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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes Water Technology (joint degree)
Header image Water Technology (joint degree)

Water Technology (joint degree)

Solving global water problems requires a multidisciplinary approach of knowledge and skills. That is why the Wetsus Institute and three Dutch universities offer a joint degree in Water Technology.

The Water Technology Master's degree programme is a two year programme offered jointly by Wageningen University, University Twente and University of Groningen with all education being provided at Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for sustainable water technology, in Leeuwarden.

In the field of water technology, breakthrough technological developments are required. Not only to enable the export ambitions of the water sector but also to solve global threats and challenges in society.

The main added value of the course lies in the multidisciplinary study of biotechnology and separation technology. Such a combined technological approach may offer a solution to global developments, within business and society, and have a worldwide impact on the demand for and use of water.

This programme will qualify you as the expert who is able to participate in resolving world-wide water issues. It enables students to complement their Sciences Bachelor's degree with scientific knowledge and capabilities that they need for a successful career in the dynamic international setting of business and research.

To apply for this programme, please visit the website of Wageningen University .

Detailed information can be found on: www.masterwatertechnology.nl

Facts & Figures
Degree
MSc in Water Technology (joint degree)
Course type
Master
Duration
24 months (120 ECTS)
Croho code
65005
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Science and Engineering
Why study this programme in Leeuwarden?
  • The study program is located on the WaterCampus Leeuwarden, the physical core of the Dutch water technology sector in terms of cooperation between international business, knowledge institutes, and governments.
  • A tight connection between education and innovation-oriented research
  • Unique learning environment in Wetsus European Centre of Excellence for sustainable water technology
  • Joint Degree endorsed by Wageningen University, the University of Groningen, and the University of Twente
Programme

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 and recovery technology and Multi-component mass transfer in membrane processes. The central topic is the integration of water treatment and 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.

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

Curriculum

The Master Water Technology is a two-year study programme encompassing 120 credits. The programme starts annually in September.

The first year consists of two semesters, each with two periods. In the first year students attend several courses and a Business Case Design project. The second year is spent on an internship and a thesis.

The internship, the design project and the thesis are the core components of this programme.

Programme options
Specializations (specialization)

There are no official specialisations within the programme Water Technology. Students specialise themselves by doing a thesis within one of the research fields. Some examples are:

  • Priority compounds
  • Virus control
  • Applied water physics
  • Desalination
  • Concentrates
  • Biofouling
  • Advanced waste water treatment
  • Algae
  • Source separated sanitation
  • Resource recovery
  • Sensoring
  • Protein from water
  • Phosphate recovery
  • Ground water technology
  • Blue energy
  • CO2 energy

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is unaccommodated
Entry requirements

Transfer options

Transferring from...

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Chemical EngineeringUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Industrial Engineering and ManagementUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
BiotechnologyWageningen UniversityNo additional requirements
Environmental SciencesWageningen University

Additional requirements

Additional requirements:
  • grade average
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Chemical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyNo additional requirements
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Chemical EngineeringUniversity of TwenteNo additional requirements
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Chemical EngineeringAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

A relevant BSc degree (or equivalent) in the (related) field of Biotechnology or Chemical Engineering, based on a program of sufficient academic level and quality to be able to complete the Water Technology program.

grade average

A Grade Point Average (GPA) for the BSc study of at least 70% of the maximum scale.

language test

For applicants whose mother tongue is a language other than English and/or who have not followed all their secondary and tertiary education in English sufficient proficiency in English is required by means of a minimum score of 6.5 on the Academic IELTS test (with a minimum score of 6.0 for speaking). Internet based TOEFL-iBT scores are also accepted. The required minimum score for admission is 80.

other admission requirements
  • Dispose of sufficient funds to finance your studies.
  • To apply for this programme, please visit the website of Wageningen University.

The master Water Technology is offered jointly by Wageningen University, University of Twente and the University of Groningen. For the application guidelines please visit the website of Wageningen University: http://www.wageningenur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/prospective-master-students/MSc-programmes/MSc-Water-Technology/Application-and-Admission-1.htm

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 August 202401 September 2024
01 August 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students15 June 202401 September 2024
15 June 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students15 April 202401 September 2024
15 April 202501 September 2025

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

A relevant BSc degree (or equivalent) in the (related) field of Biotechnology or Chemical Engineering, based on a program of sufficient academic level and quality to be able to complete the Water Technology program.

grade list

A Grade Point Average (GPA) for the BSc study of at least 70% of the maximum scale.

language test

For applicants whose mother tongue is a language other than English and/or who have not followed all their secondary and tertiary education in English sufficient proficiency in English is required by means of a minimum score of 6.5 on the Academic IELTS test (with a minimum score of 6.0 for speaking). Internet based TOEFL-iBT scores are also accepted. The required minimum score for admission is 80.

other admission requirements
  • Dispose of sufficient funds to finance your studies.
  • To apply for this programme, please visit the website of Wageningen University.

The master Water Technology is offered jointly by Wageningen University, University of Twente and the University of Groningen. For the application guidelines please visit the website of Wageningen University: http://www.wageningenur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/prospective-master-students/MSc-programmes/MSc-Water-Technology/Application-and-Admission-1.htm

Language requirements

ExamMinimum score
IELTS overall band6.5
TOEFL internet based90

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 August 202401 September 2024
01 August 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students15 June 202401 September 2024
15 June 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students15 April 202401 September 2024
15 April 202501 September 2025
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2023-2024€ 2314full-time
non-EU/EEA2023-2024€ 20700full-time
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 24200full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

Job prospects

The study domain is becoming more and more relevant due to the urgent need for new technologies to meet the global water problems. Water technology for public drinking water production and sewer water treatment is a very large market. Further, the largest use of fresh water is for irrigation purposes.

