Masters degrees in Hydrology offer advanced study of bodies of water, their physical properties and their distribution.
Taught MSc degrees are typical for the field, though research-based MRes and MPhil programmes may be available at some institutions. Entry requirements normally include an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject such as Geography or Marine Science.
Hydrology is concerned with assessment of the natural distribution of water in time and space, and with evaluating the impact of manmade changes on the distribution and quality of this water.
Applied hydrology has traditionally been concerned with floods and water resources. However, hydrologists are increasingly focusing on the problems of pollutant transport in surface water, soils and groundwaters, and wider issues such as the effects of land use and climate change.
Hydrology is strongly multidisciplinary, and this course includes a basic treatment of relevant physical and life sciences, mathematical sciences, and systems analysis.
All of our MSc courses are career-orientated and cover both theoretical background and practical design considerations. Lectures are given mainly by full-time staff but important contributions are made by visiting professors and guest lecturers who are eminent industrialists.
Many of our students continue their studies to undertake research towards a PhD.
For full information on this course, including how to apply, see: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg/civil-engineering/hydrology/
If you have any enquiries you can contact our team at: [email protected]
Hydrology is concerned with assessment of the natural distribution of water in time and space, and with evaluating the impact of manmade changes on the distribution and quality of this water.
Applied hydrology has traditionally been concerned with floods and water resources. However, hydrologists are increasingly focusing on the problems of pollutant transport in surface water, soils and groundwaters, and wider issues such as the effects of land use and climate change.
Hydrology is strongly multidisciplinary, and this course includes a basic treatment of relevant physical and life sciences, mathematical sciences, and systems analysis.
All of our MSc courses are career-orientated and cover both theoretical background and practical design considerations. Lectures are given mainly by full-time staff but important contributions are made by visiting professors and guest lecturers who are eminent industrialists.
Many of our students continue their studies to undertake research towards a PhD.
For full information on this course, including how to apply, see: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg/civil-engineering/hydrology/
If you have any enquiries you can contact our team at: [email protected]
Drylands occupy more than one-third of the earth's land surface, including most of the Middle East and Israel. Dwindling water supplies and deteriorating water quality impede the sustainable development of drylands and the well-being of their growing population. The aim of this program is to introduce students to cutting-edge research and graduate education in water sciences, aimed at improving human life in drylands through technologies and policies for the sustainable use of water resources. Read more about the Master’s Degree in Hydrology and Water Quality
The Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies (AKIS) was established in 1999 as part of the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research (BIDR).
AKIS is located on the Sede Boqer Campus of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The campus is situated within the picturesque Negev Highlands region, some 50 km south of the city of Beer Sheva.
AKIS offers programs for students from all over the world. International students, as well as Israeli students, experience at AKIS a special and unique educational atmosphere.
If you are looking for a unique graduate program in which to study the compelling features of the desert, you have come to the right place!
This course will examine the interactions between climate, hydrology, geomorphology, ecology, biogeochemical cycling, water and habitat quality and biodiversity.
Using a combination of lectures, fieldwork, tutorials, laboratory classes, group projects and an individual research-based thesis, you will be provided with the necessary training and skills for a career in the successful environmental management of rivers.
River systems are under ever increasing pressure through the growing demands of water abstraction and hydroelectric power generation, and suffer recurrent disturbance through diffuse and point source pollutants, drought, flooding and channel modification.
The environmental management of rivers is required to mitigate the effects of these pressures. This requires a holistic understanding of how river systems are structured and function, and of how these systems have been altered by anthropogenic activities. To this end, the course will examine the interactions between climate, hydrology, geomorphology, ecology, biogeochemical cycling, water and habitat quality and biodiversity.
An important aspect of the training will be an understanding of how these interactions act at different spatial and temporal scales to influence the structure and function of ecosystems in running waters. This scientific and technical corpus will allow you to understand and quantify the consequences of natural and anthropogenic disturbance on river systems.
Using a combination of lectures, fieldwork, tutorials, laboratory classes, group projects and an individual research-based thesis, you will be provided with the necessary training and skills for a career in the successful environmental management of rivers, including techniques on assessing their status and approaches to rehabilitate and restore the condition of these globally threatened environments.
This degree will provide direct postgraduate training for students interested in this career direction, as well as providing advanced-level training suitable for further PhD studies in water science.
