Reducing the impact of disasters globally and humanitarian crises presents a huge challenge that requires co-ordinated and collaborative action. This programme is designed for PhD students who wish to improve humanity's understanding of risk and to overcome the scientific, engineering, technical, social, health and political barriers to increasing resilience to disasters. Students learn how to conduct original, cross-disciplinary and international scientific research with significant, positive societal impact within an intellectually and globally diverse student body. There is a focus on multi-disciplinary research methods – in the laboratory, on site, talking to people, analysing documents, conceptual analysis, and others depending on the nature of the research – and employing theoretical, statistical, modelling, social survey and desk-based techniques. Students' skills in research, teaching, public engagement, communications, consultancy, and knowledge exchange are emphasised.