The industrial water supply and industrial waste water treatment also represent a significant market. There is no question that business involved in water technology will grow tremendously. Besides this human capital is a basic condition to guarantee the success and continuity of the development of sustainable technologies and a European know-how economy in water technology. In many EU countries the lack of talented technological professionals is becoming an increasingly limiting factor. The program prepares students for a professional position in the broad area of water technology. Graduates have good national and international career prospects in business and research.

Job examples

  • Consultant or manager at a development project
  • Designer of purification processes
  • R&D department of companies, e.g. Arcadis or Philips
  • PhD, starting a scientific career
Research

Collaboration, Integration, and Top Level Research

As a student Water Technology you will be in the center of the multidisciplinary laboratory of Wetsus, in which 80% of the research will be carried out. Wetsus is situated in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands. By inviting all the researchers to one location, maximal cooperation and creativity is generated. The researchers are seconded by the participating EU-universities at Wetsus, but the universities carry scientific responsibility of the projects.

In this way, an enormous intellectual and creative power will be focused on water technology and at the same time knowledge capacity will be build up by all the participating universities.

The Netherlands is Europe's leading country in water process technology. The Dutch government focuses in her innovation policy on water and has appointed Leeuwarden as the focal point for water technology development. This results in a supportive government policy in the form of enabling subsidies for water research and innovation. Around the Wetsus research and education facilities, a high-tech Water Campus has been realised to concentrate know how, entrepreneurship, talent and venture capital. This attracts starting companies as well as research centers of large companies.

Wetsus is part of the Dutch Innovation Program on Water Technology. The innovation program aims for development of sustainable water treatment technology with a strong focus on export. Wetsus takes care of the pre-competitive technology development within this program. Wetsus focuses on the research and development of entirely new concepts and on breakthrough improvements of existing technology.

In both cases, an entirely new approach has been chosen whereby the basic principle is always the integration of various knowledge disciplines. In addition to collaboration between industry and universities, there is also unique scientific collaboration within Wetsus. Many scientific chairs cooperate in the program. Leading researchers from various universities and other research institutes can physically work side-by-side in the Wetsus laboratory. This unique collaboration brings synergy and new creativity to the search for new sustainable water treatment technology.

Apply nowBrochureEventsContact

Contact

  • Rouel Gnodde (Programme Coordinator)
    Email: rouel.gnodde wetsus.nl
    Telephone: +31 (0)58 284 3000
  • studyscience@rug.nl Study Science (For students who are interested in a Campus Tour or who have other general questions)
    Email: studyscience rug.nl
  • 
						Testimonial of Rungnapha Khiewwijit (Pom)

    The water technology in the Netherlands is very well-known

    – Rungnapha Khiewwijit (Pom)
    Read more

    Seven years ago, when I was decided to study the bachelor degree in the Netherlands, everyone asked me the same question 'Why did I choose the Netherlands?' 'Because the Environmental technology especially related to the water technology in the Netherlands is very well-known. They had such a good reputation among other international countries to manage their water resources.' This was always my answer to that question to everyone.

    After I graduated my bachelor study in Environmental Science at Van Hall Larenstein in 2009, I decided to continue a master study in Water Technology at Wetsus Academy. Once I had started the course, I realised that I had made the right decision. The research facilities that are being provided by the academy are very good. The laboratories are well equipped for the students to carry out experiments in the field of hi-tech environment.

    For 2 years master course, I not only gained a lot of knowledge but I also developed a lot of practical skills. Wetsus Academy and Leeuwarden became my second home and I cannot imagine a better place to study. Professors, tutors and staff are so friendly and very willing to help international students. I am particularly pleased with the safety life I had here. I find Dutch people are very kind and helpful. I also like the country, particularly in the spring when the tulips are blooming!


    After graduating the master degree, I would like to go on my study to start a PhD at Wetsus. My dream came true. I got the PhD research at Wetsus. I am so happy and really looking forward to do this PhD research.'

    Close
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  • 
						Testimonial of

    Studying abroad is a big step towards a whole different way of living

    Read more

    'You will get to know a new culture and meet people from all over the world. You will learn a lot about yourself and become more independent'.

    Next to this the master track Water Technology in Leeuwarden offers you lectures of different water- related subjects.
    The classes are not overfilled with student, which gives teachers and students the opportunity to work concentrated and will give enough space for discussions. The study has theoretical and practical parts; you will work on group assignments and have an internship and your master thesis in your second year.

    The connection to Wetsus will make it easy for you to get a internship with an excellent company working in the water sector. During your master thesis you will work with a PhD student on his/her project and you will be able to use your gained knowledge from your studies.

    I really enjoyed my time in Leeuwarden. I found friends from all over the world and get to know their culture. The city of Leeuwarden is a small student city in the beautiful north of the Netherlands. You will have city life and nature closely together. The centre of the city gives you opportunity to shop over the day and party during the night.
    After all, the master track Water Technology was a challenge, but a challenge that was worth it.'

    Close
Study support

This program offers you the opportunity to carry out an internship at a company in the Netherlands or abroad. The Wetsus and WaterCampus networks in the water industry ranges from large multinationals (Paques, Nijhuis, Philips) to dynamic small-medium enterprises, start-ups, waterboards and utilities. The internship has a typical duration of 3 to 4 months and counts towards your final degree