Study start in September
1 March at 23:59
Application deadline for all applicants.
Open for applications from 16 January. You will receive a reply by 15 May.
About the programme
The MSc programme in Water and Environment takes place in China. It enables you to work professionally with sustainable management of freshwater resources in the context of environmental quality and climate change. Furthermore, the programme gives you insights into the language, culture, and society of China. Please note that students at this programme must (as the general rule) be in China for the entire duration of their studies.
What specialisations does the field of study offer?
The scope of the first year of the program is broad and offers a multi-disciplinary approach to major global challenges, whereas the 60 ECTS MSc thesis offers an ideal vehicle for subsequent specialization of your own choice. Internships with companies are also possible.Why is this programme relevant?
You will acquire hands-on skills and know-how to tackle environmental challenges, allowing you to pursue exciting careers within industry, consultancy, public authorities, NGOs, academia, foundations supporting the green transition, international organisations, etc. Your contribution combines scientific and technical expertise with intercultural understanding.Admission and application
To apply for admission to the master's programme, you must be enrolled in or have completed either a qualifying bachelor's programme or another relevant Danish or foreign degree programme which is deemed relevant.
You apply for admission through the application portal.
Below you can read more about the admission requirements for the programme including which documents you must upload along with your application.
Educational background
You must meet a number of admission requirements, to apply for the master’s programme. You can read about the various admission requirements below:
You meet all academic requirements if you hold one of these Bachelor's degrees from Danish universities listed below. Learn about when and how to apply. Note, however, that you still need to document that you meet the programme's language requirements.
From University of Copenhagen
- Natural Resources, specialisation in Environmental Science
- Biology
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology
- Chemistry
- Geology-Geoscience
From Aarhus University
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Geoscience
- Bachelor in Civil Engineering (Biotechnology, or Chemistry Technology)
From Aalborg University
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Biotechnology
- Bachelor in Civil Engineering (Chemistry Technology, or Environmental Technology)
From Danish Technical University
- Bachelor in Civil Engineering (Biotechnology, Chemistry and Technology, or Environmental Technology)
From University of Southern Denmark
- Biology
- Chemistry
- BSc in Civil Engineering (Chemistry, and Biotechnology)
If you have a Bachelor’s degree other than those listed above, you must submit additional documentation along with your application so we can evaluate whether or not you meet the admission requirements. Learn about when and how to apply.
To be admitted to the MSc programme in Water and Environment, you must have:
- A successfully completed Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) or higher in a natural science field such as Agricultural Science, Biology, Environmental Sciences, Engineering or Natural Resources. The Bachelor’s degree must as a minimum include basic courses in mathematics, chemistry, biology and statistics.
- High-level English language proficiency.
Qualifying degree and other courses/projects
When we assess whether you meet the admission requirements for the Master's degree program, Danish legislation only allows us to assess your Bachelor's degree. Consequently, you cannot study supplementary courses between Bachelor's and Master's degree programs to meet the admission requirements.
If you have passed courses/projects before you complete the qualifying Bachelor's degree, these can be included in the assessment, even though they are not part of the Bachelor's degree program.
- It applies to courses/projects you have taken as single subjects and courses/projects you have taken as part of another study program.
- A maximum of 30 ECTS credits of these courses/projects may be included.
Language requirements
You are required to document that you fulfil the language requirement English B, unless you have a legal right of admission to the programme you are applying for.
Please note that you must have the documentation ready by the application deadline.
Application deadline
How we prioritise your application
Find information about available places on the study programme, as well as the distribution of students admitted last year.
| Admission statistics Water and Environment 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Available study places | 30 |
| Admission statistics Water and Environment 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Admitted (of which have start in February) | 19 (0) |
| Admission distribution (legal right/other) | 0% / 100% |
| Applicants | 11 |
| Age average | Not disclosed |
| Nationality (dk/international) | 0% / 100% |
If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of available places, applicants will be prioritised according to the following criteria:
How to apply
Choose the category below that fits you and read more about how to apply for admission. You will also find information about application deadlines and documentation on the websites.
