Water Management for Climate Adaptation

The effects of climate change are becoming more visible worldwide. Floods, droughts, water shortages, and food production challenges are having a growing impact on people's lives. This two-year interdisciplinary master’s programme focuses on developing sustainable solutions to these issues and researching how these solutions can be successfully implemented in the real world. For example, you will explore how to ensure enough water for food and drinking in times of drought, prepare coastal areas for flooding from rainfall or rising sea levels, and design cities to effectively capture, use, and drain water.

A multidisciplinary degree

Combine new knowledge of water systems, data analysis, nature-based and engineering solutions with skills and knowledge in water management, climate policy and governance.

Living lab: Delta Climate Center

Put your learning to practise through action based research with local stakeholders in a living lab where you will work and stay for several weeks.

Impactful careers

With this master’s programme you can make an impact on regions, communities and people’s lives by contributing implementable solutions to climate challenges they deal with.

Make an impact with water management

The Water Management for Climate Adaptation master’s programme provides you with knowledge and skills to become an academic water professional. While exploring both human and natural systems, you obtain fundamental knowledge about water availability, quality, and safety, and learn about cutting-edge water management approaches. For this you study global, regional, and local rules and regulations that guide the implementation of effective water management solutions.

Get innovative in the living lab

Put your knowledge to work and apply what you’ve learned about natural processes and water management in a living lab. This hands-on experience in the first year of the master’s programme takes place at the Delta Climate Center in the Southwest Delta Region (Zeeland, NL), an innovative research centre with extensive expertise in water management and engineering that brings together like-minded professionals (to be). While living here for several weeks, you conduct field research and work with local stakeholders on real-world water challenges. A truly unique experience!

With a background in sustainability, I chose this master’s program to specialize in water-related challenges and contribute to global solutions. I appreciate its interdisciplinary approach, which integrates science with management and sustainability to address real-world water issues.

This is what you need

Eager to make an impact on society and contribute to climate adaptation? Then this master’s programme is for you! We follow a selective admission procedure, looking for students with the right motivation, talent and at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject (e.g. earth sciences, environmental sciences, natural sciences). You may still be eligible for admission if you have a degree other than those listed above. In some situations a pre-master’s programme will be proposed to compensate for deficiencies in your previous education.

Why study Water Management for Climate Adaptation at Utrecht University?

Utrecht is a nice university city, there’s always something going on. Besides that, there are plenty of other reasons to enrol at Utrecht University:

• The inter- and transdisciplinary programme is closely affiliated with the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, recognized internationally as a leader in sustainability research;
• The living lab at the Delta Climate Center gives you first hand experience in working and conducting research in the field;
• Our great local and international network provides you with a wide range of (research) projects, internships and career opportunities;
• The research topics are part of a larger research effort to find innovative, sustainable solutions to the threats and opportunities posed by climate change;
• You study at the heart of water management. Many relevant companies and organisations are located in the Utrecht region, including DHV, Grontmij, ARCADIS, CSO, Deltares, and KWR.