How can we secure clean water for everyone, everywhere? How can we use our wastewaters as goldmines for untapped resources? And how do we combat an ever drying planet? If you're ready to tackle urgent global water challenges through innovation, the Master's degree in Water Technology is for you!
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
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:
|
In close consultation, it is a possible to look for an internship abroad.
| Specific requirements | More 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 |
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 |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Sciences | Wageningen University |
Additional requirements Additional requirements:
|
| Biotechnology | Wageningen University | No additional requirements |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineering and Management | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| Chemical Engineering | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 August 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| EU/EEA students | 15 June 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 15 April 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
A relevant BSc degree (or equivalent) in a related field like 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 |
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 |
| Exam | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| IELTS overall band | 6.5 |
| TOEFL internet based | 90 |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 August 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| EU/EEA students | 15 June 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 15 April 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
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.
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.
