Our MSc in Geophysical Hazards investigates the processes that turn natural events into hazards, from volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and landslides to floods, tsunamis and hurricanes. It provides an essential grounding for all fields of hazard study, from pure research to applications in the commercial and humanitarian sectors.
Our course offers a specialised focus on quantitative and qualitative models for hazard forecasting and assessment, and demonstrates how knowledge of the controlling processes is vital for improving decision-making during emergencies, for raising awareness among vulnerable communities, and for evaluating and implementing mitigation strategies.
The course will be particularly attractive to those seeking or advancing a career in natural hazards — including hazard and risk management, environmental monitoring, emergency planning, and catastrophe-related finance — and to academics and professionals considering a career move into the rewarding field of hazard and risk science.
Our course provides specialist training in investigating the processes that drive natural hazards, through evaluating models of their behaviour and understanding how these models can be used, improving resilience and informing policy. You will develop transferable skills in critical analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, verbal and written reasoning, field observation, and the use of programming languages and Geographical Information Systems.
Graduates from this course have followed careers in global insurance and reinsurance, or developed careers in other sectors, ranging from non-governmental organisations, through teaching, to the fields of emergency planning and environmental management. Many of our graduates also go on to pursue a PhD including research in hazard-related studies.
Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of graduates in the 2018–2024 cohorts.
You can find out more about our graduate destinations for this course on our Find out what graduates do? page.
UCL Earth Sciences is world-leading in our field, ranking #6 in the UK in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for Earth and Marine Sciences .
The department is engaged in world-class research in the processes on and within the Earth, atmosphere and planets, with over 90% of submissions rated at 4 or 3* in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.