Top hazard scientists at UCL and other leading academic institutions have worked with the Under 35s reinsurance group and market professionals, to develop this targeted and flexible course designed to address the needs of the insurance market. The programme is part-time and taught within three blocks over a period of 10 months. Total course length is 600 hours, of which 140 hours is 'contact time' with tutors. This takes the form of lectures, seminars, and discussions. The balance is made up of directed reading, essay writing, problem-solving exercises and the preparation of an independent project report. Out-of-office time is limited to 16 afternoons during the taught part of the programme. Strong emphasis is placed on developing an improved understanding of natural hazards - the nature of available data, the conclusions we can draw from them, limitations, and relevant cutting-edge research. Content focuses on hazards of most interest to the market - windstorm, flood and quake - but also addresses geotechnical issues such as radioactive waste, contaminated land, ground water rise, and dam safety.

The two 8 week taught modules - Geological & Geotechnical Hazards and Meteorological Hazards - are timetabled to run, respectively, in October-November and January-March, thereby avoiding - as much as possible - the year-end renewal season. The Independent Project is undertaken during March-June. Classes during the 2007 - 8 academic year will be held on Monday evenings from 6-8pm and from 2-7pm on Thursdays.

Who teaches the programme ?

The programme is staffed by a mix of UCL academics from the Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre and other departments, academics from other institutions with hazard research expertise, including the British Geological Survey, Birkbeck College, the University of East Anglia, and Imperial College London, and from industry and market practitioners.