Compare the master's International Land and Water Management

About the master's

The master's International Land and Water Management allows you to play an international role in the sustainable management of our most valuable natural resources: land and water. You will learn how to make a difference by understanding land degradation processes like erosion or the decrease in soil fertility, or study the effectiveness of various improvement measures. You will also become skilled at aptly calculating the partition of units of irrigation water needed for agrifood production. You will not only learn to understand and approach problems from a technical perspective but also from a socio-economic and organisational one. This master’s study programme is aimed at improving the situation of farmers worldwide, at improving world food provision through better management and ensuring equal land and water access.

Compare the programme in Wageningen

The master's programme International Development Studies and Development and Rural Innovation focus more on international cooperation, technology, knowledge development, socio-economic and political aspects than the master's International Land and Water Management. Students of the master's Earth and Environment have a broader beta focus on ‘System Earth’ and on the independent and interdependent components of soil, water, atmosphere and ecology.

The programme shares an interdisciplinary beta-gamma focus with the master's Environmental Sciences and Climate Studies. However, the International Land and Water Management programme focuses more on land and water within the domains of agriculture and food production in the world. Soil and water quality as well as adapting to climate change form part of this.

Compare the programme with other universities

Earth Sciences (VU University of Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University). The common aspect shared with Wageningen’s International Land and Water Management master's programme is the focus on beta and gamma courses in the management of natural resources. However, the Earth Sciences programme focuses less on the agronomic and socio-economic aspects of soil and water management worldwide.

The master’s programmes International Development Studies (University of Amsterdam), Integral Water Management (Delft University of Technology) and Social Geography (Radboud University Nijmegen, University of Groningen, Utrecht University) are also less focused on the agronomic and socio-economic aspects of soil and water management.

The study programme Physical Geography (Utrecht University, University of Amsterdam, VU University of Amsterdam) shares the beta focus on soil science, soil physics and hydrology. Compared with the International Land and Water Management study programme, the emphasis of Physical Geography is less on the agronomic and socio-economic aspects of soil and water management at an international level.