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Water and Environmental Management MSc (PGDip)

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Intro

Responsible management of water and environmental resources is essential in tackling the climate emergency. Our accredited MSc is an opportunity to develop and enhance your core skills, to explore key analytical and scientific skills, and gain up-to-date knowledge of national and international environmental legislation. 

You’ll study the fundamentals of hydrology and pollutant transport in the context of international legal and policy frameworks and integrated catchment management. You will explore key water treatment processes; drawing upon examples of international and national water reuse technology, key to shaping future water sources. Fieldwork and laboratory practicals present the opportunity to design, perform, analyse and report on appropriate quantitative research and operational studies in the field of water and environmental management.

You’ll learn with and work alongside members of our research Centre for Aquatic Environments who aim to protect the environment and to support the diverse range of social and cultural values and benefits that derive from healthy aquatic ecosystems.

Our researchers collaborate with global organisations and charities such as UNICEF, the World Health Organisation and Water Aid, and work in partnership with regional and national organisations including National Trust, Environment Agency, Southern Water and South East Water.

Our well-established links with industry provide networking opportunities and shared insight through guest lectures.

Find out about postgraduate events

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2 years

Accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management

Apply online

Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Apply now for your place

In geography and environmental studies, 100% of our research impact is assessed as outstanding or very considerable in terms of its reach and significance in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

Course content

Course structure

This course can be studied full- or part-time. The course consists of taught and research components. To be awarded the MSc you must obtain 180 credits. Six taught modules at 20 credits each, plus 60 credits from the dissertation. A typical 20-credit module requires a total of 200 hours of study time.

You will study core modules and complete a dissertation. You will also choose option modules enabling you to specialise in the areas of the course that interest you the most.

Working closely with your supervisor you will plan, research and produce your masters dissertation in an area that reflects your interests Examples of subjects our students have completed their research project on include:

  • an analysis of novel treatment technologies
  • assessment of the potential for re-use of treated wastewater
  • management of water resources in the UK and overseas.

Alongside core modules and the dissertation you will also choose option modules.

Two students using computers

Syllabus

Wastewater Treatment Technology


Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% exam

This module provides a review of the key processes involved in wastewater treatment processes focussing on examples in the UK and draws upon international and developing national water reuse technologies key to shaping future development of many water sources. The module assesses both fundamental principles of technologies and key aspects of their design and implementation.

Hydrology and Pollutant Transport

Assessment: 100% coursework

The module introduces the fundamentals of surface and groundwater hydrology, focusing on precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff, discharge, groundwater recharge, groundwater storage, and groundwater flow.

Pollutant transport dynamics are explored with a focus on anthropogenically derived pollutants in surface and groundwaters. The module places these topics in the context of the structure of the UK water industry, international legal and policy frameworks and integrated catchment management. And provides essential skills for careers involved in science, engineering, environmental and water sectors.

Water and Water Reuse Technology

Assessment: 100% coursework

This module covers traditional water treatment methods and advanced treatment processes for water reuse scenarios. The module aim is to understand the fundamental principles and application of water treatment and water reuse. The module is delivered dynamically utilising, lectures, practical sessions, workshops and external expert speakers from industry to cover; theory of treatment, water parameter measurement and treatment design.


Masters Research Skills and Dissertation

Assessment: 100% coursework (proposal and 15,000-word dissertation)

This module allows you to engage in a systematic investigation by critically reviewing existing work and methodologies to develop your own research project. The project provides the opportunity to demonstrate their capacity to work at masters level as independent researchers in their chosen area of expertise.

Option modules

  • Water Quality Analysis
  • Environmental Placement Module
  • Independent Study
  • Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Environmental Management in Organisations
  • Environmental Policy and Law
  • Case Studies in Environmental Assessment and Management
  • Introduction to GIS
  • Applications in GIS
  • Applied Remote Sensing
  • Environmental Politics and Social Justice
  • Issues in Ecology and Conservation
  • Advanced Taxonomy and Survey Skills
  • Microbiology, Ecotoxicology and Environmental remediation
  • Water, Sanitation and Health
  • Atmosphere, Weather and Climate
  • Waste Management and the Circular Economy
  • Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing
  • Research Field Skills Course, Brazil

Careers

Accreditation 

The course is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).

