Bachelor’s in International Land and Water Management

The first year is introductory in character and includes subjects such as soil and water, agronomics, sociology, economics and hydraulics.

You become familiar with the field of study and the professional career possibilities. The first year concludes with a case study and practical fieldwork in the Netherlands. 

Courses first year.

In the second year you learn more about engineering, socio-economic and policy aspects of land and water management.

The year starts with an excursion to Southern Europe, to see how land and water management works in these Mediterranean areas. You will analyse a range of techniques and measures that can be taken to improve irrigation and combat erosion. You will visit dams, a water purification plant, terraced landscapes and badlands, and learn about the dilemmas faced by farmers, companies and government authorities in the field of land and water management.

Courses second year.

Third-year students complete an internship to gain practical experience and to further pinpoint where their interests lie. Elective credits also allow you to complete a minor or study subjects as a specialisation in a certain area, such as Climate change, Education, Geo Information Science, Disaster Risk & Resilience. These subject clusters are discussed and set out in consultation with a study advisor. The bachelor’s programme concludes with a final research project and accompanying thesis.

Courses third year.

In your third year, you can choose whether you’d like to broaden your knowledge or deepen it by taking a minor. You’ll have complete freedom to design it yourself. Examples include Climate Change, Geo-information Sciences (GIS), Disaster and Reconstruction, or Education. Students who complete this BSc in combination with the minor Education are qualified to teach geography in lower secondary school. 

You can also take courses at other universities – even abroad. Your study adviser will help you find the option that suits you best.

Check out all available minors here.

Education is delivered through a mix of lectures, tutorials, computer-based learning, and practical fieldwork. You will often work in small groups on real-life cases and projects, encouraging collaboration and problem-solving. Excursions in the Netherlands and abroad offer hands-on experience alongside academic learning.

BSc Environmental Sciences
How can we, with 7 billion people on Earth, keep our living environment healthy? That is something you will learn in the Environmental Sciences degree programme. You will learn to research environmental issues such as pollution, depletion of natural resources, and climate change from a natural sciences and social sciences perspective. You will also learn how you can identify and design sustainable solutions.

BSc Earth System Sciences
The Earth System Sciences degree programme focuses on the interaction between physical and chemical processes in the domains of “soil and ground”, “groundwater and surface water”, and “atmosphere”. You will learn about what happens in the soil, groundwater and surface water, and the atmosphere as well as how all these aspects are interrelated. With your scientific knowledge of these processes, you will be able create a sustainable world that is wonderful place to live.

BSc Tourism
Tourism is offered jointly by Breda University of Applied Sciences and Wageningen University & Research. As the first of its kind in the Netherlands, this scientific programme deals with developments in tourism and the interrelationships between tourism, the economy, society and the environment.

At WUR, we believe personal guidance and contact are very important. That's why we have significantly more support staff (lecturers, study advisors, and student counsellors) available to help you progress through your studies than at other universities in the Netherlands. This reduces the risk of you dropping out. This personal touch also enhances your learning experience. 

A bachelor's programme in International Land and Water Management grants unconditional admission to four masters programmes in Wageningen:

• MSc International Land and Water Management
• MSc Climate Studies
• MSc Development and Rural Innovation
• MSc Geo-Information Science
• MSc Metropolitan Analysis, Design & Engineering

Graduates find diverse career opportunities in consultancy, research, policy, and education, both in the Netherlands and internationally. They often work on projects that improve land and water management for governments, NGOs, and private organisations.

• Consultant
• Project manager
• Policy officer
• Researcher / PhD candidate
• Information officer
• Teaching and training specialist 

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

To be admitted to the BSc International Land and Water Management programme at Wageningen University, you should have studied mathematics and physics. 

Have a look at the Application & Admission page for starting at Wageningen University & Research and check whether your prior (international) education qualifies you for this bachelor's programme. 

Are you a Dutch student? Switch the language to Dutch at the top of these pages to view the admission information that applies to you.

Studying a program costs money. Curious about the costs involved? You can find all information about the costs of this program on this page.

Wageningen is a small, green, and international student city where it’s easy to feel at home. With students from over 100 countries, there’s a strong sense of community both on and off campus. Whether you enjoy cycling through nature, joining study or sports associations, or relaxing at cafés and events in the city centre, there’s something for everyone. The atmosphere is friendly and informal, making it easy to connect with others and balance study with social life.  

All information about student life in Wageningen can be found on this page.