Water and Environment
Innovative and sustainable solutions
Introduction
Worldwide freshwater resources are under pressure due to overuse, pollution and climate change. It is crucial to find ways to secure sustainable supplies of water of a quality suitable for drinking, agricultural production and other purposes, while at the same time ensuring the stability of ecosystems. The Master’s programme in water and environment focuses on the growing need for innovative and sustainable solutions and better water management systems.
The Chinese government and industry are investing heavily in sustainable water management strategies and research in order to combat China’s vast water challenges. With a Master’s degree in water and environment in China, you get a unique understanding of these complex and large scale issues.
You gain expertise in efficient water use in biological production, pollutant fate and control, water treatment technology and recycling, and strategies for the restoration of freshwater systems for sustainable development.
The teaching is organised in small, exclusive classes alternating with intensive theoretical and practical exercises. You also do joint projects which draw on courses offered in the same semester. These activities ensure a high level of learning and let you apply research and investigative methods in practice as well as theory.
On completion of the programme you receive a double degree and the following titles: Master of Science in Water and Environment from the University of Copenhagen and Master of Environmental Science from the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Place of study
The programme is carried out at SDC, at Yanqihu campus north of Beijing, and you must (as the general rule) be in China for the entire duration of your studies.
Programme Structure
The first semester consists of two modules.
Hydrology, Freshwater Ecology and Biogeochemistry (15 ECTS)
The focus is to give a general introduction to the main content and theoretical background of the programme. You take the following courses:
• Hydrology
• Freshwater ecology
• Biogeochemistry
Pollutants and Pollution Control (15 ECTS)
This module introduces you to the fate and processes of contaminants, the current status of soil and water pollution and the techniques for pollution control and water treatments. You take the following courses:
• Contaminants – fate and processes
• Soil and groundwater pollution
• Pollution control and water treatment
The second semester consists of two modules.
Statistics, Modelling and Global Change (15 ECTS)
In this module, you acquire the necessary tools to deal with data analysis and processing related to water and environment research at different scales in the context of global change. You take the following courses:
• Statistics
• Integrated catchment modelling
• Geospatial ecology
• Global change
Integrated Water Management and Legislation (15 ECTS)
The focus of this module is integrating the knowledge gained from earlier modules and its applications in the management of water resources in different systems including the policies and legislations. You take the following courses:
• Freshwater ecosystem management
• Agricultural water and nutrients management
• Urban water management
• Water policies and legislation
On the water and environment programme, you spend a full year on specialised independent experimental Master’s thesis work. You have both Chinese and Danish supervisors for your project.
The research work related to your thesis is conducted at institutes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences located in different provinces of China.
While working on your Master’s thesis, you have the opportunity to conduct research in cooperation with industry. You may start with a two-month internship in a company if the work is related closely to your thesis subject.
It is also possible to conduct the whole thesis project in the company if a local project supervisor is available and the thesis contract is signed.
The Master's thesis is awarded 60 ECTS.
Meet the students (Videos)
The first field excursion in China
New knowledge and learning to cooperate! Join Jens-Peter and Zhang Jiejie, who arrived at SDC less than two weeks ago for their first mini field excursion, where they learn about water quality from Professor Erik Jeppesen.Tanja on working at Atlantic Sapphire
Meet Tanja Krogh Sørensen, a graduate from the MSc programme in Water and Environment, and find out how the programme prepared her for life after the university.Testimonials
Emil Bay Frantzen
BA-degree:
B.Sc. in Biology, University of Southern Denmark
Occupation:
Environmental Advisor
Signe Bekmand Tangen
BA-degree:
B.Sc. in Geology, Tromsø University
Occupation:
Civil Engineer within water and environment, Vianova AS
Yang Lü
BA-degree:
B.Sc. in Urban, Energy and Environmental Planning, Aalborg University
Occupation:
Environmental Consultant
Contact Alumni
If you have further questions, please take a look at the FAQ on the Studying in China page. If you still have questions, you have the following options.
For questions regarding specific courses, admission or
practical matters please contact SDC at:
For first-hand questions regarding living and studying in China, you may contact recent Water and Environment graduate Edevardt Danielsen edevardt.danielsen@gmail.com.
He does not represent SDC, but will answer your questions on the basis of his own personal experiences.
Career
The Master’s programme in water and environment gives you knowledge and competences in fundamental disciplines such as hydrology, freshwater ecology, statistics and nutrients management.
You acquire the necessary tools to work in a solution-oriented manner with issues such as water pollution control, soil and groundwater remediation, water management and computer modelling of future scenarios regarding water resources and water quality.
A degree in water and environment prepares you to work in a wide variety of fields, for example:
• Engineering consultancy companies
• Manufacturing companies, including companies that manufacture environmental technology products
• Educational and research institutions and companies
• International organisations
• Food and pharmaceutical companies
• Ministries and government that set the political framework for the regulation of water and environment
Water and Environment News
Online teaching across time zones
During the lockdown teachers and students are meeting online. At the Water and Environment programme it means that teachers have produced more than 110 video clips with lectures and exercises.Read more
Fieldwork among Brown Bears and Siberian Tigers
Master student Mette Grøn carried out three weeks of fieldwork close to the North Korean and Russian boarder in the Muling Nature Reserve.Read more
“The practical aspect motivates me”
When Cecilie Arent is standing in the lake, observing algae and collecting water samples she is in her element.Read more
.JPG "When SDC student Cecilie Arent is standing in the lake, observing algae and collecting water samples she is in her element.")
Heads of the Programme
Danish Head of Water and Environment
Associate Professor Kristian Koefoed Brandt
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
University of Copenhagen
Contact
Professor Kristian Koefoed Brandt
Email: kkb@plen.ku.dk
Mobile: +45 20 87 56 35
Chinese Head of Water and Environment
Professor Liang Tao
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research
Chinese Academy of Sciences