UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited International Master of Science programmes, with a total of 23 specializations. The MSc programmes are meant for professionals that want to deepen their expertise, and in the meantime wish to gain substantial insight into the global water agenda. Studying at UNESCO-IHE means making contacts with fellow professionals from around the world.
In these programmes, a mix of modern knowledge transfer methods is used, including lectures, workshops, role-plays, video, internet, study tours, and field visits. Your professional vision will develop as you exchange knowledge in an international atmosphere, learning from best practices in various regions of the world.
You are encouraged to develop an integrated approach in your work with the aim of achieving sustainable solutions, taking into account the multidisciplinary aspects of challenges you may encounter during your career.
This means that the up-to-date knowledge you acquire during your studies will be directly applicable to solve current problems in your home countries. Special attention is paid to local conditions that will invariably influence your decision making process.
- Environmental Planning and Management (Db)
- Environmental Science and Technology (Db) (Jdd)
- Environmental Technology and Engineering (Jem)
- Environmental Technology for Sustainable Development (Jdd)
- Limnology and Wetland Management (J)
- Water Quality Management (Db)
MSc in Urban Water and Sanitation
- Sanitary Engineering (Db) (Jdd)
- Urban Water Engineering and Management (Jdd)
- Water Supply Engineering (Db) (Jdd)
- Water Conflict Management (Db)
- Water Quality Management (Db)
- Water Resources Management (Db)
- Water Services Management (Db)
MSc in Water Science and Engineering
- Advanced Water Management for Food Production (Jdd)
- Agricultural Water Management for Arid and Semi-Arid Climates (Jdd)
- Agricultural Water Management for Enhanced Land and Water Productivity (Jdd)
- Ecohydrology (Jem)
- Flood Risk Management (Jem)
- Hydraulic Engineering and River Basin Development (Db)
- Hydraulic Engineering - Coastal Engineering and Port Development (Db) (J)
- Hydraulic Engineering - Land and Water Development (Db)
- Hydroinformatics - Modelling and Information Systems for Water Management (Db) (J) (Jdd)
- Hydrology and Water Resources (Db) (J)
- Integrated Lowland Development and Management Planning (Jdd)
Delft-based MSc specializations
The Delft-based MSc specializations (Db) start in October and take 18 months, of which the first year consists of taught modules that are given at UNESCO-IHE in Delft. After successful completion of the taught modules, the student does individual research for a six-month period. The research deals with a practical or theoretical problem and may be carried out in collaboration with an organization outside the Netherlands, for example in the home country. Often, field data collection, laboratory or computer analysis work are part of the research. Research is always completed with a thesis and a public presentation of results.
Joint programmes
MSc specializations developed with and offered in collaboration with renowned partner institutes – the so-called joint programmes (J) – increase integration, efficiency and flexibility of the Institute’s MSc programmes. These joint programmes have varying start and end dates, and part of the programme is given at a partner institute, often in another country/continent.
Joint double degree programmes (Jdd) are joint programmes awarded with a partner's degree as well as the UNESCO-IHE degree.
Joint Erasmus Mundus programmes (Jem) are joint programmes offered under the European Erasmus Mundus framework, and often entail multiple study locations.
Academic quality and accreditation
UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited, and students awarded this degree are eligible for admission to PhD programmes all over the world. UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer System, in which each credit point is equivalent to 28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCO-IHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff is composed of established international professors and lecturers. A pool of guest lecturers and partners from UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide additional scientific expertise in the various areas of specialization and bring in case studies in which the theory is brought into practice.
Academic calendar
Open the academic calendar to get an overview of all dates of modules and holidays within the programmes.
