Main details
Course overview
Module options
Our academics
Entry requirements
Fees & funding
Scholarships
Facilities
Future prospects
Next steps

Postgraduate Taught

Flood Risk Management

A group of rescuers using an inflatable raft rescue victims of flooding

Waves crash against the beach of a coastal town with vulnerable houses on the cliff top

A group of people walking through flood water

Increasing flood risks and the skills gap in flood management means the demand for professionals who can build flood resilience has never been greater.

Our research-led teaching is informed by our strong industry links. We’re collaborating with a range of partners on innovative flood research projects.

You’ll be learning at a university located within one of the five global cities that make up the City Water Resilience Framework. So for us, it's personal.

You’ll graduate as a well-rounded professional with insight into innovative approaches to flood risk management – ready to help shape the future of flood resilience.

The continuing climate crisis brings increasing flooding risks. It’s estimated that by 2050, the number of people that are vulnerable to flood disasters will swell to 2 billion¹.

The need for professionals who can develop and deliver new approaches to flood risk management is huge.

Designed in collaboration with industry and accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), this course prepares you for a career in the expanding flood risk sector.

Accredited by

industry leaders: CIWEM
Industry speakers

including JBA Consulting
1 of 5 global cities

in the City Water Resilience Framework
Unique insight

into region’s flood resilience with field trips
Research-led teaching

informed by collaborations with industry

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Course overview

Module options

About this course

Our holistic approach incorporates flood modelling, environmental sciences, hydrology, hydraulics, social sciences, policy, arts and humanities. So you’ll graduate as a well-rounded professional with a comprehensive overview of the sector. Along with insight into the latest in flood risk management research and innovation.

You’ll study flood risk reduction, adaptation and control. Practice data collection and analysis. Work with software such as geographic information system (GIS). And explore community engagement approaches including serious gaming.

We’re located in one of the five global cities that make up the City Water Resilience Framework. A project to help cities better prepare for and respond to flooding. Field trips give you opportunities to explore the city of Hull’s significant investment in flood resilience.

This includes free CIWEM student membership for all students fully enrolled onto the MSc Flood Risk Management, providing access to CIWEM’s Early Careers Network and their private library of reports and resources, as well as CPD development through engaging with CIWEM and attending their events.

Our strong relationships within the sector give you the chance to attend guest lectures and workshops from organisations such as Hull City Council, Yorkshire Water, international universities, and industry experts including JBA Consulting. Our annual conference provides further opportunities to hear from and network with a diverse range of organisations.

Find out more

Watch our recent webinar to hear from the course leader and tutors and find out more about this innovative Master's programme.

Flood water flows through the streets of a UK town

An abandoned cycle standing in flood water

The Humber Bridge stretches over a flat clam Humber Estuary as the sun sets behind it

Choose your modules

For a full Masters degree, you'll study 180 credits over the duration of your course. Some programmes offer a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) qualification or a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) qualification. For a PGDip, you'll study 120 credits, and for a PGCert, you'll study 60 credits.

Water in the Environment

This module will introduce you to the physical processes- both hydrological and hydraulic-that govern how water moves through the landscape. Understanding the flow paths that water follows and the speed of its movement are key to identifying the causes of flooding and, further, to managing flood risk through adaptation and building resilience when flooding cannot be avoided. You will be introduced to practical skills for measuring hydrology and hydraulics to understand how data are collected for flood estimation and prediction.

Core•20 credits

Flood Impacts: Living with Floods

Flood hazards have many different causes from rivers and coasts through to groundwater and sewers. These hazards vary by place and will change in the future as a result of climate change. In this module, we use field-based case studies to look at flood alleviation schemes and SUstainable Drainage Schemes (SUDS) to understand how we can reduce different types of flood risk.

Core•20 credits

Flood Resilience: Living with Water

Floods cannot be prevented and climate change means that flood risk is likely to increase. Economic and practical limitations mean that we cannot just build higher and higher walls to hold back floodwaters and therefore we have to introduce innovative approaches to building local, regional and national flood resilience. Living with Water is essential for flood risk management in the 21^st Century and this module will build on local expertise to show why Hull was chosen as one of five cities in the Global City Water Resilience Framework.

Core•20 credits

Modelling Flood Events

Numerical models are essential tools for Flood Risk Managers. They can be used to model innovative solutions to flood risk and enable prediction of flood events. However, they are also limited by the modelled processes they represent, and the data used to configure a model. This module will give students the understanding to use numerical models effectively and rigorously interpret the outputs from numerical models. It will be taught practically to ensure it is accessible to students with different levels of experience.

Core•20 credits

Flood Adaptation and Mitigation

Using real world case studies, we will study different approaches to managing flood risk - from concrete walls through to the various Natural Flood Management techniques. You will see how flood risks can be reduced by slowing the flow or building walls to hold back the water. Experts will explain how different schemes are designed and implemented to show how different approaches can be used in different situations.

