MSc in Water Science, Policy and Management

About the course

The MSc in Water Science, Policy and Management aims to equip the next generation of water professionals with the blend of skills necessary to make a significant contribution to sustainable water management pathways across competing priorities of water for ecosystems, food, energy, economic growth and human consumption.

The course is broken down into three thematic areas – water science, water and society, and water management.

The water science theme develops knowledge and understanding in physical, chemical, ecological and epidemiological aspects of water science in temperate, tropical and semi-arid zones. It provides a foundation in basic processes in each key subject area, as well as interactions throughout the hydrological cycle, and the role of society in altering natural hydrological processes and ecosystem function, and the impact this has on health.

The water and society theme explores how contested domains of power, interests and knowledge influence water decision-making, illustrated through institutional, socio-economic and policy analysis. This covers areas of water security and governance, law and regulation, trans-boundary water, water economics, water access, ownership and rights, water for development, and interactions between the state and civil society within dynamic and varied political, cultural, social and economic contexts.

The water management theme integrates the knowledge and understanding of water developed in the other thematic areas to better enable you to tackle the big water management challenges that we face. Geographic case studies are developed to compare the trade-offs that occur between science and society in these contexts. Interactions with experts with different perspectives and expertise will help you to understand the challenges faced by water managers.

Assessment

The eight course modules are assessed by written examination. The two elective modules which are each assessed through a 4,000-word essay. You will also be assessed on your individual dissertation of 15,000 words, which will have been produced independently and contain original work.

Graduate destinations

The aim of the course is to train future decision makers, managers and policy makers in water policy and management.

Past graduates have gone on to obtain positions in a range of water-related jobs. Examples include policy positions in government departments (eg Environment Canada, UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); Chinese Ministry of Works), business/enterprise (eg Arup, ERM, Halcrow, Mott MacDonald, Public Utilities Board-Singapore, SMEC, Global Water Intelligence, etc.), non-governmental organisations (eg WaterWise, Children's Hunger Fund, CSE, WWF) and international agencies (eg World Bank, UNICEF, European Commission, IFAD, GTZ, USAID, etc). A number of students use the course as a gateway to start DPhil (PhD) research.

The department's Alumni Office helps alumni keep in touch with each other and organises alumni events.

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the equivalent of the following UK qualifications or their equivalent: a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in any discipline. For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.