Study programme - MSc Water Technology

The master's Water Technology is a two-year study programme and encompasses 120 credits. The programme starts annually in September. After graduation, students receive their MSc Water Technology (joint degree). On this page you’ll find information about the courses and the programme outline.

Water Technology - Study programme

Academic year

The programme knows a common structure for all students. In year one, the programme has a single learning pathway, followed by an individual part in year two. As opposed to the other programmes of the Wageningen University, the master Water Technology consists of four periods of 15 credits. All periods last ten weeks, comprising all learning activities and examinations.

Year 1

The programme starts with the course Water Technologies in Global Context (5EC) in which students explore global water challenges in an international context. The course considers these challenges within the broader framework of growing scarcity of materials, energy and its associated pollution, also in relation to the type of country; low-income, emerging-income and high-income countries.

Subsequently, the programme continues with four courses (20EC), which reflect on the multidisciplinary character of the current developments within the domain of water technology, and in which students specialize in scientific knowledge of various relevant disciplines. The focus is on scientific knowledge of natural and physical theories and on research applications in the overlap areas of two or more disciplines. These courses include a compulsory course on Colloid Chemistry and two compulsory courses, selected from Transport Phenomena, Physical Chemistry, and Water Microbiology, depending on the educational background of the student.

The programme continues with four courses (20EC) in water engineering; Chemical Reactor Design, BioReactor Design, Biological Waste Water Treatment & recovery technology and Multi-component mass transfer in membrane processes. The central topic is the integration of water treatment & recovery concepts and design issues when performing reactors. Students apply acquired knowledge and understanding of the previous courses to start the design of new technologies and they learn to produce the best solution for a certain problem. Topics relate to conversions and reactor selection, reactor design and membrane science.

The first year is completed by two compulsory courses. The course Computational Methods in Water Technology has its focus on process dynamics and reactor networks (5EC) and in the course ​Business Case Design project​ (10EC) students work in teams on the development of a business case. In this part, called sustainable technology, students learn how to integrate the results from the engineering part in the context of society and business and encounter the complexity in practice.

Year 2

The second year comprises an MSc thesis (40EC) and an MSc internship (20EC). The topics of the thesis and internship should be within the scope of the mentioned main research areas.

Research

The research part of the master's programme  prepares students to do research independently and to combine all acquired skills. It gives them the opportunity to become experts in the field of a topic that fits their personal interests and preferred future career in the area of water technology. Crucial to the thesis is that students show that they are able to critically analyse, discuss and summarise the topic concerned. For the thesis, students can participate in on-going research project at Wetsus. As  a water technology student, you will be at the heart of the multidisciplinary Wetsus laboratory and its excellent facilities and infrastructure. Our students are guided by scientific staff still active in research. A successful completed thesis is seen as a proof of the fact that the student achieved the learning outcomes of the joint degree. The thesis is an individual research project and is a mix of a learning activity and a test of competence of the student. Considering the character of the research projects in water technology, it is possible to do a thesis that involves more chair groups.

The main research areas within the field of Water Technology are:

Professional Field

Our students have access to professionals within an extensive network of companies in the industrial and public sector. Participating in several platform activities, our students become acquainted with the work field. Students are accepted as interns by potential employers in a variety of companies during their compulsory internship. Students apply knowledge and skills acquired during their study, and also acquire relevant new knowledge, insights and skills through work experience. Students learn to work independently and develop a feeling for the context of the organization. The work has to be carried out at an academic level. Reflection on the practices of the organization and on the student’s own functioning is an important component. Internships also offer students the opportunity to reflect on their career after completion of the studies and to get a sense of the areas of expertise and competences they further need to develop. Students can do their internship in the Netherlands and abroad.

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