Core•20 credits

Managing Flood Incidents

The impact of flooding on society can be significant. Effective responses can reduce the negative impacts when flood defences are breached. This module examines flood events and the response of agencies to flood events. Ultimately, floods cannot be prevented and all those involved in flood risk management need to understand how to respond to flood events and minimise their impact, including communicating with the general public before, during and after flood events.

Core•20 credits

Flood Risk Management Dissertation Project

The dissertation project provides the opportunity for every student to focus on a topic that interests them. It is a unique opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of flood risk management and potentially to build links with future employers by working on projects relevant to flood risk management organisations, such as government agencies or Local Authorities.

Core•60 credits

7 Modules

This course is accredited by

Our academics

Your learning will be informed by the Energy and Environment Institute’s research and industry links.

We’re working with partners including national agencies, water companies, local authorities and other universities on innovative flood research such as Living With Water, EvoFlood and Risky Cities.

See more academics for this subject

Featured academic

Dr Steven Forrest

Steven’s specialisms include flood resilience, climate resilience and disaster resilience. His international research experience includes previous roles at UJEP in the Czech Republic and the University of Groningen.

Featured academic

Dr Robert Thomas

Senior Research Fellow in Geomorphology and Flood Risk, Rob’s experience includes research and technical positions in the UK and internationally including a geomorphologist role at the US Government’s National Sedimentation Laboratory, Mississippi.

Entry requirements

UK
International

What do I need?

Typical offer

2:1 in any subject area

Additional entry requirements for this course

Applicants should also have GCSE Maths or equivalent. We are looking for a real interest and passion for flood risk management and will consider applicants from all backgrounds.

If you’re an undergraduate student at Hull, you’re guaranteed a fast-track route to this postgraduate degree, as long as you meet the entry requirements.

In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved.

What do I need?

Typical offer

2:1 in any subject area

Additional entry requirements for this course

Applicants should also have GCSE Maths or equivalent. We are looking for a real interest and passion for flood risk management and will consider applicants from all backgrounds.

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

This course requires academic IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each skill. See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by the University of Hull.

If your English currently does not reach the University’s required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

Fees & funding

UK
International

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
Optional field trips
Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
Student visas (international students)
Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want your own)
Printing and photocopying
Professional-body membership
Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
Optional field trips
Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
Student visas (international students)
Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want your own)
Printing and photocopying
Professional-body membership
Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

Our scholarships

We offer a number of awards, bursaries and scholarships for eligible students. They’re awarded for a variety of reasons including academic achievement and/or to help those on lower incomes.

Scholarships and bursaries are separate to student loans. And the best bit is, you don’t pay a penny back.

Find out more about our scholarships

International Scholarships and Bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries for international students.

To find out more and see if you're eligible, please visit the International Scholarships and Bursaries page.

See more Scholarships

We offer a range of scholarships and awards to students at the university to help with their financial load.

To view all of our scholarships and determine whether you're eligible, please visit our Scholarships and Awards page

Take a look at our facilities

Flume Laboratory

This is the flume, a device for studying the bodies of water that dominate our planet. It’s a 10-metre-long tank that can simulate a river, a slice of coastline or a cross-section of sea.

SuDSlab UK

You’ll explore how sustainable drainage systems SuDS can be used to slow down surface water and reduce flooding – a living lab which links on-campus and community-based SuDS in a monitoring network.

Total Environment Simulator (TES)

You’ll get access to TES – based at The Deep, this experimental facility is designed for modelling the movement of water and sediment under a wide range of environmental conditions.

Brynmor Jones Library

Our seven-storey library is a superb learning space. As well as more than a million books, there’s a variety of study areas, over 400 open-access PCs and one amazing view.

See more in our virtual tour

Look around

The Deep (Credit - Sean Spencer, Hull News & Pictures)

Look around

Future prospects

You’ll graduate with the skills you need for a career in flood risk management.

With an uncertain future climate, and a current skills gap in flood management, there’s a strong demand for professionals who can increase flood resilience. You could go on to work within a range of sectors including local authorities, industry, consultancy, government, academia and non-governmental organisations.

The variety of roles you could go onto is broad with examples including flood modelling, flood risk analysis, flood policy, civil engineering, or development, planning and permitting. You can also go on to a PhD or research careers in the field.

Your next steps

Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.

Make your application online now, and our admissions team will get back to you as soon as possible to make you an offer.

How to apply

Not ready to apply?

We regularly deliver virtual and on-campus events to help you discover your perfect postgraduate course, whether it’s a subject you already love or something completely different. Our events are an opportunity for you to chat to tutors and current students and find out about the career options a postgraduate degree could lead to.

Discover more

Flood Risk Management