Hydrology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Understand the hydrological system and its societal impacts

How can we make sure there’s enough water available for everyone? Can we ensure water quality for agriculture, biodiversity and drinking water? And how can we minimise the impact of extreme flood events in dense urban areas?

If you’re looking to dive deeper into the complex interactions between hydrological processes and their relationship with society, climate and vegetation, then this is the Master’s programme for you.

You’ll come away with the skills, including fieldwork and modelling skills, to understand the processes. And you’ll develop solutions to address challenges of water quantity, quality and associated risks, such as floods and droughts.

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Hydrology

Meet water management challenges head-on

International conflicts over water and water rights are becoming more and more common. And water management is one of the key challenges of the near future. During this two-year Master’s programme, you’ll learn to apply field measurements and theory to estimating water risk for society, while exploring management options to reduce risk. The programme has a strong international focus, too.

In the first year, your Hydrology programme is made up of a combination of lectures, computer workshops, laboratory and field courses in Luxembourg and the Netherlands. You’ll learn the basics of theoretical and experimental hydrology, methods to assess hydrological risk for society, and how to apply knowledge of hydrological processes to real-world water-management issues.

The second year allows further specialisation in your area of interest by choosing elective courses. And you’ll conclude the programme with your Master’s thesis project. This could involve desk research (e.g. hydrological modelling) or research incorporating field measurements, for example at our permanent field sites in Luxembourg, Kenya or Siberia. To name a few examples: you could look into the impact of sea level rise on coastal areas, drought effects on subsidence and the response of coral reefs to soil degradation. Not only can you carry out your research at the VU Amsterdam; you can also arrange it in collaboration with one of the many water-related institutions and organisations in the Netherlands and abroad. The teaching staff can help you find a topic tailored to your interests, as well as a suitable location in which to carry out your research. Potential international locations include tropical Amazonia, permafrost regions of Siberia, or highly urban areas like New York City, Amsterdam and Jakarta. Some students even combine their thesis work with an internship.

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Hydrology

Water is one of earth's most important natural resources – we simply cannot do without it. In addition, safe and clean water is becoming increasingly scarce as demand continues to rise all over the world.

This means that highly trained water scientists will always be able to find gainful and interesting employment.

In your professional career, you might get involved in:

•  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 your knowledge professionally to improve the management of water resources.

As a graduate in Hydrology, you could work at organisations such as:

•  National and international consultancy companies;
•  Universities;
•  National and provincial government bodies dealing with water;
•  Water supply companies;
•  National and international institutes for applied research and policy support;
•  Water boards.

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Hydrology

I have an international degree

The Hydrology programme is open to both Dutch and international students. The Faculty’s Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application.

In order to gain admission to the Hydrology Master’s programme, you will need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited research university including at least three full years of academic study amounting to a minimum of 180 ECTS or equivalent. We do not require a GRE or GMAT test score. A Bachelor's degree obtained at an applied university or higher vocational education (HBO in Dutch) in most cases does not grant direct access to the programme (only exceptionally high ranking students stand a chance of admission).

Specific requirements for the Hydrology Master’s programme

You can gain admission to the Master’s programme in Hydrology with a Bachelor’s degree in earth sciences, geology or geography. The same applies if you have a three-year BSc in other natural sciences and technology. To be eligible, a BSc-level knowledge of physics, mathematics, chemistry and basic earth science subjects is required. Additional requirements in terms of background knowledge may be required for certain specializations. Admittance to the Master’s programme in Hydrology is based on a decision taken by the Admission Board.

General English language proficiency requirements

VU Amsterdam requires all applicants to take an English test. You can, however, begin your application without having the test results. Exceptions are made for students who have completed a Bachelor's or Master's in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia.

The minimum English language proficiency requirements for admission to this Master's programme are:

•  IELTS: 6.5 overall
•  TOEFL Internet-based test: 92 overall
•  Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE): A, B, C
•  Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): A, B, C

I have a Dutch University of Applied Sciences (HBO) Bachelor’s degree (pre-Master's programme)

If you have a University of Applied Sciences (HBO) degree in a discipline related to hydrology (for instance civil engineering, hydrography) with sufficient beta background (in physics, Chemistry, math) you may have to do follow a self-study course on the basics of earth sciences in order to be eligible. In case there are several deficiencies, you may be required to follow pre-master's programme. Please contact the Master’scoordinator for advice on the possibility of entering the MSc programme.

Language Requirements

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam requires international students and students with a HBO degree to pass an English language proficiency test. This requirement can be met if no longer than two years before the start of the programme the applicant has successfully completed one of the following examinations with the minimum scores indicated:

•  IELTS (Academic): 6.5
•  TOEFL paper based test: 580
•  TOEFL internet based test: 92
•  VU TOEFL ITP: 580
•  Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE): A, B, C
•  Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): A, B, C
•  Exceptions are made for students who:
  • have obtained a Dutch vwo-diploma including English, or an International Baccalaureate or European Baccalaureate diploma
  • have obtained a bachelor’s degree from a Dutch university,
  • have completed previous education in Canada, Ireland, UK, USA, Australia or New Zealand.

I have a Dutch university level (WO) Bachelor’s degree (VU Bachelor's degree, VU pre-Master's programme or Bachelor's degree at another university)

The Faculty’s Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application.

In order to gain admission to one of our Master’s programmes, you will need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited research university including at least three full years of academic study amounting to a minimum of 180 ECTS or equivalent. We do not require a GRE or GMAT test score.

Specific admission requirements for the MSc Hydrology programme:

•  A BSc-level knowledge of physics, mathematics, chemistry and basic earth science subjects. The Admission Board decides on admission of any applicant, both Dutch and non-Dutch.
• Students with a Bachelor's degree in Earth Sciences - Geology or Physical Geography - from Dutch universities are eligible for admission with no specific course requirements in their optional programme component.
• Students with a Bachelor's deree in earth science related topics, such as Earth Sciences and Economics (VU) and Future Planet Studies (UvA), are eligible if they have enough (at least two) quantitative beta courses in their final year. Examples for Earth Sciences and Economics at VU include "Wis- en Natuurkunde", Inleiding in de anorganische geochemie", "Geofysica en computermodellering", "Methoden en technieken voor economisch onderzoek". See the teaching and Exam Regulations for more details or contact the MSc coordinator for specific cases.
• Students with a natural sciences Bachelor's degree from Dutch universities may have an additional requirement in the form of a self-study course on the basics of earth sciences in order to be eligible. Contact the MSc coordinator for specific cases.
• In case the applicant has deficiencies on various topics, it may be required to follow a pre-master's programme before being admitted to the MSc programme. This has to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the MSc coordinator to discuss a possible pre-master programme.

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Übersicht der Masterstudiengänge - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

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