Please note: According to national legislation in China, Chinese citizens cannot apply for admission to Water and Environment through a Danish university. Instead, Chinese Citizens must apply for admission through University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Citizen in Denmark, EU EEA or Switzerland
Bachelor’s degree from Denmark
International bachelor’s degree
Citizen in a country outside EU, EEA or Switzerland
Bachelor’s degree from Denmark
International bachelor’s degree
5 quick questions and answers
Starting in 2028, you can apply for focused 1-year master’s degrees, 2-year master’s degrees, and several new types of degrees for working professionals, combining study and relevant work.
The new master’s opportunities are relevant for you if you wish to apply for a master’s degree from 2028.
To apply for a master’s degree, you must apply before the application deadlines.
| Application deadline | Applicants | Study start |
|---|---|---|
| 15 January at 23:59 | Applicants with citizenship outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland | September |
| 1 March at 23:59 | Applicants with citizenship within EU, EEA, and Switzerland (incl. applicants with legal right of admission) | September |
| 15 October at 23:59 | Applicants with legal right of admission | February |
In addition, there are other deadlines you should be aware of. Including the deadline for accepting your study place.
If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, you must pay the application deposit and tuition fee.
If you want to apply for admission to a master’s degree or to apply for re-admission, study change, transfer, or re-enrolment at the University of Copenhagen, you must apply through the application portal.
Once you have submitted your application, you can follow the application in the application portal.
See the guide to the application portal
Read more about applying for re-admission, study change, transfer, and re-enrolment
Your bachelor’s degree is the basis for assessing if you meet the admission requirements for the master’s degree.
In the curriculum you can see how many ECTS credits from other courses can be included in addition to your bachelor’s degree. These courses must be completed before you complete the bachelor’s degree. Courses completed between your bachelor’s and master’s degree cannot be included in the assessment.
Programme structure
Water and Environment is a two-year MSc programme consisting of four 15 ECTS course modules, and a 60 ECTS MSc thesis. Please note that as a student at this programme, you must (as the general rule) be in China for the entire duration of your studies.
During the programme you focus on five main areas:
- Hydrology, Freshwater Ecology and Biogeochemistry
- Pollutants and Pollution Control
- Statistics, Modelling and Global Change
- Integrated Water Management and Legislation
- The thesis project with both a Danish and a Chinese supervisor
The courses during the first year provide you with knowledge and competencies in basic disciplines, but you will also follow solution-oriented courses such as water pollution control, soil and groundwater remediation, water management and computer modelling of future scenarios regarding water resources and quality.
The courses also prepare you for the independent thesis work (60 ECTS) in the second year of the programme.
Teaching and Language
The teaching is organised in small, exclusive classes (maximum 30 students) in alternation with practical exercises, project assignments, and excursions. These activities ensure a high level of learning and let you apply research and investigative methods in practice as well as theory.
All teaching is in English. You are not required to speak Chinese at the university. However, all international students studying in China must attend language and culture classes alongside their studies.
On completion of the MSc programme you will be awarded the title Master of Science (MSc) in Water and Environment.
Programme Overview
Compulsory courses: 60 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS
Year 1
| 1st semester | 2nd semester |
|---|---|
| Hydrology, Freshwater Ecology and Biogeochemistry (15 ECTS) | Statistics, Modelling and Global Change (15 ECTS) |
| Pollutants and Pollution Control (15 ECTS) | Integrated Water Management and Legislation (15 ECTS) |
Year 2
| 3rd semester | 4th semester |
|---|---|
| Thesis (60 ECTS) | |
Programme Curriculum
If you are more interested in the academic content, regulations, and examination requirements, you should consult the curriculum, which serves as the legal foundation for the programme.
There is both a curriculum specific to each degree programme and a general curriculum that applies across the faculty.
Please note that curricula are often revised annually. Any new versions will be published no later than during the spring semester.
