More about the programme

The MSc programme International Land and Water Management is intended for agriculturists, sociologists, soil scientists and hydrologists who want to pursue careers in agricultural development and sustainable use of land and water resources. You follow a set of common courses in which you explore various conceptual and theoretical approaches to research in land and water management. You choose one of three specialisations: a) Sustainable Land Management; b) Water, Technology and Society or c) Adaptive Water Management. Each specialisation offers a combination of social and technical courses. There is ample room to gain specific in-depth knowledge through your electives and thesis.

Programme details

The master’s programme in International Land and Water Management is an academic programme. It consists of one year of course work and one year of thesis research. In the first year, you take compulsory common courses; in addition you choose optional courses as part of your specialisation, as well as elective courses worth a total of 18 credits. In the second year, you work on your major thesis in the field of your specialisation. In the second year, you work on your major thesis in the field of your specialisation. An internship or research practice completes your study programme.

The MSc programme International Land and Water Management (MIL) runs annually from early September. It takes two academic years and comprises 120 credits (ECTS, European Credit Transfer System). The language of instruction is English.

More information on the content of the programme is available under 'Specialisations'. 

Scale and approach

The programme concentrates on land and water management at different scales, on interactive approaches with actors at the respective levels, and on the institutional aspects and multifaceted consequences of interventions in land and water management. 

As a student of the programme you are able to:

  • develop comparative insight into the development of land and water management
  • take an academic approach to various research paradigms
  • acquire a problem-oriented, interdisciplinary attitude towards land and water management and rural development issues

After graduation

As a graduate of the International Land and Water Management master’s programme you are widely employable as a consultant, policymaker, researcher, development worker or project manager in any part of the world. Job opportunities will be open to you at engineering firms, consultancies, NGOs, governmental institutions, universities and research institutes.