Starts: Annually in October
Duration: 18 Months
Location: UNESCO-IHE, Delft, the Netherlands

Hydrology is an earth science studying the circulation and distribution of global water and encompassing elements of other disciplines, such as geology and geophysics, meteorology and climatology, ecology and engineering.

Hydrologists play a key role in integrated water resources assessment and management. The programme enables graduates to understand, describe and quantify the physical and bio-geochemical processes of the hydrological cycle so that they can better plan, manage and engineer natural water resources.

Prospective Students

The target group for this specialization are people aiming to work in river basin management, prediction and mitigation of floods and droughts, water supply, water quality and public health, hydropower, land use and development, environmental survey and planning, and other related fields.

Learning Objectives

Graduates who have undertaken the Hydrology and Water Resources specialization will be equipped with:

• An in-depth understanding of theories and concepts in surface and subsurface hydrology, the physical, chemical and biological interactions between the hydrosphere, the lithosphere, the biosphere and the atmosphere.
• A thorough awareness of natural and human-induced variations of hydrological systems.
• Good knowledge of the literature and contemporary research questions in hydrology.

Graduates will be able to:

• Apply and integrate relevant physical, chemical, applied mathematical, computational and earth-scientific principles and concepts.
• Use information and communication technology within a hydrological context.
• Master the major hydrological methodologies and applications with regard to water quantity and quality, including techniques for data collection, processing and analysis, and the application of catchment hydrological modelling and aquifer modelling techniques.
• Evaluate and analyse hydrological systems and processes at a wide range of scales in both space and time for the purpose of water resources assessment, natural hazard assessment and mitigation, and environmental planning and management.
• Design and conduct hydrological research and experiments for applied or scientific purposes, independently or within a team.

In addition, graduates will:

• Be aware of the importance of hydrology to society, the relationship of hydrology and other disciplines such as ecology, meteorology and climatology.
• Be able to co-operate within a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary framework with due consideration of ethical and social aspects related to the application of their knowledge and skills.

Application procedure

Please click here for the application procedure for the UNESCO-IHE MSc programmes.

Programme Structure & Contents

This specialization consists of 14 modules covering a total of 12 months, this is followed by a 6-month research and thesis phase. Graduates of the programme will be awarded 106 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits.

There is a detailed table of all specialization modules that comprise the Delft-based Master's Programme in Water Science and Engineering available here. The specializations are found in the top row and their relevant modules are found directly below.