Graduate School H2O'Lyon University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL1)
Master in Integrated Watershed Sciences (IWS)
Lyon, France
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
EUR 335 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
The application process for eligible students on eCandidat runs from mid-February 2026 to mid-April 2026! Please note!
The process will be case-specific, so we ENCOURAGE you to pre-apply on our website (here) so that we can help you with the process.
Interested students who have to apply for the program through Lyon 1 University should follow the eCandidat procedure between March 11, 2026, and April 17, 2026.
Students who have to apply through Lyon 2 University should follow the eCandidat procedure between February 17, 2026, and April 17, 2026.
2026 Seminar was scheduled for November 19. Ask for the slides if you wish!
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Freshwater has become a highly limited, critical resource, and increasing anthropogenic demands (e.g., drinking water, sanitation, hydropower, irrigation, transportation) often create conflicts with water quality- and availability requirements of natural hydro systems. Addressing the complexities of freshwater challenges and developing innovative, integrated approaches across disciplines is central to develop sustainable solutions.
This specialization track is ideal for students with a broad interest in water sciences who want to integrate social, environmental, and engineering dimensions. Students will not only expand their knowledge within their own discipline but also acquire a trans-disciplinary perspective of watershed sciences. This will enable students to fully understand the threats to both natural and anthropogenic hydro systems and develop their skills to create and implement innovative, holistic solutions.
The teaching is developed and conducted by expert researchers of the H2O’Lyon research units and our national and international partners. The Master thesis will be carried out in collaboration with external academic organizations and water stakeholders and managers.
To foster cross-disciplinary thinking, two or three students from different disciplines (hydrology, freshwater ecology, economics, social science, microbiology, and risk analysis) will be selected that will form an interdisciplinary IWS cohort.
Foreign students justifying a 1st-year MSc level (M1) or a master's degree or equivalent can apply for the second year of this specialization track which is completely in English.
Want to study Water Sciences abroad in Europe? Come to Lyon!
The second year of this specialisation track is focused on theory and practives to tackle complex water challenges. The program provides a research-driven approach combining teaching methods, such as lectures, practicals, group exercises, field-based work, student presentations as well as completion of an independent research project (Master thesis).
You will learn theory of trans and inter-disciplinary, apply these knowledge to complex issues in water sciences, develop your skills through various technics for solving water-related problems, and professional tools, such as scientific communication and project management.
Year-2 Teaching Units (UE)
- Challenges in water sciences (3)
- Inter and transdisciplinarity (3)
- Disciplinary basis (6)
- Cross-disciplinary issues (3)
- Supervised project (3)
- Technics and methods (6)
- Communication and application (6)
- Master thesis (30)
Total Year 2 (60)
Master thesis and topics
Students will carry out a supervised final research project as their Master's thesis. The purpose of the thesis is to demonstrate the student’s capacity to design, conduct and analyze a scientific study based on the skills obtained during the first three semesters. Students from different disciplines will form clusters around trans-disciplinary research questions to address complex real-world issues that go well beyond their individual expertise. Each student will work on facets of the question that are related to its specific discipline while collaborating with other students in its cluster.
Students will present their individual projects, results, and relevant background literature in an independent Master thesis and a Master seminar that follows the procedures of scientific meetings. In addition, students from each cluster will generate a short report describing the collective effort to solve the real-world issue of their project.
Master theses will be carried out in one of the research units of the H2O'Lyon network, in collaboration with external organizations involved in watershed management and water sciences.
Examples of suitable Master thesis topics:
- Climate change and water resource
- Environmental risks and freshwater pollution
- Restoration and freshwater biodiversity
- Sustainable urban water management
- River health assessment and integrated diagnosis
Students are being prepared for a career in fundamental or applied research, water conservation, management, and policy at different regional, national, and international levels that are associated with their own areas of expertise (e.g., ecology, geomatics, water, environment, and risk management, engineering sciences). Possible employment will include positions such as Project Manager, Research Scientist, and Policy Analyst.
In contrast to traditional water-sciences programs, the H2O’Lyon IWS program has a strong emphasis on inter-, cross- and trans-disciplinarity and the development of communication tools. Freshwater issues are no longer subject-specific. Therefore, knowledge and understanding of related disciplines will not only be crucial for finding innovative, holistic solutions to current and future threats but will also increase professional skills, employability, and job satisfaction.
Ph.D. Studies
In addition to pursuing a career as a water professional (see above), this Master's degree specialization track makes you eligible for scientific postgraduate degree studies.
As a Ph.D. student, you are part of a research group and will conduct your own independent scientific project.
Degrees can be completed at the University of Lyon in one of the H2O’Lyon research units (or anywhere else in the World).
Students can do either a regular Ph.D. or pursue a program within the CIFRE program (a French partnership program to conduct doctoral studies while being employed by a company).
The H2O’Lyon team will assist IWS students to identify a suitable Ph.D. project and research partners as well as potential funding sources.
H2O’Lyon offers scholarships to support international mobility during your IWS studies. Foreign students enrolled in the track can apply for a grant of 1000€ / month of mobility.
Note that enrolled students will have to do their Master's thesis in the form of a 6-months internship in a research unit. In France, internships are by law remunerated with a minimum amount of about 550€ per month.
The H2O’Lyon scholarship and the internship remuneration can be combined.