Flood and Coastal Risk Management

MSc

  • Entry year 2025
  • Duration Part time 2 - 5 years

Overview

In partnership with JBA Consulting, a specialist water environment and flood risk management consultancy, we have developed a part-time programme for water and environmental practitioners focused on the application of technical skills and best practice techniques.

Accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), the programme aims to strengthen your career development prospects in the growing flood and coastal risk management sector.

You will have the opportunity to study eight taught modules (120 credits) and undertake a research project (60 credit module). The modules cover a range of fundamental and innovative topics and are taught jointly with JBA Consulting, the Environment Agency and the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. By drawing upon their expertise, you will develop your specialist skills and experience, alongside insight into the latest ideas and practices within the UK and international flood and coastal risk management sector. These modules may be studied over a two to five year period, to suit your employment commitments.

As part of your study, you will be able to attend field trips and will complete a major project, allowing you to develop and enhance your research, data-handling, evaluation and report writing skills, as well as your ability to communicate and present complex topics to a range of audiences. These highly transferable skills will be invaluable in your career development and progression. The major project will also be an opportunity for you to demonstrate your independent learning, as you put theory into practice and bring together all of the skills, knowledge and experience you have gained. Your project may be undertaken on a topic pertinent to your current employment.

Undertaking both the taught modules and the research project will ensure you have the breadth and depth of knowledge required to successfully contribute to the developing water sector in the UK and internationally. You will be equipped to make informed decisions and progress in your career.

The fees are paid annually for the modules undertaken in that academic year.

Entry requirements

Academic Requirements

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in a science or engineering subject that includes hydrology modules; for example Civil or Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Geography, Natural Sciences, etc.

We may consider applicants with considerable experience and in-work training in hydrology or flood risk. Please contact us for further information.

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

Additional Requirements

As part of your application you also need to provide:

  • A copy of your current CV detailing your hydrology training either in-work or as part of a degree course
  • Two references, ideally from someone who can comment on your academic ability

English Language Requirements

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Pre-master’s programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master’s pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master’s degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Course structure

You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

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Optional

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Fees and funding

Fees are subject to annual increase and are invoiced on a module by module basis. Costs in respect of travel, accommodation and food for the residential school element are additional.


The programme comprises eight modules plus a 60-credit dissertation project. This project may be undertaken with your current employer in the water/environmental sector, with another organisation in the water sector or as part of one of Lancaster's research teams. You may request to transfer your credits from the PgCert/PgDip FCRM programme to the MSc FCRM programme and add the 60-credit dissertation project.

The 2025/26 fee for each standard module is £1,570 and the fee for the LEC.505 project is £4,310. Thus eight modules plus the project if all taken in 2025/26 would be £16,870.

This programme is only available to UK applicants.

General fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

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Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.