MSc in Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation

Programme overview

The trend of increasing disasters and related losses is a truly global challenge. The changing global risk landscape due to processes such as climate change, urbanisation, and the increasing complexity of modern society poses major challenges for sustainable development and must be addressed with an interdisciplinary approach. A growing number of governments and international organisations acknowledge the necessity to increase their efforts in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation in order to successfully adjust to changing environments and develop safe and sustainable societies.

The Master’s programme in Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation has support from important national and international institutions, e.g. UN agencies, the Red Cross/ Red Crescent movement, NGOs and national authorities.

The programme contributes to meeting the need for qualified professionals who can:

• Contribute to resilient and sustainable societies through the use of interdisciplinary concepts, methods and tools within disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.
• Apply skills in risk assessment, capacity assessment, preparedness and contingency planning, and risk-based land-use planning.
• Work with capacity development and project management for disaster risk management and climate change adaptation in local, national and international organisations or agencies.
• Utilise and contribute to research in this field.

The programme offers a mix of practical and theoretical learning with a strong focus on group work and interaction between students and teaching staff as well as with important actors within this field of study. Examples of the latter are involvement of experts from national and international organisations in some of the courses and the possibility of taking an elective internship-based course. The programme has connections with potential hosts for interns and students conducting research for their Master’s thesis within the UN-system, the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement and Governmental agencies on different administrative levels in various parts of the world.

Students come from all over the world and from various academic disciplines, such as engineering science, social science, political science, natural science and environmental science. Even if previous work experience is not a requirement to enter the programme, most of our students have professional or volunteer experience.

Lund University – Sweden's Top-Ranked University

Lund University was founded in 1666 and has 40 000 students and 8 000 employees. It offers more than 130 Master’s programmes and 10 Bachelor’s programmes taught in English .

Lund is Sweden’s most attractive study destination. The University offers one of the broadest ranges of programmes and courses in Scandinavia, based on cross-disciplinary and cutting-edge research. A degree from Lund University is a hallmark of quality both in Sweden and abroad.

Subject areas

Our nine faculties and many specialised research centres offer education in the following subject areas:

• Architecture & Design
• Area Studies
• Business, Economics & Management
• Engineering & Technology
• Environment & Sustainability
• Fine & Performing Arts
• Humanities & Languages
• Law
• Medicine & Health
• Science
• Service Management
• Social Sciences

Research

Lund is home to over 30 world-leading research environments and is home to two of Europe's largest materials research facilities: MAX IV (inaugurated in 2016) and ESS (to open in 2023). Lund University is also a member of the prestigious research-intensive university networks Universitas 21 (U21) , the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and the European University Alliance for Global Health (EUGLOH).

Teaching style

Critical thinking and freedom of mind are the cornerstones of academic life at Lund University. A focus on group work in more informal, open class environments facilitates learning, creates a dialogue and helps generate new ideas.

Lund is an international meeting place for students and researchers alike. This creates global class environments where students gain new cultural perspectives and can develop their international networks, which are highly valued by employers worldwide.

Students in Lund are given excellent opportunities for business interaction . The city of Lund has a unique, world-class environment for technology, knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurship and hosts an impressive breadth of international companies.

Student Life

Lund is the #1 choice for international students coming to Sweden and is considered the best student city in Sweden, with its unique combination of large social clubs (the historic 'nations'), student unions and the Academic Society creating a vibrant and active student life.

City of Lund

Located in southern Sweden, the city of Lund is just 10 minutes by train to Sweden’s third largest city, Malmö, and only 35 minutes by train to Copenhagen Airport in Denmark.

As one of the oldest cities in Sweden, dating back to 990, Lund is a city of contrasts where over 1 000 years of history blend with modern knowledge and ideas. In Lund, you find the charm of a small, picturesque, cobble-stoned city, side-by-side with big city attractions such as services, shopping, restaurants and cultural events. Lund is also home to major international companies such as Sony Mobile, Tetra Pak, Ericsson, Alfa Laval and Gambro.

English is widely spoken in Sweden and Lund (90% of Swedes are fluent) , meaning that you can experience a unique European culture without experiencing a language barrier.

Learn more about Lund University

For more information, please visit www.lunduniversity.lu.se

For more information, please visit You can also ask questions via our web form at lunduniversity.lu.se/degree-studies or find us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. You can also listen to Lund University International Podcast!