QUALIFICATION
Master’s Degree (Level 9, 120 or 180 points)
Duration
1 year
Location
City Campus
Fees
NZD 55,864
Entry Score
IELTS: Academic 6.5
Next Intake
March & July
Programme Overview
The Master of Disaster Management (MDisMgt) at the University of Auckland is a 120-point or 180-point postgraduate degree designed to equip future leaders with core skill sets in disaster resilience and risk management. Cross-disciplinary by design, the curriculum draws expertise from engineering, science, environmental law, public health, architecture, and development studies to train practitioners who can analyze complex hazards and implement sustainable risk reduction policies in high-pressure environments.
Note: A core component of the programme is an independent 45-point research project, enabling students to apply critical analysis to real-world disaster management challenges.
Programme Pathways
The MDisMgt offers structured entry pathways depending on prior qualifications:
- 120-Point Pathway (1 Year Full-Time): Designed for applicants holding a 4-year Bachelor (Honours) degree or equivalent postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline. Focuses on core disaster frameworks, project management, and a major research project.
- 180-Point Pathway (1.5 Years Full-Time): Designed for holders of a standard 3-year Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Combines foundational disaster management electives with advanced core modules and research work.
- Research Integration: Includes a compulsory 45-point research project (DISMGT 704) spanning one or two semesters, carried out under expert academic supervision.
What You'll Study
The curriculum bridges physical geohazards, risk governance, public health response, and project execution:
- Compulsory Core Modules:
- DISMGT 701: Disaster Risk Management (15 points)
- DISMGT 703: Disaster Management and Resilience (15 points)
- Project Management Core:
- ENGGEN 742: Project Management or ENGGEN 731: Agile and Lean Project Management (15 points)
- Compulsory Research Component:
- DISMGT 704: Disaster Management Research Project (45 points)
- Multidisciplinary Electives (Select 30–75 points):
- CIVIL 729: Humanitarian Engineering
- ENGGEN 726: Climate Adaptation of Infrastructure
- EARTHSCI 705: Geohazards
- POPLHLTH 715: Global Public Health
- LAWENVIR 716: Resource Management Law
- PROFSUPV 710: Stress and Trauma in Health and Human Services
Why Choose This Programme?
- Cross-Faculty Expertise: Integrates insights from Engineering, Architecture, Science, Law, and Public Health to address multi-faceted crisis scenarios.
- Applied Research Focus: Solve active, real-world problems in risk management through an in-depth 45-point research project.
- Broad Discipline Access: Accepts qualified graduates from diverse academic backgrounds, including engineering, social sciences, health, and law.
Career Pathways
| Sector | Roles |
|---|---|
| Civil Defence & Government | Civil Defence Manager, Emergency Preparedness Specialist, Government Policy Adviser |
| Humanitarian & NGOs | Humanitarian Field Worker, Disaster Resilience Specialist, Crisis Response Lead |
| Consulting & Risk Analysis | Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist, Geohazards Analyst, Infrastructure Risk Consultant |
Entry Requirements
- Academic Minimums: Minimum GPA/GPE of 5.0 (B average) in required undergraduate stages.
- Pathway Validation: 120-point option requires a 4-year Honours degree; 180-point option accepts a standard 3-year Bachelor's degree across any discipline.
- Academic Performance Standard: Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 4.0 across their initial 45 points of taught coursework to proceed with the research project component.
- Language Requirement: Academic IELTS 6.5 overall (no band < 6.0), PTE 58 (no communicative score < 50), or TOEFL iBT 90.
