postgraduate certificate听Natural Hazards for Insurers听programme offers students a better understanding of natural hazards and the means by which their impacts on the market may be听mitigated or avoided. There is a strong emphasis on developing an improved understanding of the nature of available hazard data, the conclusions we can draw from them, limitations, and relevant cutting-edge research. The programme听provides the intellectual, analytical and practical tools for making more informed decisions in day-to-day encounters with natural hazards, exposure and loss. It is therefore听particularly relevant to professionals working in catastrophe risk within the insurance and reinsurance sector.
Students benefit from our welcoming environment and world-class facilities. The part-time programme is staffed by academics from 果冻影院 and other universities, the British Geological Survey, and partners from NGOs and the business sector. 果冻影院 welcomes both self-funded students and those sponsored by their workplace.
Prospectus:
PGCert Natural Hazards for Insurers
Further Enquiries:
Dr Alexander Steele
Programme topics
Content focuses on hazards of most interest to the market (e.g., windstorms, floods, wildfires, earthquakes),听but also addresses geotechnical issues such as marine pollution incidents and energy resource issues. Students undertake three modules to the value of 60 credits, which equates to a total of 600 hours of student effort. This consists of two taught modules (each worth 15 credits) and an independent project (worth 30 credits). Students take one听compulsory taught module and then choose one option from a selection of advanced modules...
- Compulsory modules
GEOL0062听Geological, Geotechnical & Hydro-meteorological Hazards听(15 credits)
This is an introductory module that provides an overview of natural and anthropogenic hazards. Topics covered include hazardous natural processes; interconnected, cascading and multiple hazards; volcanic hazards and risk;听earthquake sesimology and seismic hazards;听tsunamis;听mass movements;听tropical cyclones;听wildfires;听tornadoes;听inland and coastal flooding; and anthropogenic hazards such as听marine pollution incidents and听dam failure.听(30 credits)
All students undertake an independent research听project, which culminates in an 8,000-word report and an oral presentation. Topics for research should incoporate aspects of both risk from natural hazards and (re)insurance market interests. Further information about supervision arrangements, format, and other details are provided early in the Spring term.- Optional modules
Students must choose one taught module from the options below...
CEGE0033 Seismic Risk Assessment听(15 credits)
This听course covers fundamental components of earthquake risk assessments, including an introduction to GIS and seismic risk assessment tools. Topics include earthquake mechanics and energy; seismic waves; building vulnerability to ground shaking; and seismic loss estimation.GEOL0041听Physical Volcanology and Volcanic Hazard听(15 credits)
This听module covers dynamics of volcanic processes including effusions of lava flows and domes;听explosive eruptions; magma rheology and dynamics; fracturing of volcanoes; monitoring techniques; eruption forecasting;听and hazard evaluation and mitigation.GEOL0066听Meteorological and Hydrogeological Hazards听(15 credits)
The module provides advanced methods for evaluating and forecasting meteorological and hydrogeological hazards. Topics covered include the analysis of climate change and meteorological hazards; wind risk;听flood estimation; and听slope collapse and the dynamics of mass movements.HPSC0093 Science Policy in an Era of Risk Uncertainty听(15 credits)
This module brings together key thinkers, debates, and cutting-edge research on how society engages with uncertainty and risk. It aims to discuss the challenges of integrating interdisciplinary data sets, and examines the potential听for more deliberative and participatory engagement with stakeholders.
Programme teaching
Who teaches the programme?
The programme is staffed by academics from 果冻影院 and other universities, the British Geological Survey and partners from the business sector. The core teaching team is from the 果冻影院 Hazard Centre, one of Europe's leading multidisciplinary hazard academic centres for hazard and risk research, education and knowledge exchange. The 果冻影院 Hazard Centre sits within 果冻影院's department of Earth Sciences.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars, discussions, directed reading, and problem-solving exercises. Student performance is assessed through coursework in the form of essays, reports and practical exercises. The independent project is assessed through an 8,000-word report and an oral presentation.
Why should I study this postgraduate course at 果冻影院?
Top hazard scientists at 果冻影院 and other leading academic institutions have worked with the Under 35s Reinsurance group and market professionals to develop a flexible programme that accommodates the demands of a full-time career. The part-time programme is designed specifically for professionals already working in the insurance and reinsurance sector, or for those keen to enter roles in catastrophe risk.
The听programme is accredited by the , the premier professional organisation for those working in the insurance and financial services industry. Successful completion of the course qualifies the candidate for 60 non-unit specific credits at Advanced Diploma level towards the CII exam framework. Alternatively,听completion may be counted towards Associateship or Fellowship of听the CII (major achievement). Candidates may claim one hour of structured CPD towards the CII member CPD scheme for every hour of study.
The听opportunity also exists to upgrade to听Masters level.
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