European Master’s in Earth and Environment (double degree)

First Year - Home University

You start with the shared online course “Environmental Management in Europe” in which you collaborate with EnvEuro students across Europe. Further compulsory courses are a course in Environmental Data Collection and Analysis, and the Academic Master Cluster in which you work in an interdisciplinary team on a project from an external commissioner.

The other half of your first year, you take courses that are related to your chosen specialisation. In this you have ample freedom of choice. 

Second Year - Host University

Your second year at a partner university deepens your expertise through advanced courses in your specialisation. You will complete your studies with a master’s thesis (30 EC) with joint supervision from your home and host university.

Wageningen University also welcomes students from partner universities as their host institution for the second year of study. 

Within this master's programme, you can choose one of the specialisations below to meet your personal interests. Each of them trains you to become an expert in that field. Within your specialisation, you choose at which research group you would like to write your thesis. The two major parts of your specialisation are the (thesis-preparing) courses and a major thesis. You can extend your specialisation with an internship or a research practice. For a more detailed information on the programme structure per specialisation, visit the MSc Earth and Environment ENVEuro Study Handbook page.

Building on our expertise in Earth and Environment, we offer four specialisations:

Water Resources

In this specialisation you explore how climate change and other factors affect the water balance of catchments, vegetation growth and pollutant spreading. You will combine process understanding with advanced modelling and experimental approaches. Courses such as Quantitative Ecohydrology, Advanced Hydrogeology and River Flow and Morphology give you the tools to study hydrological extremes and support sustainable land and water management.

Soil Resources and Land Use

In this specialisation you study how soils, landscapes and the wider earth system change over time and space. You will gain insight into soil patterns, land-atmosphere interactions and the impact of climate change on soil resources. Using an integrative approach that combines natural and human perspectives, you learn to design sustainable land use strategies. Courses such as Erosion Processes and Modelling, Applications in Soil and Water Chemistry and The Soil Carbon Dilemma prepare you to tackle today’s soil challenges.

Climate Change

This specialisation prepares you to become an atmospheric scientist who studies climate processes and their impact on weather and air quality. You will explore topics such as boundary-layer dynamics, cloud interactions and land-atmosphere exchange processes, while developing skills in advanced modelling and observation. Courses like Atmospheric Dynamics, Clouds in Present and Changing Climate and Urban Hydrometeorology provide the scientific basis to contribute to solutions for today’s climate challenges.

Ecosystems and Biodiversity 

In this specialisation you explore the chemical and biological processes that shape ecosystems and their biodiversity. You will study carbon and nitrogen cycles, greenhouse gas balances and plant–soil–water interactions, while learning how these insights can guide strategies for ecosystem preservation and restoration. Courses such as Complexity in Ecological Systems, Models for Ecological Systems and Practical Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality equip you with the tools to understand and protect natural systems.

For detailed information about specialisation options across all partner universities, visit EnvEuro. [link]

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Graduates work as researchers, consultants, and environmental specialists across academia, government agencies, and the private sector. The programme’s strong foundation in process understanding and research methods provides an excellent basis for both applied and research careers.

Common career paths include:

• Environmental research institutions
• Environmental consultancy firms
• Government agencies
• PhD positions at top universities
• International organisations 

Student Career Services facilitates WUR students towards the labour market. If you need help in your orientation towards your future career. 

EnvEuro uses a consortium-wide application process. All applications must be submitted through the central application portal hosted by the University of Hohenheim. 

Please note that the EnvEuro application deadlines are earlier than regular Wageningen University deadlines. Visit the EnvEuro application page for detailed information about deadlines and the application procedure.  

Selection Process

• Applications are evaluated by the EnvEuro Advisory Board
• Final admission decisions are made by the individual universities
• For Wageningen University, admission is based on reciprocity (balanced number of incoming and outgoing students)

For detailed information about application procedures, required documents and deadlines, please visit EnvEuro.eu. 

You can apply for this Master's here.

Required Knowledge

Applicants should have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Natural Science with documented completion of courses in:
  • Natural resources / earth sciences / environmental sciences  
  • At least two of:
  • Phsyics/chemistry, Biology/ecology and Mathematics/statistics
• Above average academic performance

English Language Requirements

Proficiency in English must be demonstrated through one of:

• TOEFL (internet-based): minimum score 92  
• IELTS (academic): minimum score 7.0  
• Cambridge C1 Advanced

For detailed information about application procedures, required documents and deadlines, please visit EnvEuro.eu. 

Check the general admissions page for the International credentials evaluation guide for international equivalencies to a Dutch GPA>7.0. This guide includes compensating factors for a slightly lower GPA the Admission Board may include in their judgement.

Contact us to discuss the possibilities of a pre-master or how to mitigate knowledge gaps if you are still in the process of obtaining your degree.

Education costs money, interested in what you’ll need to budget for? All information about the costs of this programme can be found on this page.

There’s much more to student life than just studying. You’ll find your own place to live, enjoy great parties and social events, hang out in welcoming pubs, and join student associations. With festivals and one-of-a-kind sports clubs, there’s always something going on in Wageningen and beyond. All information about student life in Wageningen can be found on this page.