Video: Study Water and Environment
Meet SDC graduate Tanja Krogh Sørensen and find out what she has learned from taking her double Master's degree in Water and Environment in China. Please note: The video is in Danish with English subtitles.
Video: Water and Environment – the First Field Trip
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.
Career opportunities
Upon completion of the master’s programme, you will obtain the title Master of Science in Water and Environment.
The two-year MSc programme in Water and Environment gives you the expertise to work with sustainable use and management of global freshwater resources.
This is crucial, as water resources are under increasing pressure from overuse and pollution, intensified by population growth and climate change. Thus, the demand for graduates with this profile is growing both in Denmark and internationally.
During the programme, you will get a deep understanding of the challenges and solutions to secure sufficient supplies of water suitable for drinking and agricultural production while ensuring the stability of ecosystems.
Competence Description
The programme will prepare you to work professionally with the challenges of:
- reducing and preventing water pollution
- promoting sustainable use of water
- protecting the environment
- improving the state of water ecosystems
- reducing the effects of floods and drought.
Employment
With an MSc in Water and Environment you can work within research, administration, consultancy, and project management. Graduates find work in, for example:
- engineering consultancy companies
- manufacturing companies, including companies that manufacture environmental technology products
- ministries and public administration institutions that set the political framework for the regulation of water and environment and carry out supervisory tasks
- educational institutions
- research institutions and companies
- international organisations
- food and pharmaceutical companies
- professional agricultural organisations, including consultancy firms.
Here, you can contribute to reducing and preventing water pollution, promoting sustainable use of water, protecting the environment, improving the state of aquatic ecosystems, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
Video: Water and Environment MSc programme – A Career Example
Tanja Krogh Sørensen is a graduate in Water and Environment. She tells about her job as a laboratory technician testing water quality at Atlantic Sapphire, a salmon farming company. Please note: The video is in Danish with English subtitles.
Student life
The teaching at Sino-Danish Center takes place in the House of the Danish Industry Foundation, which is located on UCAS’ Yanqihu campus 60 km north-east of Beijing.
The Great Wall of China is within walking distance from campus and so is the beautiful Yanqi Lake. On and around campus you can find dormitories for students, canteens, supermarkets, restaurants, and a lot of sports facilities. Local busses can take you from campus to the nearby town, Huairou where you can find more supermarkets, restaurants, shopping malls and a cinema. Moreover, you can transfer to the express bus to Beijing from Huairou.
Sino-Danish Centre's Danish and Chinese staff members also have an office in the House of the Danish Industry Foundation.
Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC)
Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC) is a partnership between eight Danish universities, the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education, the Chinese university University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), and the Chinese research institute Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
The aim of SDC is to promote and strengthen collaboration between Danish and Chinese research and education environments for the benefit of both countries.
Where is SDC?
The home of SDC is the House of the Danish Industry Foundation, which is located on UCAS’ Yanqihu campus north of Beijing. On sight you will find both Danish and Chinese staff, researchers and students. SDC also has a Danish office located in Aarhus.
Need more information?
Visit the SDC website or on Facebook or Instagram
Programme contact
If you have any questions regarding the Water and Environment programme please contact Head of Educational Programme, Kristian Koefoed Brandt: kkb@plen.ku.dk or phone: +45 20875635
Address in Denmark
Sino-Danish Center
Tåsingegade 1, building 1447, 2nd floor
DK-8000 Aarhus C
Email: contact@sdc.university
Contact student guidance
Questions about study choice and admission
Our student guidance are ready to assist you with answers to your questions about:
- application procedure and the digital application portal
- admission- and language requirements
- documentation
- study life
- career opportunities
- study choice or doubts
Did you not find what you were looking for?
You can find answers to questions most often asked by potential students in the FAQ. Read the FAQ
Questions about the application portal?
Check out the guide to the application porIn case of technical problems, contact IT-support:
Mail: it-service@adm.ku.dk
Tel: +45 35 32 32 32
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