The Master’s in Water and Environmental Engineering is conducted in English and teaches you to work with resource and environmental issues related to society's use of water and the environment. Together with your study group, you will work with field measurements, laboratory analyses and advanced computer models, thereby learning how to analyse, assess and manage, on the one hand, states of contamination with a risk of human impact, and, on the other, the protection of soil and groundwater resources. You will learn about the flows in and pollution of streams, lakes and fjords, as well as how to analyse and evaluate specific contaminated water environments and flood-prone areas and map potential consequences for local communities and wildlife.

With a Master’s in Water and Environmental Engineering, you can solve environmental issues in cities, industry, agriculture and nature. You will have the skills to use the latest modelling tools for purposes such as calculating current patterns. You will be able to analyse and model complex water systems – both above and under ground – and you will know how to plan and implement sustainable solutions in close collaboration with authorities, companies and local communities. You will be trained in working across disciplines and addressing issues that include technical, societal and environmental dimensions.

With a Master’s in Water and Environmental Engineering, you can work with design and climate adaptation of drainage systems, coastal and riparian areas, handling tasks that involve soil contamination, flood modelling, wastewater treatment, groundwater protection and groundwater extraction. You can work with drinking water, conduct environmental studies and solve tasks related to wastewater treatment. You can get a position in consulting engineering companies such as Krüger, COWI, NIRAS, EnviDan, Sweco and others, as well as in water and wastewater companies or environmental departments in municipalities, regions and ministries. Other job opportunities include the Danish Technological Institute and the Danish Hydraulic Institute as well as research and lecturing at universities, engineering colleges and research institutions such as GEUS.

On the first semester you will work with pollution of soil and groundwater. You will learn how to analyse, assess and manage pollution in relation to human safety as well as environmental protection.

The project on the first semester can be about a polluted industrial ground or a cultivated farming area, where you investigate the nature of the pollution and assess whether or not the pollution is a threat to the groundwater or the people who live nearby. Then you can find out which methods can be used to cleanse the polluted soil and groundwater.

Description of courses 
For a description of the specific courses on the semester, please refer to the latest version of the curriculum for Water and Environmental Engineering, under the article Overview of the programme. 

On the second semester, you will work with natural water environments such as streams, lakes and fjords.

The project will include a collected assessment of the connection between the physical, chemical and biological conditions by means of data collected in the chosen location, analyses in the lab and numerical computer models.

Description of courses 
For a description of the specific courses on the semester, please refer to the latest version of the curriculum for Water and Environmental Engineering, under the article Overview of the programme. 

During the third semester, you have different options for the structure of the semester. This is also when you choose whether or not you want to continue with or without a specialization. 

• You can do an internship in Denmark or abroad, where you take part in the day-to-day operations in the business. During the internship, you will write a project about one or more of your tasks during the process
• You can study a semester at another educational institution abroad or in Denmark
• You can do a regular semester at AAU with courses and project work
• You can begin your Master’s thesis, so your work is spread out over both your 3rd and 4th semester.

On the fourth semester, you write your master’s thesis about a topic of your own choosing.

For a description of the courses on each semester, please see the current curriculum for Water and Environmental Engineering (under §18 Overview of the programme). 

You can choose to do an internship in Denmark or abroad during your 3rd semester, where you take part in the day-to-day operations in the business. During the internship, you will write a project about one or more of your tasks during the process. 

You can choose to study for a semester at another educational institution abroad or in Denmark.

Aalborg University has collaboration agreements with universities around the world, and the programme’s research environment has a wide range of internship contacts.

Engineers in the field of Water and Environmental Engineering have knowledge on hydraulics and modelling which can be used for instance in connection with examination of polluted areas. 

Examples of employers:

• consulting engineer companies
• public administration companies
• environmental departments
• universities

You can work with e.g.:

• potential solutions that can help preserve our groundwater
• solutions for sewage treatment
• design and climate adaptation of sewer systems
• pollution of soil, groundwater protection
• groundwater catchment in coastal areas
• research
• teaching

Your future job title could be:

• Development Engineer
• Coordinator
• Consultant
• Ph.D.
• Teacher

It is primarily your own interests and ambitions, which determine the direction your future career will take.
 

AAU Career helps you on your way from student life to job life in Denmark by giving you the tools to examine your options and find out what to do.

While studying at AAU, you can participate in career and job-related events, find help on our website, and book a personal career counselling session to talk about e.g.:

• Finding your way in your career
• Danish working culture
• Application and CV the Danish way
• What you can offer an employer
• How to go about job search in Denmark – both student job, internship and full-time job

Read more about AAU Career here

If you need guidance on the content and workload of the study, admission, study environment or know more about what it is like to study at Aalborg University, you can contact your student counsellor. The student counsellor is a student themselves and under an obligation to maintain confidentiality. 

Student guidance
Department of the Built Environment
Thomas Manns Vej 23
9220 Aalborg Ø

Phone (Wednesdays 15-17): 2075 8277
E-mail: studievejledning@build.aau.dk 
Office hours: Wednesdays 15:00-17:00

See who is in the study guidance team

Do you have questions regarding the composition of your education, admission, study changes, examination rules, credit, exemptions, etc. you can contact the Study Board. 

Study Board of the Built Environment
Thomas Manns Vej 23
9220 Aalborg East
E-mail: inst.build.sdnvn@build.aau.dk 

Read more about the Study Board.

Are you a student at AAU? In AAU Study and Wellbeing Guidance, we can help you with, among other things, choices during your study programme, study doubts, study techniques, motivation, wellbeing, leave and study resignation or perhaps just a conversation about your thoughts regarding your study programme and wellbeing. We are happy to talk to you about anything big or small.

See opening hours and contact information