You will learn about the structure and functioning of aquatic and wetland ecosystems for their management and wise use, and learn how to interact with stakeholders, managers and policy makers in the development of best practices.
Starts: Annually in October
Duration: 18 Months
Locations: Vienna, Austria; Egerton University, Kenya; Delft, The Netherlands
The Limnology and Wetland Management programme is jointly offered by BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna (Austria), Egerton University in Njoro (Kenya) and UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in Delft (The Netherlands). Students who successfully complete this programme will be awarded a Master Degree in Environmental Science by UNESCO-IHE. Subject to approval from the relevant authorities, and from the 2013-15 programme onwards, successful students will receive the Master of Science degree in Limnology and Wetland Management, awarded jointly by Egerton University, BOKU University and UNESCO-IHE.
Context
Since 1990, 1.6 billion people gained access to safe water. At this rate, the world is expected to meet the MDG target for drinking water, which requires 89 percent of the population of developing regions to use improved sources of drinking water by 2015. Today, nearly one billion people lack safe sources of drinking water. The Joint programme in Limnology and Wetland Management unites the experience in limnology of BOKU university in Vienna with the expertise and facilities for limnology in a tropical environment of Egerton University in Kenya and UNESCO-IHE with its expertise in wetland management and modelling.
Prospective Students
This Masters Programme is intended for mid-career professionals with a background in biological or environmental sciences, and with a special interest in one of the following topics: aquatic ecology, limnology, wetland ecosystems, or aquatic resources management.Requirements: the candidates for this joint programme are professionals with a bachelor’s degree preferably in Limnology, Environmental Science, or related fields. In principle, candidates should have preferably three years of practical or research experience since graduation. All applications are, however, considered on their individual merits. Since instruction and examinations are given in English, it is essential that participants have a good working knowledge of the English language. If there is any doubt about a candidate’s proficiency in English, he or she will be required to take one of the internationally recognised language tests before confirmation of admittance.
Programme structure & contents
The Limnology and Wetland Management Programme brings you to Vienna (Austria), Njoro (Kenya) and Delft (The Netherlands) under the joint responsibility of UNESCO-IHE. The coursework part of the programme starts in Vienna in October, where you will attend five basic modules (16 weeks). In February you will travel to Egerton University in Kenya for the next four modules. In this part the emphasis will be on tropical limnology of lakes and rivers and you will have field visits to Lake Naivasha, Lake Victoria and Lake Nakuru. End of May you will depart for The Netherlands for the last four modules. Finally you will prepare a research proposal and you will finish with a research period of 6 months in The Netherlands, Austria, one of the East African countries or in your home country.
Subjects at BOKU University (October - January)
- Basics in Limnology
- Ecology of Aquatic Organisms
- Basics in Applied Limnology
- Aquatic Ecosystem Management
Subjects at Egerton University (February - May)
- Lake Ecology
- Stream and River Ecology
- Wetlands for Water Quality
- Fisheries and Aquaculture
Subjects at UNESCO-IHE (June - September)
- Wetlands for Livelihood and Conservation
- Aquatic Ecosystems, Processes and Applications
- Data Analysis and Modelling for Aquatic Ecosystems
- Groupwork
Module Overview
| Module | ECTS |
| Austrian trimester at BOKU (4 months, October to January) | |
| Basics in Limnology | 9.00 |
| Ecology of Aquatic Organisms | 6.00 |
| Basics in Applied Limnology | 6.00 |
| Aquatic Ecosystem Management | 4.00 |
| Scientific Methods | 3.00 |
| Kenyan trimester at Egerton University (4 months, February to May) | |
| Lake Ecology | 5.60 |
| Ecology of Streams and Rivers | 5.60 |
| Exam week | |
| Wetlands for Water Quality | 5.60 |
| Fisheries and Aquaculture | 5.60 |
| Exam week | |
| Netherlands trimester at UNESCO-IHE (4 months, June to September) | |
| Wetlands for Livelihoods and Conservation | 5.60 |
| Aquatic Ecosystems: Processes and Applications | 5.60 |
| Data Analysis and Modelling for Aquatic Ecosystems | 5.60 |
| Exam week | |
| Holiday week | |
| Groupwork | 5.60 |
| Exam week | |
| MSc preparation and Research methods | 1.90 |
| Summer school | 1.90 |
| MSc proposal development | 7.60 |
| MSc proposal defence | |
| MSc Research and Thesis writing | 36.00 |
| MSc exams | |
| Graduation at UNESCO-IHE in April 2013 | |
| Graduation at Egerton University around April 2013 | |
| Graduation at BOKU around April 2013 | |
| TOTAL ECTS CREDITS | 120.20 |
Admission procedure and fellowships
You can apply to this joint programme via IPGL's admission office. A certificate of academic admission is sent to the candidate who satisfies the admission requirements.
