Bachelor of Science in Water Management

Water is one of the most important substances on Earth. It is essential to many of the things we need and enjoy in life: food, transport and recreation, but managing it can also pose some serious challenges. Around the world water managers contend with droughts, floods, sea level rise, overfishing, pollution, plastic soup and many other risks to both our natural environment and our society. We need water managers to safeguard our future!

Educated with the latest knowledge from the field

During the water management programme, you will develop in your own field of expertise as you focus on the major water-related issues facing us today and towards solutions for UN Sustainable Development Goals like freshwater availability, clean seas, food production, healthy ecosystems, biodiversity and coastal safety.HZ enjoys intensive working relationships with professionals in the water sector. You will be working on practical assignments provided by companies or research institutes from the very first day of your study. This is incredibly important, as this will thoroughly prepare you for your career. You will be educated with the latest knowledge from the field and you learn how to effectively combine theory and practice. Right from the start you will work on real-life cases discovering your interests and talents. After the first semester, you can opt for one of these three study tracks: Aquatic Ecotechnology, Delta Management and Spatial Planning & Design.

Study tracks

Right from the start you will work on real-life cases discovering your interests and talents. After the first semester you can opt for one of these three study tracks:

Aquatic Ecotechnology

You analyze the fresh and saltwater issues in depth and suggest solutions to solve them from technical and other perspectives. You focus on water quantity and quality, water recycling, biology, and restoration of biodiversity to improve ecosystem services. You work with environmental chemistry and learn how to purify water for different purposes. You come up with nature-friendly solutions for traditional flood defence and look at how people can adjust to changing climate patterns.

Delta Management

As a Delta Manager, you integrate multiple disciplines to develop a vision of climate challenges in an area. You develop strategies by taking into account the economic, ecological, spatial and social aspects of a river delta area. Together with stakeholders, you develop effective measures to deal with climate change. You will learn project- and process management and cross-cultural communication skills to manage complex water- and climate change-related projects worldwide.

Spatial Planning & Design

You focus on adaptive planning and design of economically and socially dynamic areas under pressure of climate change. You monitor the effects of climate change and design spatial solutions on how cities and rural areas can deal with water challenges. You have to be creative in planning and design to improve the local context. You will learn how to 2D and 3D visualise and communicate your strategies.

HZ University of Applied Sciences is located in the South-West of the Netherlands. With a population of some 4,800 national and international students, we are a small university with a personal approach. HZ offers high-quality study programs. Since 2011 - so for the past eleven years - HZ has been in the top three Dutch multidisciplinary universities of applied sciences.

As a university of applied sciences, we focus on practice-based education and research opportunities. Our close cooperation with the business world, various research centers, and our global network of partner universities are of paramount importance.

About us

HZ has around 4,800 students divided over four study years and some 25 bachelor's degree programs, eight of which are taught in English. Some 500 students come from outside the Netherlands, so we have a great mix of Dutch and international students. Easy mathematics will tell you that with such numbers, classes are going to be small.

Where students matter

Teachers and staff put great emphasis on individual coaching. Your study coach will help you choose courses and explore your career possibilities. Ask any international student and they will tell you the lecturers and tutors are readily available to assist you when needed. HZ also has facilities and individual services for students with a disability or chronic illness.

Our professional expertise

As a university of applied sciences, we have positioned ourselves as experts in Water, Energy, and Vitality. Our programs are fully in line with these spearheads.

At the top

Every year the ‘Keuzegids Hoger Onderwijs’ (Guide to Higher Education) holds a survey of higher education in the Netherlands. Since 2011 the guide has ranked HZ in the top 3 multidisciplinary Dutch universities of applied sciences. The quality and accessibility of our lecturers and the small student groups are among HZ’s assets. But also the classrooms, workspaces, and computer facilities were rated as excellent.

Quality & Accreditation

HZ in the top 3

The Netherlands consistently ranks among the best education systems in the world. Every year the ‘Keuzegids Hoger Onderwijs’ (Guide to Higher Education) holds a survey of higher education in the Netherlands. HZ has ranked in the top three multidisciplinary universities of applied sciences since 2011.

Accreditation

HZ is a government-funded University of Applied Sciences (HBO). To obtain government funding in the Netherlands, institutes must continually meet a number of quality requirements. The quality of the departments and programs is regularly evaluated by acknowledged VBI’s (Visiting Assessment Organisations) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science.

The Bachelor's programs, including the English-language programs, taught at HZ have been accredited by the NVAO (Netherlands-Flemish Accreditation Organisation) based on international agreements.

Mission statement

We are a knowledge institute with a worldwide orientation, with a specific orientation within durability & water, safety, innovation & enterprise knowledge domains.

The various target groups can master their chosen competencies via custom-made education, for a lifelong career in a multicultural and multiform society. We want to be a partner to companies, institutes, and authorities, in order to look after their every knowledge and innovation need. We, therefore, focus on a number of spearheads, which makes us attractive to a market that goes way beyond the regional and even the national borders. These spearheads are durability and water, safety and innovation & enterprise. This is also re-emphasized by the existence of lecturers in these specific areas.

Every person counts

A mission is also constantly embedded in a set of ‘values’, which provides direction for thoughts and actions. Our core values are quality, personal development, mutual respect, and professional orientation. Various HZ places and documents also emphasize the required attention for ethnic and interpretation issues, both in general and in professional situations. We want to be a community where every person counts and where every person is seen as an individual, where working together is high on the list of priorities, and where there is mutual respect for the development possibilities of all involved.