Water Resources Engineering, M.Sc.

  • Application Deadline
  • 24 months
    Duration
  • English (schedule IELTS)
    Language
University rank #182 (QS) ,
This programme is jointly organized by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. It is one of the International Course Programmes supported by the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR-UDC).

About

In cooperation with: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

The first year contains only compulsory courses (60SP) on mathematics, statistics, hydraulics, groundwater and surface water hydrology, irrigation agronomy, aquatic ecology, water quality, GIS and remote sensing, hydrologic data processing and measurements.

In the second year (60SP), most courses are organized as workshops and linked to an integrated project. Three workshops have to be selected among the following: groundwater modelling, soil water modelling, irrigation design and management, surface water modelling, river modelling, urban hydrology and advanced aquatic ecology.

In addition, all students follow the courses on systems approach and social, political, institutional, economic and environmental aspects of water resources.

The second year also includes a research thesis work (30SP).

International Course Programme

This programme is jointly organized by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. It is one of the International Course Programmes supported by the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR-UDC).

Something for you?

  • You are interested in water resources management and engineering?
  • You want to study in an international environment, with students from all over the world?
  • You want to study at one of the best International Course Programmes of Flanders?
  • You w ant to study at 2 universities: one in the capital of Europe and one with a tradition of more than 750 years?

Then this Master will certainly be of interest to you!

Job Opportunities

Career possibilities in the water sector are excellent. Our alumni work all over the world in government agencies, drinking water companies, water treatment agencies, consultancy agencies, ngo's and in education and research institutes.

Accreditation

VUB is registered with the Flemish government of Belgium as an institution of higher education.
The VUB programmes are accredited by the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO, Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatie Organisatie). This official organisation was established by an international treaty between the Flemish and the Dutch governments to ensure the quality of higher education in both the Netherlands and Flanders.

Programme Structure

1st Year

Compulsory courses

  • Advanced Mathematics for Water Engineering
  • Irrigation Agronomy
  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Groundwater Hydrology
  • Statistics for Water Engineering
  • Hydraulics
  • Surface Water Hydrology
  • Water Quality Assessment, Monitoring and Treatment

Compulsory Workshops

  • Hydrological Data Processing
  • GIS for Water Resources Engineering
  • Measurement Techniques for Water Resources Engineering
  • Remote Sensing in Water Resources Engineering
2nd Year

Compulsory courses

  • System Approach to Water Management
  • Social, Political, Economical and Environmental Aspects of Water Engineering

Master Thesis

  • Thesis Research Project Water Resources Engineering

Integrated projects (select 1 project)

  • Integrated project: Humid Climate Case Study
  • Integrated Project: Arid Climate Case Study

Workshops (select 3 workshops)

  • Advanced Aquatic Ecology
  • Groundwater Modelling
  • Irrigation Design and Management
  • River Modelling
  • Soil Water Modelling
  • Surface Water Modelling
  • Urban Hydrology and Hydraulics

Detailed Programme Facts

  • Deadline and start date Application deadline and start date were not specified by the programme.
  • Programme intensity Full-time
    • Full-time duration 24 months
  • Credits
    120 ECTS
  • Languages
    • English
    Schedule IELTS Find English Courses
  • Delivery mode
    On Campus

English Language Requirements

You only need to take one of these language tests:

  • Minimum required score:

    80

    The TOEFL iBT ® measures your English-language abilities in an academic setting. The test has four sections (reading, listening, speaking, and writing), each with a score range of 0-30, for a total score range of 0-120. Read more about TOEFL iBT ®.

    Schedule TOEFL®

  • Minimum required score:

    550

    The TOEFL®PBT is administered in a paper format and measures your ability to use and understand English in a classroom setting at the college or university level. It accurately measures how well you can listen, read and write in English while performing academic tasks. Read more about TOEFL®PBT.

    Schedule TOEFL®

  • Minimum required score:

    6.5

    The IELTS – or the International English Language Test System – tests your English-language abilities (writing, listening, speaking, and reading) on a scale of 1.00–9.00. The minimum IELTS score requirement refers to which Overall Band Score you received, which is your combined average score. Read more about IELTS.

    Schedule IELTS

  • Minimum required score (Grade B):

    193

    C1 Advanced is a Cambridge English Qualification. It reports on the Cambridge English Scale between 142 and 210. You will receive a separate score for each of the four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and for Use of English. These five scores are averaged to give you an overall result for the exam. Universities and colleges may ask you to achieve a specific score, either overall or for a particular skill.

    Note: degree programmes and applications may require a more specific minimum score for admission.

Academic Requirements

Academic requirements
Direct access:
  • Bachelor in de (bio-)ingenieurswetenschappen
  • Bachelor in de geografie, geologie of biologie
  • Master in de biowetenschappen of industriële wetenschappen
Admission based upon evaluation of a file:
  • Bachelor of Engineering, Bioscience Engineering or Environmental Engineering
  • Bachelor of Geography, Geology, Biology or Sciences

Applicants, who already obtained a Master diploma from a European Economic Area (EEA) university, can be exempted from 60 SP upon a positive advice of the Programme Committee.

Language requirements

All prospective students need to provide a proof of sufficient knowledge of English by meeting one of the following criteria:

  • a diploma of secondary or higher education where English was the language of instruction
  • having successfully completed at least one school year of secondary education where English was the language of instruction
  • having successfully completed course units in higher education with a minimum total of 54 study credits where English was the language of instruction
  • having successfully completed ASO secondary education in Belgium
  • having successfully completed one of the following language tests
    • TOEFL: 213 computer-based, 80 internet-based
    • IELS: minimum level academic module 6,5
    • Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE), grade B
    • Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE), grade C
    • Interuniversity Test of Academic English (ITACE) with a minimal level of B2 of the Common European Framework

Tuition Fee

  • International Applies to you

    890 EUR/year
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the original amount of 890 EUR per year and a duration of 24 months.

  • EU/EEA Applies to you

    890 EUR/year
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the original amount of 890 EUR per year and a duration of 24 months.
We've labeled the tuition fee that applies to you because we think you are from and prefer over other currencies.

Living costs for Brussels

  • 885 - 1310 EUR/month
    Living Costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Scholarships

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel participates in many scholarship programmes offering grants to all levels of study (from Bachelor – Academic Staff), in various regions, both for short and longer stays.

For special programmes, such as the MA Water Resources Engineering, who focus on specific problems of developing countries the VLIR-UOS (Flemish University Council- Organization for University Development) offers ICP Master Scholarships to candidates from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

StudyPortals Tip: Students can search online for independent or external scholarships that can help fund their studies. Check the scholarships to see whether you are eligible to apply. Many scholarships are either merit-based or needs-based.

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