Program Overview

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Master Environmental Sciences

The Master's program in Environmental Sciences is an English-taught program that focuses on developing innovative methods and sustainable solutions to improve environmental quality. Students gain insight into the socio-economic causes and characteristics of pollution and its impact on the environment, including effects on humans, the atmosphere, ecosystems, and other organisms. This two-year study program has an interdisciplinary approach, teaching students to develop analytical tools and models, as well as technologies and economic and policy instruments to prevent or reduce sustainability problems.

Why this program?

• Top-rated program according to the Keuzegids Universiteiten
• A lot of freedom to tailor the study program to individual preferences
• Studying in an international environment with many different nationalities

Study Program

The Environmental Sciences program is an international program that offers specialized academic training at the Master's level. Within the program, students develop a critical attitude and analytical and problem-solving abilities. They also gain in-depth knowledge of a wide range of environmental and sustainability issues.

This two-year program in environmental and sustainability issues combines in-depth courses with half a year of graduation research and at least four months of internship. The graduation research is part of the thesis track and is conducted at one of the involved chair groups of this study program. The internship takes place outside the university. Because the study program contains few compulsory courses, students have a lot of freedom to further tailor their program themselves (in consultation with the study advisor).

Specializations

Within the Master's program in Environmental Sciences, students can choose from four specializations. Each specialization has one or more thesis tracks. These tracks form the basis for working on a specific thesis in a specialized field of environmental science. Students can choose from the following specializations and thesis tracks:

Specialization A. Environmental Quality

• Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management
• Soil Biology
• Soil Chemistry and Chemical Soil Quality
• Air Quality and Atmospheric Chemistry
• Toxicology

Specialization B. Environmental Policy and Economics

• Environmental Policy
• Environmental Economics

Specialization C. Environmental Technology

• Environmental Technology

Specialization D. Human-Environmental Systems

• Environmental Systems Analysis
• Water Systems and Global Change

Minor

In addition to these specializations, the program offers two minors in the field of environmental education and environmental communication: Environmental Education and Environmental Communication. Students are encouraged to follow these minors, provided the study planning allows it. It is also possible to follow a minor from another program.

Admission and Enrollment

To be admitted to the Master's program in Environmental Sciences, students must meet certain admission requirements, such as a BSc diploma in a relevant field with a Grade Point Average of at least 70 percent. Students must also be fluent in English. These are a few examples of the admission requirements that apply to every Master's program at Wageningen University & Research. There are no specific requirements for Environmental Sciences. However, it is recommended to contact one of the study advisors before, during, or immediately after enrollment.

Detailed information about all admission requirements and the enrollment procedure can be found on the page Admission & Enrollment.

After Graduation

With a Master's degree in environmental science, students can work as academic professionals or researchers. As researchers, they can work at a university or research institute. Alumni also have career opportunities in the private sector, government agencies, or water boards, for example, as consultants, advisors, specialists, or innovation technologists. On the page After Graduation, alumni share their work experiences.