We are fortunate at Birmingham in having a wide variety of staff within the Water Sciences Research Group with interests in rivers, particularly in the arena of hydroecology, and it is this expertise that will inform the teaching of the modules in River Environments and their Management.
The River Environments and their Management programme involves a core of lectures, tutorials and laboratory classes. This core material is backed up by supplementary material designed to deepen the comprehension of the basic processes, to understand their application in environmental management and industry and to develop an appreciation of both the industrial and environmental management environment.
Examples of activities include:
Using a combination of lectures, fieldwork, tutorials, laboratory classes, group projects and an individual research-based thesis, you will be provided with the necessary training and skills for a career in the successful environmental management of rivers, including techniques on assessing their status and approaches to rehabilitate and restore the condition of these globally threatened environments. You will also gain training in legislation that drives the environmental management of rivers worldwide.
Fieldwork
There are also a number of day-long field trips connected with a variety of modules, in particular Surface Water Hydrology, River Ecology and River Restoration, including a day of learning measurement techniques at the BIFOR field site.
The course is of considerable value if you wish to pursue a career in the river environmental management field or the water industry. It also provides advanced level training if you wish progress on to a PhD.
Currently, due to the large national demand for Water Managers, we have a 100% employment success rate for all our home/EU students, with graduates obtaining employment in the consultancy sector, typically with jobs secured before graduation. Additionally, Environmental Scientists who have spent some time in a branch of the water industry often feel the need for a postgraduate course to give them an overall understanding of their profession. The River Environments and their Management programme is so structured as to satisfy the requirements of both of these groups of potential students, the latter includes many International students who choose to retrain here in Birmingham.
Are you interested in working on solutions for environmental issues like water scarcity and quality, soil degradation, food supply, loss of biodiversity, vulnerability to severe weather and climate change? Join the master's Earth & Environment in Wageningen to help the next generations of scientists to find solutions for these issues confronting the way we look after our planet, now and in the future!
During the two-year master programme, you become a well-rounded specialist in the fields of (a) hydrology and water resources; (b) meteorology and air quality; (c) biological and chemical aspects of soil and water; or (d) soil geography and earth surface dynamics. Furthermore, you also gain a broad view of the interactions in the critical zone where the different spheres meet. Subjects studied range from micro to global scale; they are closely related to the innovative research and applications of ten leading research groups. Read more about the Background of the programme.
Within the master's programme you can choose one of the following Specialisations to meet your personal interests.
The best way to get to know a place is by getting to know the people. Students share their experiences with you about the master's programme and student life in Wageningen on the page student experiences.
Graduates from this programme are well equipped with the knowledge and skills to continue their academic training as a PhD student, or to start a career as a scientific professional at universities, research institutes and consultancies. Depending on their specialization, graduates may take up positions as meteorologists, hydrologists, water quality scientists or soil scientists in the public or private sector. Read more about career perspectives and opportunities after finishing the programme.
Related programmes:
MSc Management, Economics and Consumer Studies
MSc International Land and Water Management
An international programme for future water managers, combining ecology, hydrology and socio-economics.
What is the best way to handle invasive species in a river ecosystem? Or how do you protect a city like New Orleans from floods? In this double degree programme, you’ll learn to tackle these kinds of problems on the basis of ecological, hydrological and social-economic aspects. We focus on ecological solutions, which are often more effective than technical adjustments. Think of estuaries with sea grass fields breaking the waves instead of reinforcing dikes, or self-purification of drainage-basins, making dredging unnecessary.
If you follow the TWM double degree programme, you don’t have to choose between ecology and hydrology. On the one hand, you’ll learn to classify different ecosystems, analyse ecological data and assess the impact of various stressors. On the other hand, you’ll get the technical background to calculate water flow properties and work with flood management models. So upon graduation, you’ll have all the required knowledge for a career in water management.
Apart from the natural sciences, the programme offers multiple courses in water governance, and the social, economical and philosophical aspects of water management. This widens your perspective and provides you with the tools to bridge the gap between science and society.
The Master’s specialisation in Transnational Ecosystem-based Water Management (TWM) is partly taught at Radboud University and partly at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany. This means that you’ll profit from the expertise at two universities and become familiar with different cultures and research approaches. And after successful completion of the programme, you'll receive a German and a Dutch diploma. With that broad background, our graduates often find a job as manager or project leader, with an all-encompassing view in national or international water-related projects.
