Université Côte d’Azur (UniCA)
MSc in Environmental Hazards and Risks Management
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
EUR 5,500 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
The MSc environmental hazards and risks management provides skills in risk management, and more particularly in risk modeling, to better predict and manage environmental hazards and risks. The program combines recent research with GIS and remote sensing technologies to train a generation of thinkers capable of anticipating and mitigating a wide range of natural hazards in a multi-disciplinary approach. On completion of the degree, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of risk management components such as planning, mitigation, monitoring, scenario modeling, and warning systems.
The Nice Côte d’Azur area provides a multitude of field sites that can be investigated to discover monitoring and mitigation strategies that are applicable throughout the world. In addition, there is a wide range of digital data available such as high-resolution aerial and satellite imagery, Digital Elevation Models, and raster and vector GIS databases describing land cover, building units, vegetation, and stream networks. The context is therefore propitious to modeling hazards and risks both spatially and temporally using GIS and remote sensing.
The structure of our program is fundamentally different compared to that of traditional French degree programs. Our program consists mainly of thematic modules, each taught over a period of a few weeks, where students work intensively on one risk topic (e.g. floods, forest fires, earthquakes) in order to deepen their knowledge and understanding of that topic.
The program is taught entirely in English, which makes it accessible to international students from many varied backgrounds. Our small class size allows students to get to know each other better and get more one-on-one attention from their teacher. Students have direct access to lecturers if they wish to discuss their studies or get help.
Program Outcome
If you decide to join us you will:
- Learn from leading academics and private sector experts who bring their professional experience into the classroom.
- Gain teamwork and collaboration skills by working on projects in small teams with other students.
- Learn how to use innovative geospatial tools such as remote sensing and GIS software and programming languages such as Python and R to manipulate and extract information from geospatial data.
- Experience learning through field trips to practice your skills and better understand the reality on the ground.
Career Opportunities
Upon completion of the program, MSc Environmental Hazards and Risks Management graduates will have a comprehensive understanding of various risk management components, including planning, mitigation, monitoring, scenario modeling, and warning systems.
This program will equip you to work for national and international organizations such as environmental management agencies, urban planning agencies, consulting firms, and humanitarian organizations.
Possible roles include:
- Environmental Consultant
- Remote sensing engineer
- Risk management consultant
- GIS data manager for risk assessment and mitigation
- Federal/Municipal employee in risk management
You could also choose to pursue a PhD, either at the Université Côte d'Azur or at another university.
Curriculum
Our two-year program is organized in 4 semesters (30 ECTS credits each). It allows a gradual acquisition of skills, with the 1st semester dedicated to ensuring that students coming from a wide range of scientific disciplines have the theoretical and methodological fundamentals needed to address the risk modules.
Semester 2 includes a 3-month internship and semester 4 is dedicated to a 6-month internship. Internships can take place in France or abroad, depending on the student's preference.
Semester 1
Theoretical courses
- Risk management overview
- Principles of ecology
- Environmental chemistry
Methodological courses
- Geographic Information Systems
- Remote sensing
- Statistics
- Elements of Mathematics
Semester 2
Risk modules
- Earthquakes and Tsunamis
- Agricultural risks
- Land Use/Cover Change
Special topics
- Climate change
- Inorganic soil & water pollution
3-month internship
Semester 3
Risk modules
- Flooding
- Forest fires
- Ecological Issues
- Mass Movements
Special topics
- Crisis Management
- Business & Project management
- Introduction to Industrial Risks
Semester 4
6-month internship
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Gallery
Scholarships and Funding
IDEX Scholarships for International MSc Programs
Each year Université Côte d'Azur awards 10 Idex scholarships to the best MSc candidates. The recipients of these grants of excellence will be exempt from tuition fees and will receive a stipend of €5,000.
To be eligible, students will have to apply to one of Université Côte d'Azur's international programs listed below:
- European Masters Molecular Pathology
- MSc Biobanks and complex data management
- MSc Data science and artificial intelligence
- MSc Biocontrol solution for plant health
- MSc Modeling of neuronal and cognitive systems
- MSc Environmental hazards and risks management
- MSc Music scoring for visual media and sound design
- MSc Management of the flavor and fragrance industry
- MSc MARRES, ocean science, conservation and innovation (Science and Society)
- MSc SMART-EDTECH
France Excellence Europa Scholarship Program
International students from 26 European countries may be awarded the France Excellence Europa scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree at Université Côte d’Azur for a maximum period of 12 months (M2) and 24 months (M1).
EIFFEL Scholarship Program of Excellence
The Eiffel Scholarship program is a tool developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enable French higher education institutions to attract the best foreign students to graduate programs at the master's and doctoral levels.