Beredskap og kriseledelse (Fotot\. Adrian S. Bensvik)
Master’s programme

Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management

Bodø
See study plan Structure/courses

Programme description

The master’s program provides leadership-oriented education for personnel working in emergency preparedness and crisis management. It is designed for leaders and others involved in safety and preparedness efforts across the public, private, and voluntary sectors, as well as professionals within the civilian and military emergency preparedness systems.

Career opportunities

The programme provides knowledge, skills and competences required for management positions related to preparedness and emergency management both in civilian and government companies and institutions, as well as in the emergency response agencies. The master program has a management perspective and is relevant for students who have management experience or other relevant professional experience in the field, and who wish to strengthen their academic skills.

Teaching methods

There are typically three to four sessions per semester, each lasting between one and three days, in total approximately ten days of instruction per semester. Some sessions are held in Bodø, while others are conducted digitally.

The study program is experience-based, and much of the learning takes place through student interaction, where participants discuss their professional experiences in relation to the theoretical frameworks presented in the various courses. The teaching approach is student-active and emphasizes reflection on practice, tabletop and discussion-based exercises, group work, full-scale simulations, and the use of the emergency management lab Nordlab. Lectures are not streamed because peer-to-peer experience sharing is central to the learning process.

Some parts of the teaching require written assignments if a student is unable to attend. While attendance at the gatherings is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended to participate in as many sessions as possible. In case of absence, the student is responsible for contacting the course coordinator, reviewing the material, participating in any mandatory activities, and compensating with additional assignments if necessary.

This program is taught exclusively in Norwegian. Applicants must meet the Norwegian language requirements in addition to the admission requirements described on the Norwegian program pages.
Exchange opportunities are available within the program. The third semester, which consists of two elective courses, is particularly well-suited for this. The Master’s in Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management is part of the CONRIS – Cooperation Network for Risk & Security Studies. The network organizes an annual summer course, with a limited number of spots reserved for students in the master’s program. The hosting institution for the summer course rotates among the member institutions. Additional exchange opportunities are also available, with some variation from year to year. More detailed information is provided to students admitted to the program.
Experience-based master's degree is not eligible for direct entry to a PhD program. Candidates will normally have to take additional specialized courses within the field of the study in order to be considered for an admission to a PhD program.

A candidate who has completed the education should hav the following learning outcomes, defines in knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge
The candidate has:

  • thorough knowledge of how public and private preparedness systems are organized and advanced knowledge of critical factors influencing preparedness and crisis response in private and public organizations
  • thorough knowledge of and may apply theories of preparedness and emergency management
  • thorough knowledge about organizational learning and strategic competence development , and how emergency prepredness exercises can enhance organizations' crisis management competences
  • knowledge of strategic communication and media management
  • knowledge about digital threats and preparedness

Skills
The candidate is able to:

  • analyze existing theories, methods and principles of preparedness and emergency management and convert this knowledge into practical work with preparedness efforts development in his or her own organization
  • critically reflect upon the preparedness strategies of an organization
  • work with strategies for competence development in preparedness management
  • analyze research problems in the field of preparedness and emergency management and can conduct an independent R&D project under supervision and in accordance with applicable norms for research ethics
  • understand how IT-based management support tools are used in preparedness organizations

General Competence
The candidate is able to:

  • analyze relevant research-based knowledge of management at strategic, operational and tactical level in emergency preparedness organizations
  • discuss relevant academic issues based on his or her own experience
  • acquire competence development knowledge within the field of emergency preparedness management and communicate this within his or her own organization
  • contribute with new creative solutions and to a more innovative preparedness and emergency response system
No tuition fees. Costs for semester registration and course literature apply.
Start semester
Autumn 2026
Study form
Part time
Language
Norwegian
ECTS Credits
90
Study length
3 years
Admission requirements
See the requirements