Program Overview

Hydrology Master's Programme

The Hydrology Master's programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam prepares students for a future in water, groundwater, drought, and/or flood management. As a Hydrology graduate, you might get involved in various aspects of water management, including scientific research, consultancy work, or starting your own business.

Overview

The programme helps students find possible careers that match their personal interests. With a broad range of career opportunities, hydrologists are needed everywhere, and there is a growing demand for scientifically trained and modern water experts.

Curriculum

The programme covers various topics, including:

• Scientific aspects of water through a PhD study on a hydrological subject
• Management of groundwater exploration
• Flood management, studying the effects of land management on discharge
• Erosion and sedimentation issues and how to solve them
• Quantifying the economic effects of hydrological risks: floods, droughts, and pollution
• Using satellite imagery and GIS to work on global or regional hydrology
• Using knowledge professionally to improve the management of water resources

Future Career Opportunities

After completing the Master's programme, students will have a broad range of career opportunities. They can work at organisations such as:

• National and international consultancy companies
• Universities in the Netherlands or abroad
• National and provincial government bodies dealing with water
• Water supply companies
• National and international institutes for applied research and policy support
• Water boards
• NGO's and think-tanks
• International institutions

Research Areas

The programme enables students to approach important environmental and societal issues, such as:

• Greenhouse gas emission and soil subsidence in peatlands
• Global flood risk of coastal areas

Alumni Profiles

Some examples of where students ended up after completing the programme include:

• Mila Mahya, Hydrogeologist and Junior Advisor at Deltares
• Erwin Slingeland, consultant Urban Water and Climate Adaptation
• Niels van der Linde, Junior specialist in water management

Admission Requirements

To apply for the Hydrology Master's programme, students must check the admission requirements. The programme is designed to provide students with the right skills to tackle urgent matters in the field of hydrology.