MSc Risk Management

You'll become part of a specialist but diverse student community, experiencing a truly international working environment, learning from peers and teaching staff from around the world, gaining real insight into the major similarities and differences in approaches to global risk management.

You will develop:

• the ability to engage critically with contemporary theoretical concepts, strategies, policies and practices of risk management
• skills to apply the knowledge, approaches and methods to address operational and strategic risk management challenges in an international context;
• a theoretical and practical understanding of real world issues, from an international perspective, identifying responsible decision making and ethically driven behaviours;
• a critical understanding of research techniques and methodologies and apply these to an independent research project relating to an appropriate topic;
• personal and transferable skills related to independent research, problem solving, critical thinking, group working, ICT, employability skills and inter-personal communication.

Download the Programme Specification for a detailed breakdown of its structure, what you will learn and other useful information.

All entry requirements listed here should be used as a guide and represent the minimum required to be considered for entry. Applicants who are made a conditional offer of a place may be asked to achieve more than is stated.

Typical entry requirements

UK honours degree 2:2 (or equivalent). Fast-track option available with the Institute of Risk Management’s International Diploma in Risk Management.

English language

Academic IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) with no element below 5.5.

Please note: if you are from a majority English speaking country, you may not be required to provide further proof of your English Language proficiency.

Additional information

International Diploma in Risk Management

Holders of the Institute of Risk Managements International Diploma in Risk Management can access the MSc through successful completion of two 15 credit modules plus the 60 credit research methods and dissertation module. This can be achieved over one academic year.

Other academic and vocational qualifications

Each application to GCU is considered on an individual basis. If you do not have the typical academic entry qualifications, but can demonstrate relevant work experience and/or credits from recognised professional bodies, you may be eligible to enter this course via the University's Recognition of Prior Learning scheme.

International pathways

Entry options for international applicants

If you are an international applicant and do not meet the academic requirements above you may be eligible for an International Graduate Diploma or Pre-sessional pre-masters programme at INTO Glasgow. Based in our Glasgow campus, successful completion of an INTO course with the required grades provides you with a guaranteed conditional offer of a place on this degree.

The tuition fees you pay are mostly determined by your fee status. What is my student fee status?

Tuition fees 2019/20

Home: £5500
RUK: £5500
EU: £5500
International: £12980

Part-time and distance learning tuition fees

Part-time and distance-learning fees can be paid annually or on a module by module basis.

View part-time and distance learning fees for 2019/20.

Fees are subject to change and published here for guidance only. Fees and refund policy.

Additional costs

As a student at the University, there are additional fees and costs which may or may not apply to you, but that you should be aware of.

View additional costs

Scholarships

We provide high-quality education for a fair price; as the University for the Common Good, we are committed to offering accessible higher education for talented students by keeping our tuition fees low and providing a generous scholarship package of over £2.5 million per year.

View our Postgraduate scholarships.

A Santander fee scholarship of £5,000 is available to study a full time Masters level programme at GCU. Find out more.

Contemporary Issues in Insurance

The module is structured around four key topics: an introduction to the basic principles of risk financing, a detailed examination of insurance theory, critical analysis of insurance -practice, and an examination of contemporary risk issues and the global insurance marketplace. Through consideration of contemporary examples, we will underline how insurance is utilised in real world situations in response to contemporary risk issues.

Financial Securities Analysis

The module aims to develop a critical awareness of the financial risks inherent in financial markets and analyse the products which are used to manage these risks. You will be able to carry out a comparative analysis of the different types of fund management, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages, be able to critically analyse the methods of asset pricing which are available and ultimately create and justify your selection of various investment portfolios.

Risk and Organisational Resilience

This module introduces you to key theoretical concepts and risk management processes and practices and the role these play in building organisational resilience. It will provide you with a thorough understanding of current thinking on risk management strategy, culture, and operations, while considering cutting edge risk issues.

Global Perspectives on Risk

This module will enable you to understand the concepts and context of international business and critically analyse a wide range of risks such as; managerial, cultural, political, ethical and economic which impact on these businesses. You will also evaluate a range of risk management strategies and tactics available to these international businesses in preparation for your future career.

Risk Analysis and Modelling

This module will equip the student with highly sought-after practical risk analysis and modelling skills to allow you to confidently assess, model and predict risk. You will develop real-world applicable skills and utility from an organisational perspective; with real data examples, you can model and calculate financial risk concerns such as credit/bankruptcy risk. In addition, you will be shown how to construct a non-financial risk model for assessing practical risk of any type of scenario, based on a qualitative assessment of risk.

Business Continuity and Crisis Management

The module will examine business continuity management (BCM) and crisis management in the context of a wider risk management strategy. Using the BCM lifecycle it will demonstrate how to undertake an analysis of the business environment, prepare analytical frameworks, implement BCM system and ensure that a process of regular monitoring, testing and exercising takes place. The importance of embedding BCM in organisational culture is discussed as a key element of this entire process. This module also examines the implementation of crisis management and communication strategies before and after a crisis event in order to mitigate or soften its impact.

Ethics, Governance and Responsible Leadership

By examining the private, public and social enterprise sectors, you will be equipped with a set of analytical tools and concepts to drive responsible decision-making, whilst highlighting the difference between compliance and ethically driven behaviours. You will gain a theoretical and practical understanding of real world issues, from a UK and global perspective, and learn from the PRME related principles and the Common Good attributes which are central to this module.

Applied Professional Practice

Following on from the knowledge you have gained in Ethics, Governance and Responsible Leadership and with a focus on self-reflection, in this module you will develop your professional competence by undertaking a professional engagement activity. The link between these two core modules reinforces the significance of ethical and responsible decision making and leadership within your future career.

Masters Research Project

The final element of the programme is the Masters Research Project which provides you with an opportunity to design and undertake a piece of original research. You will apply methods and theories that are commonly used within the field of risk management and with the support of internationally published literature demonstrate best practice in this field.

For new international students, particular care is taken around our induction events which begin on 13 September 2019 to welcome you to the UK and GCU prior to the start of teaching. There will be a whole host of fun and informative activities taking place during this period, including campus tours, city tours and social events where you can meet other international students. Where possible, we encourage you to arrange travel to allow you to arrive in time to enjoy these.

Find out more about international life at GCU.

During the course your will be tested on subject knowledge, independent thought and creativity. This is done through a balance of coursework assessments and seminar participation, through individual as well as group work.

Having a recognised degree level risk management qualification will give you access to a career in any industry sector. Our risk graduates have successfully secured employment in both public and private sector organisations across a wide range of industry sectors ranging from finance to pharmaceuticals.

Written in collaboration with the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and the Institute of Risk Management (IRM), this masters programme gains you 60 credits towards the Advanced Diploma in Insurance (ADII) and exemptions towards the IRMs International Diploma in Risk Management. In addition, you will benefit from our long standing relationships with internationally recognised professional bodies and employers.