CIWEM logo

Preparing for your career

In your career you need a combination of knowledge, skills, personal qualities and relevant experiences – and you’ll get all of this from your degree. 

  • Learn with staff who have experience of undertaking research or consultancy with leading bodies including the Environment Agency, DEFRA and the European Union. 
  • Guest speakers from organisations including South East Water, Southern Water, Stantec, Brown and Caldwell share their knowledge and experience and provide networking opportunities.
  • Options include the opportunity of work experience on placement with an organisation registered with the Green Growth Platform.
  • Participate in group activities to develop teamwork, leadership skills, and integration of diverse subject specialisms. 
  • Build advanced research, analytical and communication skills through working on your dissertation.
Student testing samples in lab

Facilities 

You’ll have access to excellent facilities, including:

  • specialist water chemistry and microbiology laboratories
  • laboratory-scale water and wastewater treatment systems
  • an experimental river basin
  • a water efficiency laboratory
  • large pool of aquatic field equipment
  • environmental and public health lab
  • soil and water analysis lab
  • soil and sediment analysis lab with drying ovens
  • hydraulics labs including flumes for wave simulation, flume for river simulation and sediment transport
  • environmental simulation lab with hydraulic stream table
  • surveying equipment
  • field collection equipment
  • biology project lab.
Civil engineering laboratory

Graduate destinations 

Graduates are prepared for roles with water companies, government agencies and regulatory bodies, environmental/civil engineering consultancies, and international non-governmental organisations.

You will also be well equipped to secure PhD studentships to further their research ambitions.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Degree and experience
Degree (minimum 2:2) in civil engineering, environmental science or related discipline.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International students whose language skills do not match the IELTS scores set out here should consider applying for this course through our Extended Masters programme.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,100 GBP

International (full-time)15,800 GBP


Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Applied Sciences in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Where required:
    • all students are provided with a laboratory coat, safety glasses and log book.
    • a budget to cover laboratory consumables and equipment for your final year project is included in the fees for all students.
    • access to key subject journals and subject specific databases is provided, as well as a site licence for industry-standard chemical drawing software.
    • essential instruction booklets (laboratory handbooks) are provided, as is project poster printing and thesis binding. However, you should budget for books, printing and stationery for personal study.
  • For our ecology and conservation courses there are compulsory field trips for which you should budget up to £200. There are also optional field trips for which you may choose to budget up to £2,700. You may also need to buy appropriate clothing for outdoor use.
  • DBS checks for MPharm students are included in the fee.
  • Costs for MPharm placement travel is reimbursed up to a specified amount depending on location of placement.
  • The independent mapping project is a mandatory part of the Geology BSc(Hons) involving independent fieldwork that is undertaken in the summer between years 2 and 3. The cost of this fieldwork is not included in the fee, and you will need to meet this additional cost yourself.
  • Travel and accommodation costs are included for all mandatory taught residential field trips, but you’ll need to provide your own food and drink.
  • Optional placements and day trips may include additional costs. This will vary depending on where and how long the field trip is but you should budget approximately £1,500.
  • Some students require specialist outdoor equipment and/or personal protective equipment (PPE) and should budget up to £100.
  • If you choose to take an optional paid placement you’ll be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation, food and drink.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses. Find out what free software is available from the University of Brighton.
  • In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but students may wish to print notes which would involve an extra cost.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Moulsecoomb has been transformed by a recent development of our estate. On campus you'll find new Students' Union, events venue, and sports and fitness facilities, alongside the library and student centre.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

Two people walking past Mithras halls

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:

  • Mithras Halls are stylish new high-rises in the heart of the student village at our revitalised Moulsecoomb campus with ensuite rooms for more than 800 students.
  • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Relaxing in halls

Modern accommodation at Moulsecoomb

Mithras halls room with a view

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Student Union social space

Student Union social space at Moulsecoomb

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Students talking in a social area

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Stay in touch

Find out about postgraduate events

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

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