Water is essential for life on Earth. As stated by the United Nations, water is at the core of sustainable development, playing a vital role in socioeconomic progress, energy and food production, climate regulation, ecosystem health, and human survival. However, both water scarcity and excess, as well as poor water quality, pose significant risks to society. Therefore, water is also at the heart of adaptation to climate change and reducing the impacts of natural hazards.
Throughout our two-year Master’s programme in Hydrology, you will gain a strong foundation in hydrological theory, field measurement techniques, and computer modelling. You will explore and analyse complex water-related challenges while developing management strategies to reduce associated risks. The programme addresses global water issues and hydrological processes, drawing on the Netherlands’ internationally recognized expertise in water management.
In the first year, the Hydrology programme combines lectures, computer-based practicals, laboratory work, and field courses in both Luxembourg and the Netherlands. You will build a solid foundation in theoretical and experimental hydrology while learning methods to assess water-related risks to society. This knowledge will enable you to apply hydrological principles to real-world challenges in water management and global environmental change. In the second year, you will tailor the programme to your interests by selecting elective courses and completing an independent Master's thesis project.
The programme concludes with an independent Master’s thesis project. Depending on your interests, this may involve desk-based research (e.g. e.g., data analysis or hydrological modelling), field-based research (e.g., at one of our long-term research sites in Luxembourg, Kenya, or Siberia), or a research internship conducted in collaboration with an external institute.
Your thesis project can address a wide range of hydrological challenges. For example, you might investigate the impacts of sea-level rise on coastal systems, examine how drought contributes to land subsidence, or explore how forest management influences river flows. While many projects are carried out at VU Amsterdam, you can also undertake your research in collaboration with one of the many water-related organisations and research institutes in the Netherlands or abroad. Our teaching staff will support you in selecting a topic that matches your interests and help you identify a suitable research location. Previous projects have taken students to diverse environments, including the Amazon rainforest, the permafrost regions of Siberia and Canada, and highly urbanised areas such as New York City, Jakarta, and Amsterdam.
For nearly 50 years, VU Amsterdam has taken pride in conducting research and teaching in hydrology and water sciences from an earth science perspective. Hydrology teaching and research at VU Amsterdam enjoy an excellent reputation, both within the Netherlands and abroad.
“Our programme is designed to develop sustainable solutions to water-related problems.” – Ype van der Velde, Course Director.
You can find all course descriptions, the year schedule and the teaching and examination regulation in the Study guide.
The start date of this programme is 1 September.
Course Director: Ype van der Velde
Course coordinator: Wouter Berghuijs
