Program structure

The master's degree program in Water Science and Engineering offers an interdisciplinary, research-oriented education at the interface of water-related engineering and natural sciences. Graduates are able to independently develop strategies and technical solutions for the sustainable management of water resources. In doing so, they are active in the complex field of tension between the efficient use of limited water resources, the increasing demands on their protection, the handling of extreme hydrometeorological events and the effects of global change on the water cycle and water-related material cycles.

With a degree in Water Science and Engineering, you are qualified for leading positions in the construction business, engineering offices or in the public construction authority sector, depending on your own personal career goals and interests. Career prospects are excellent for engineers with a master's degree in several different fields of activities - engineers can be found in leading positions in the following fields: structural engineering, civil engineering, in engineering offices, public administration, consulting companies, railroad, mail, insurance, energy industry, software companies and several others. Working in this profession, you design, plan, calculate, construct, administrate residentational, commercial, administration and industrial buildings, travelways (roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, hydraulic structures such as locks, embankements, dams, etc., power stations, plants for environmental protections such as irrigation and drainage systems, sewage treatment plants, waste incineration plans, structures for disaster prevent and management and many more.

If you have scientific ambitions and an excellent master's degree, if could be of interest to you to consider a PhD and a subsequent career at a university or in research.

Characteristic features of Water Science and Engineering M.Sc. at KIT

• future-oriented engineering degree program
  

• balanced combination of lectures, exercises and practicals
  

• training in data analysis and numerical modeling with common programming languages
  

• student research projects in small, well-supervised groups
  

• high practical component (exercises, project work)
  

• research-oriented teaching through active involvement in research and engineering projects
  

• integration into the Eucor university network offers participation in courses at the universities in Freiburg, Basel, Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse
  

What KIT has to offer

• central campus close to the city forest and right next to the city center
  
• 24-hour library offering single and group working places
  
• wide range of inexpensive catering options (dining hall, cafeteria, Koeri and Pizzawerk)
  
• numerous interdisciplinary offers for personal and professional development, e.g. Lernlabor, Schreiblabor and Perspektivenlabor
  
• study abroad, e.g. via Erasmus
  
• excellent university sports facilities with a large selection of sports
  
• comprehensive cultural offerings with university orchestras, choirs and theater groups
  
• extensive support for career entry and self-employment
  
• internationally oriented degree programs and diverse exchange programs
  
• modern laboratories and practical teaching methods
  
• Lernraum app
  
• diverse student initiatives, clubs and opportunities to actively participate in campus life
  
• stay in touch after graduation via the alumni network
  

Admission requirements

The requirements for admission to the master's degree program in Water Science and Engineering are based on the current admission regulations:

• bachelor's degree
  a Bachelor's degree (or at least an equivalent degree) in an engineering degree program such as Civil or Environmental Engineering, Chemical or Bioengineering, in a natural sciences degree program such as Geoecology, Environmental Sciences or Geosciences (or a degree program with essentially the same content) at a university, university of applied sciences or university of cooperative education or at a foreign university. The program must have been completed within a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 ECTS credits.
• Minimum knowledge and minimum achievements in the following areas
  • higher mathematics of at least 12 LP
  • basic science and engineering subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, mechanics and/or thermodynamics amounting to at least 12 CP
  • engineering and/or natural sciences such as water management, hydraulic engineering, hydrology, urban water management, hydromechanics, process engineering of water treatment, hydrogeology, engineering geology, geophysics, physical geography, soil science, environmental system sciences, climatology and/or hydrometeorology, amounting to at least 12 CP
  If up to 3 credit points of the above-mentioned courses are missing, admission may be granted on condition that you successfully complete these missing courses by the end of the first semester of the master's degree program. Proof that the condition has been fulfilled must be provided by the time you re-register for the 3rd semester at the latest. Conditions are set by the admissions commission and will be communicated as part of the admission process.

Language requirements and certificates

For the master's degree program in Water Science and Engineering, you need sufficient knowledge of the English language. Your English language skills must correspond to at least level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Proof of sufficient English language skills

The following is sufficient proof of your English language skills

• your Abitur certificate, if you have taken English for at least five years up to graduation and your final or average grade of the last two years of English lessons corresponds to at least the German grade 4 (sufficient) or at least 5 points or
• a degree from a university with English as the sole language of instruction and examination, whereby English must be the only and official language of the completed degree program noted in the diploma supplement, the transcript of records or the degree certificate
  

Otherwise, only the internationally recognized English tests listed in the KIT admission and enrollment regulations are accepted as proof. These are

• Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) with at least 90 points in the internet-based test or

• IELTS with an overall score of at least 6.5 and no section below 5.5 or

• University of Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or

• University of Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) or

• UNIcert at least level II

In addition, the following proof is also accepted:

• a secondary school leaving certificate from a school in the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand

Please note:
Language certificates are extremely important application documents that can prevent your enrollment if you do not submit them on time. Therefore, check early on in the application process whether you have the necessary language certificates for your degree program and, if necessary, plan to take one of the language tests mentioned above. The deadline by which you must submit language certificates corresponds to the enrollment deadline stated in your admission offer. In justified cases, you can apply for an extension of this deadline. The extension can be granted until the start of the lecture period at the latest.

There are 24 places available each year on the master's degree program in Water Science and Engineering. These are allocated on the basis of a ranking list of applicants who meet the admission requirements. The ranking list is based on a maximum of 200 achievable points.

You can achieve in detail

• max. 45 points for the overall grade of the final academic examination and
• max. 45 points for previous study and examination achievements and
• max. 10 points for other academic and professional achievements, including e.g:
  • completed vocational training in a relevant training occupation and previous professional experience relevant to the degree program, even without completed vocational training
  • practical activities and special previous training related to the subject
  • extracurricular achievements and qualifications, e.g. scientific publications, prizes and awards
  Study and examination achievements that are named differently but have the same content will be considered in the selection process if they are equivalent. The admission and selection commission decides on equivalence. You must enclose the necessary documents (e.g. transcript of records, module descriptions) with your application.
• a maximum of 100 points are allocated to the interview. The interview is conducted by the admissions and selection commission (in English). It lasts 20 minutes. The following will be assessed in detail:
  • your ability to relate content to questions and objectives in water-related engineering and natural sciences based on your previous scientific education and specialist training with up to 50 points
  • your motivation to study with up to 30 points
  • your ability to discuss subject-related problems in a structured manner with up to 20 points

Please note:

• invitation: you will be invited to the interview if you meet the admission requirements and have been shortlisted on the basis of your previous academic and examination achievements. The invitation will be sent by email to the address you provided in your application approximately two weeks before the interview. It will include the time and place of the interview.
• registration: after receiving the invitation, you must register for the interview. If you do not register on time, the appointment will be canceled.
• dates: The interview dates are usually three to six weeks after the application deadline.
• the selection interview takes place in person. On request, it is possible to conduct the selection interview by telephone or internet conference, e.g. if you are applying as an international student and are still abroad.

If you have any further questions, please get in touch with the contact person for the degree program directly.

Additional contacts:

• KIT-Department of Civil Engineering, Geo- and Environmental Sciences
• Academic advisor
• Examination board
• Information about exchange programs and studying abroad
• Student representatives Civil Engineering

• Course catalog current term
• Course catalog current term PDF (English)
• Archive of previous catalogs