This joint, English-language Master's programme brings together partner institutions to train students from around the world in the pressing topic of water security under global change. The curriculum blends perspectives from the global South and North, using an integrated, interdisciplinary approach that draws on the collective expertise of all participating universities and partners. The modular structure supports specialisation and study-abroad mobility, while courses are taught by specialists from the partner institutions to ensure diverse, high-quality instruction.
Practical experience is a central element: internships and the Master's thesis are carried out in close cooperation with selected companies, governmental bodies, and NGOs, giving students real-world experience and professional contacts. Student mobility is coordinated across the consortium, and the programme includes joint efforts in communication, dissemination, and outreach to connect research, policy and practice. On successful completion, graduates receive a joint degree awarded by the three degree-conferring universities (RWTH Aachen, IIT Madras, TU Dresden); two additional associated partners (UNU Flores and AIT Bangkok) contribute to the programme. Accreditation is pursued independently by the participating universities.
This programme is appropriate for students who want to address complex water challenges using scientific, technical, policy and social-science tools. It prepares graduates to work across sectors and regions on issues such as sustainable water management, risk reduction, and governance under changing climatic and socio-economic conditions.
Core topics covered
Requirements / key facts
Program structure and credit load
This joint Master's is a 120 ECTS (213 IITM-credit) programme comprising three semesters of taught coursework (90 ECTS / 159 IITM credits) followed by a fourth, research-focused semester for the Master's thesis (30 ECTS / 54 IITM credits). Each semester is planned at 30 ECTS (approximately 51–54 IITM credits) with individual courses typically worth 5 or 7.5 ECTS; the per-semester distribution may be adjusted according to the programme timeline. Coursework combines mandatory and elective modules offered by the three partner universities, with each partner contributing an equivalent share of the curriculum (30 ECTS / ~53 IITM credits each).
Representative modules and thematic focus
The curriculum blends engineering, modelling, policy and management perspectives on water and environmental change. Representative modules at the partner institutions include: RWTH Aachen — Climate Adaptation in Coastal & Hydraulic Engineering, Flood Protection, Hydrodynamic Simulation, Hydraulic Engineering, GIS in Water Management, Sediment Transport, Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Sanitary Engineering in Developing Countries; IIT Madras — Physical-Chemical Processes for Water & Wastewater Treatment, River Basin Sustainability, Water, Health & Hygiene, Water Resources Planning & Management, Contaminant Transport Modelling, Coastal & Ocean Environment Policy and Coastal Engineering; TU Dresden — Groundwater, Urban Water Management, Water Extremes and Risk Management, Hydraulic Engineering, Climate Systems and Climate Modelling, Natural Forest Management & Restoration, and resource-nexus perspectives and policy-practice courses (UNU-FLORES).
Key learning outcomes and student experience
Graduates will be prepared to analyse and manage complex water systems under global change by combining quantitative tools (hydrodynamic and numerical modelling, contaminant transport, GIS), engineering practice (flood protection, hydraulic and sanitary engineering, wastewater treatment), and policy/project approaches (international project management, coastal zone policy, resource-nexus thinking). The programme emphasizes interdisciplinary problem solving and research skills, culminating in an independent thesis that integrates technical methods with socio-environmental contexts.
Credit and curriculum requirements (concise)
You are eligible to apply if you hold a Bachelor's degree (or an equivalent undergraduate qualification) that has a clear major focus in a relevant engineering or water-related discipline. The programme looks for applicants with solid technical grounding in areas that prepare you for advanced study in water security and environmental change.
Your qualifying degree must either meet the minimum credit workload or come from a recognised institution, and it must meet the programme's academic performance threshold. If your degree uses a non‑ECTS credits system or a different grading scale, admissions will assess equivalence on a case-by-case basis — contact the admissions office for clarification if your documents do not directly match the criteria below.
To summarise, the formal requirements are:
If your country uses a different credit or grading system, prepare to provide official transcripts and, if available, documentation explaining your institution’s credit and grading scales so admissions can determine equivalence.
Winter Semester (International)
15 March 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 March 2026
Graduates are prepared for professional roles in water resource management, environmental and hydraulic engineering, urban and coastal planning, environmental consulting, and policy or governance positions at local, national and international organisations. The programme’s combination of technical modelling, governance understanding and practical internships makes alumni attractive to private companies, NGOs, governmental agencies and multilateral institutions involved in water security and climate adaptation.
The research and analytical skills developed — including GIS, numerical modelling, risk assessment and interdisciplinary project management — also provide a pathway to doctoral research or specialist technical positions in academia and research institutes.