Although the universities are only about 100 kilometres apart, you’ll certainly notice a cultural difference. Hence, following this programme not only means you’ll profit from both of their expertises, you’ll also experience a rapid personal growth. We notice that our students are very independent in finding their way around and performing research, are not afraid of new challenges and are well-trained in (international) communication skills.
Visit http://www.ru.nl/masters/twm for more information about the programme and to start your application today.
High levels of rainfall and devastating floods plague communities around the world. Developing Masters-level skills and knowledge, you will engage with flood risk management challenges and learn about how we can overcome them.
In partnership with JBA Consulting, a specialist water environment and flood risk management consultancy, we have developed a part-time programme for water and environmental practitioners focused on the application of technical skills and best practice techniques. Accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), the programme aims to strengthen your career development prospects in the flood and coastal risk management sector.
You will have the opportunity to study eight taught modules and undertake a research project. The modules cover a range of fundamental and innovative topics and are taught jointly with JBA Consulting, the Environment Agency and the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. By drawing upon their expertise, you will develop your specialist skills and experience, alongside insight into the latest ideas and practices within the UK and international flood and coastal risk management sector. These modules will be studied flexibly over a two to five year period, to suit your career commitments.
As part of your study, you will be able to attend a field course and will complete a major project, allowing you to develop and enhance your research, data-handling, evaluation and report writing skills, as well as your ability to communicate and present complex topics to a range of audiences. These highly applicable skills will be invaluable in your career development and progression.
The major project will also be an opportunity for you to demonstrate your independent learning, as you put theory into practice and bring together all of the skills, knowledge and experience you have gained.
Undertaking both the taught modules and the research project will ensure you have the breadth and depth of knowledge required to successfully engage with and contribute to the industry. You will be equipped to make informed decisions, progress in your career, or continue into PhD study and research.
You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.
Core
Optional
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research.
With a strong emphasis on practical study, you will be taught by both University academics and industry professionals, and will gain the key skills and professional training required for a rewarding career as a practitioner or researcher.
Our programme is unique in that it is taught jointly by University academics and professionals from leading environmental consultancy JBA Consulting, the Environment Agency and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, which has a one of its major research facilities based at Lancaster. Graduates gain the skills and knowledge to progress careers with a water consultancy, water regulator, water company or research organisation.
You will study six modules and complete a dissertation project. The jointly-taught core modules have been professionally accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management and will provide you with the key skills of a water professional by addressing the principles of catchment hydrology, sustainable surface water management, groundwater assessment, methods of catchment protection, principles of lake ecology, managing coastal flooding, flood forecasting, the design of river structures and the restoration of river channels. Optional modules covering wider environmental and social science skills are also available.
Practical work is an important component of the programme, with modules including challenging fieldwork in Cumbrian and Lancashire catchments, and laboratory work involving the use of flumes, water quality analyses and computer models.
We encourage you to undertake your dissertation research project with an external partner in the water sector or as an integral part of our ongoing research activities in water resources. Each year we offer a large selection of possible projects with external partnership or internship opportunities including JBA Consulting, the Environment Agency, United Utilities and many other organisations. We also welcome projects that strengthen your existing partnerships. You will be supervised by one of our active researchers with relevant expertise.
Examples of recent dissertation topics are:
You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.
Core
Optional
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research.
Coursework, presentations, examinations and dissertation
Around the world, the quality and quantity of water in streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and underground is significantly affected by human activity. At Cranfield University, we capitalise on our industry connections to provide students with the up-to-date skills and knowledge needed to tackle these challenges in a career in today’s environmental water management sector.
The course is ideal for graduates wishing to develop the expertise needed to solve environmental water management problems. It is designed to complement and expand your existing knowledge of science, policy and practice, making it suitable for students from a range of backgrounds. Recent students have joined us from undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in engineering (civil, hydraulic, agricultural), physical geography, chemistry and environmental sciences, as well as from professional careers.
Our strong industry links make the course particularly suited for those looking to work in the water industry, government or environmental and engineering consultancy, and in a wide range of roles including water quality, water resources, aquatic habitat and wildlife, flood defence, and policy.
The option to undertake the course on a part-time basis allows you to extend your professional development within your current employment.
