Postgraduate Diploma in Disaster Risk Management and Development

Learn how to reduce disaster risks, build community resilience, and manage disaster response and recovery.

Passionate about sustainable development, community resilience or humanitarian response? Do you want a career in emergency and disaster risk management, or are already working in the field? The Postgraduate Diploma in Disaster Risk Management and Development prepares you for managing increasingly complex disaster risks, now and in the future.

Topics you’ll study include disasters and development, environmental change and humanitarian action, building community resilience, and communications in emergency and disaster.

Download programme guides

Minimum entry requirements

Completed one of the following; or equivalent:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Relevant professional qualification or experience approved by the Dean (or representative) to be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree

International student entry requirements

Other requirements

  • Submit evidence of ability to study at postgraduate level in this field
  • Provide evidence of current professional practice
  • May be required to complete relevant prerequisite courses as specified by the Board of Studies

English language requirements

  • IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with no band less than 6.0

English language requirements

The programme aligns with global and national best practice, and is committed to advance community wellbeing by reducing risks. It focuses on socially and culturally appropriate approaches to disaster risk management, resilience-building in the face of climate change, as well as improved building codes and better ecosystem protection to reduce disaster risk and support sustainable development.

All courses are offered via flexible learning, with block courses on campus and online teaching and learning. This is convenient if you live in Auckland and prefer flexible learning modules. It may also work if you live outside of Auckland, or balance your studies with your work.

Complete the following courses

Semester 1 course

Semester 2 courses

And choose 75 points from

Semester 1 courses

Semester 2 courses

Summer semester

Other relevant optional courses may be available, with the approval of the programme leader. Optional courses may be selected from other relevant subject areas.

Skills you will develop

The outcomes for graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma in Disaster Risk Management and Development are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.

Graduate Profile

Practice as a health professional in New Zealand is governed by legislation and a number of ‘Responsible Authorities’ (such as the NZ Psychologist Board, Physiotherapy Board and the Nursing Council who register practitioners). Overseas qualified health professionals who wish to practise in New Zealand should communicate directly with the relevant Responsible Authority. Qualifications recognised for professional registration at AUT are undergraduate; study at postgraduate level is not considered equivalent recognition for NZ Board certification.

Quick facts
Programme code:
AK1015
Level:
8
Points:
120
Duration:
1 year full-time / part-time available
Campus:
South Campus *
* Courses are offered via flexible learning, which involves on-campus block courses and online learning.
Starts:
15 Jul 2024
3 Mar 2025
21 Jul 2025

Key semester dates
Fees
Domestic
$10,607 (for 120 points)
($9,461 tuition fees + $1146 student services levy)
International
$43,046 (for 120 points)
($41,900 tuition fees + $1146 student services levy)
  • Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
  • Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
  • There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay.
  • International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.

Scholarships

The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.