Master in Water and Environment

Master in Water and Environment is one of 8 English-taught Agriculture & Environment programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 4 institutions. 8 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 2,400 to EUR 15,000; this programme lists EUR 2,400 a year. 6 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

The MSc in Water and Environment at the University of Copenhagen is taught in China. It is run through the Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC), a partnership between eight Danish universities, the Chinese university UCAS and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. You study freshwater resources, environmental quality and climate change, and you also learn about the language, culture and society of China. As a general rule, you must be in China for the entire duration of your studies.

What you study

The programme focuses 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

In the first year you take four compulsory courses, each worth 15 ECTS: Hydrology, Freshwater Ecology and Biogeochemistry; Pollutants and Pollution Control; Statistics, Modelling and Global Change; and Integrated Water Management and Legislation. These give you basic knowledge but also solution-oriented work such as water pollution control, soil and groundwater remediation, water management and computer modelling of future scenarios for water resources and quality. The courses prepare you for the independent thesis work (60 ECTS) in the second year.

How the programme is organised

Water and Environment is a two-year MSc programme. It consists of four 15 ECTS course modules and a 60 ECTS MSc thesis. The first year is broad and multi-disciplinary. The thesis in the second year is where you specialise in a topic of your own choice. Internships with companies are also possible.

Teaching is in small classes, with a maximum of 30 students. It alternates with practical exercises, project assignments and excursions. All teaching is in English. You do not need to speak Chinese at the university, but all international students in China must attend language and culture classes alongside their studies.

The teaching takes place at SDC in the House of the Danish Industry Foundation, on UCAS’ Yanqihu campus about 60 km north-east of Beijing. The Great Wall of China and Yanqi Lake are within walking distance. On and around campus there are dormitories, canteens, supermarkets, restaurants and sports facilities.

Who it suits

This programme suits you if you want to work with sustainable management of freshwater resources and you are ready to live and study in China. You should have a bachelor’s degree in a natural science field such as agricultural science, biology, environmental sciences, engineering or natural resources, with basic courses in mathematics, chemistry, biology and statistics. The programme combines scientific and technical expertise with intercultural understanding, so you should be curious about Chinese language and society.

Admission, language and next steps

You apply through the application portal. The application deadline is 1 March at 23:59 CET for study start in September. The portal opens on 16 January, and you receive a reply by 15 May. There are 30 study places. If there are more qualified applicants than places, they are prioritised according to criteria set by the programme.

To be eligible, you must have a qualifying bachelor’s degree or another relevant Danish or foreign degree that the admission board assesses as meeting the academic requirements. Certain bachelor’s degrees from Danish universities automatically meet the academic requirements, provided you also meet the language requirement in English B. These include Natural Resources with a specialisation in Environmental Science, Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemistry and Geology-Geoscience from the University of Copenhagen; Biology and Chemistry from the University of Southern Denmark; Biology, Chemistry and Geoscience from Aarhus University; Biology, Chemistry and Biotechnology from Aalborg University; and Civil Engineering with specialisations in Biotechnology, Chemistry and Technology, or Environmental Technology from the Danish Technical University. If you hold another degree, you are eligible if it is in a natural science field and includes basic courses in mathematics, chemistry, biology and statistics.

You must document English proficiency at English B level. The documents you upload depend on your educational background. Typically you need a transcript of records, proof of language proficiency, a CV and a copy of your passport or national ID card. If relevant, you also upload proof of passed master’s courses with course descriptions and a receipt for the application deposit. The University of Copenhagen does not offer pre-assessment of your qualifications.

Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland study free of charge. Other students pay a tuition fee set by the institution, and applicants from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland must also pay an application deposit.

Master’s applications go straight to University of Copenhagen, not through optagelse.dk, and the institution sets its own deadline. The register shows 15 January 2027 as the next deadline for this programme. Intake, as the register states it: Starts 1 September 2027 (apply by 15 January 2027). Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, residence permits and housing.