At the UK’s only exclusively postgraduate university, students get the unique experience to work with researchers whose primary purpose is to understand the needs of their sector. Therefore all components of the Environmental Water Management course are designed with the same end goal in mind: to produce the best graduates for jobs in water resources, hydrology, water quality, habitat conservation and creation, and flood risk management.
To do this, you will first reinforce your knowledge of topics and methods in eight core areas (hydrology, ecology, water quality, modelling, drought, flood risk, urban water, and catchment management). You then integrate this learning and apply it to a real-world problem in the group project. Over a 10-week period, you will work in a team of 6-8 students from a range of MSc courses on a consultancy project, handling all stages of project design and delivery from initial meetings to scope out the work to the final report and presentation. Topics vary yearly as they respond to the needs of our industrial partners, put typically relate to water resources, aquatic ecology and flood risk management. Finally, you will delve into a single topic for your individual thesis project, strengthening your skills in project design and management; data collection, analysis and interpretation; and report writing, all of which are essential for your future career.
By completing this course, you will become part of a long line (>30 years) of environmental water management alumni who can now be found across the entire water sector, from entry-level scientists to senior managers and regulators, in the UK, Europe and beyond.
Our courses are designed to meet the training needs of industry and have a strong input from experts in their sector. Industrial involvement comes in the form of sponsored group and thesis projects, and oversight from an Industrial Advisory Panel.
Sponsored projects stem from the active research and consultancy work of the Cranfield Water Science Institute, a leader in water research, whose researchers have expertise in water and wastewater treatment, water supply and irrigation, flood risk management, and water policy and economics.
The Industrial Advisory Panel performs an essential role in course review and the proposition of new content. As it is composed of members from consultancy, government, industry and charitable sectors, the panel ensures that Cranfield graduates have the knowledge and skills to be immediately employable.
This MSc, PgDip and PgCert has been accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM). As a graduate of the MSc course, you are eligible for graduate membership in this leading professional body.
The course comprises eight assessed modules, a group project and an individual project.
Group project
A unique component of a Cranfield University taught MSc is the group project. Group projects are usually sponsored by industry partners and provide students with experience of working on real challenges in the workplace along with skills in team working, managing resources and developing reporting and presentation skills. Experience gained is highly valued by both students and prospective employers.
Interested? Find out more about the past group projects.
Individual project
The individual project provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to carry out independent research, think and work in an original way, contribute to knowledge, and overcome genuine problems. Students have the choice to work on projects sponsored by industry or related to current Research Council, EU or industry funded research.
Assessment
Taught modules 40%, Group project 20%, Individual project 40%
Cranfield University environmental water management graduates are found all over the UK, EU and world working at all levels of the water industry, government, environmental and engineering consultancy, and charitable sector. Therefore you will join a large and supportable alumni network.
The Master’s programme in Earth Surface and Water involves the study of natural and human-induced physical and geochemical processes, patterns, and dynamics of the Earth’s continental and coastal systems. This two-year programme provides you with knowledge that is essential to manage the planet sustainably, guarantee the availability of natural resources for future generations, and understand and avert natural hazards.
The main subject areas you will study consist of the dynamics of coastal and river systems, (geo-)hydrological processes, groundwater remediation, land degradation in dry lands and mountainous regions, natural hazards, and delta evolution on centennial and longer time scales.
You can choose one of four http://www.uu.nl/masters/en/earth-surface-and-water/tracks" target="_blank">tracks based on your interests in the field:
The Earth Surface and Water programme trains students to quantitatively study the natural and human-induced physical and chemical processes, patterns, and dynamics of Earth’s continental and coastal systems as well as their responses to global change. Students explore and understand the modelling capabilities of the past, present, and future as well as the evolution of Earth’s environment, including human impact on this evolution.
In the programme, you will address questions such as:
The programme trains students to combine field observations and laboratory experiments with the latest developments in remote sensing and computational methods. Research developed by our staff and students has a strong international profile, encompasses scales ranging from microscopic to global, and concerns both past and contemporary processes.
Physical geographers, geochemists, and hydrologists are necessary to identify nature’s actions in our modern world, especially with society’s ever-increasing pressure on the natural environment. The Earth Surface and Water programme therefore focusses on imminent societal problems, such as society’s increased vulnerability to climate and environmental changes and to natural hazards such as flooding, storms, and mass movements. It also addresses the threats and opportunities resulting from human activity on our physical environment, including the hydrological cycle.
