HZ University of Applied Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Water Management
Middelburg, Netherlands
BSc
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 2,694 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EU-students | Non-EU students: €9.893
Key Summary
About: The Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Water Management at HZ University of Applied Sciences prepares you to tackle water challenges—clean water, coastal safety, biodiversity, and food production. You’ll do real projects with companies and research institutes and, from semester four, choose a focus: Delta Management, Aquatic Ecotechnology, or Spatial Planning & Design.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can work in public and private sectors, at water authorities, government, research institutes, consultancies, engineering firms, NGOs, or industry. Typical roles include water manager, water consultant, researcher, policy officer, water engineer, wastewater treatment engineer, project coordinator, urban planner, and spatial advisor and international organizations.
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 at HZ University of Applied Sciences, you will become a skilled water expert while working on important water challenges. The programme gives you the knowledge and skills to help solve problems like clean water, healthy seas, food production, strong ecosystems, biodiversity, and coastal safety.
HZ works closely with professionals in the water sector, so you will work on real projects from the start. These projects, given by companies and research institutes, help you connect theory with practice and find out what you enjoy and do best. You will learn from experts and use the latest knowledge from the field, preparing you for a successful career in water management.
The programme combines important courses with personal choices. From semester four, you can shape your projects by focusing on technology, ecology, or spatial planning. This lets you develop expertise in your chosen area while keeping a broad knowledge, so you can work on different water-related issues in the future. This flexibility ensures you gain both specialized and general skills, making you a valuable professional in the sector.
The programme is built on strong water system knowledge, with the option to specialize in:
- Delta Management (Technology): Learn how to protect areas from floods, improve water infrastructure, and find new solutions using advanced techniques.
- Aquatic Ecotechnology (Ecology): Study biodiversity, water quality, and restoring natural ecosystems, helping to create a healthy environment for people and nature.
- Spatial Planning & Design (Spatial Planning): Plan and design cities and rural areas to deal with climate and water challenges, creating safe and sustainable living spaces.
By the end of your studies, you will be a well-rounded water management professional with deep knowledge in your chosen area. You will be ready to take on complex projects, work with international teams, and create sustainable solutions for the future.
Join our events
Whether you're exploring this study programme, looking to connect with students and staff, or want to experience life at HZ firsthand, our events are the perfect opportunity. From Open Days to webinars, there's something for everyone. Check out our upcoming events and register now!
As a water manager, your skills are valuable equally in the public and private sectors. You can work at all levels of the government or water authorities or Research institutes, consultancies, engineering companies, and industries.
With Aquatic Ecotechnology, you can work as a water consultant, assistant researcher, policy officer, expert, or project coordinator. If you further specialise in Water Technology, you can work as a water engineer, analyst, or wastewater treatment engineer.
With a specialization in Delta Management, you can work as an assistant researcher, consultant, assistant area manager, designer, or project coordinator.
With a specialization in Spatial Planning & Design, you can work as an assistant urban planner, a strategic advisor, and an advisor in spatial planning. You can work for organizations like GIZ, Unesco, government, NGOs, and consultancy firms.
Year 1
In the first year, you lay a solid foundation in water management. This starts with understanding water itself. Biology and ecology give you an understanding of the plants and animals that live in and around water, and how they affect each other and their environment. You will also learn how factors such as soil structure, flow, waste products and water temperature affect the ecosystem. You will also look at water from a social and economic perspective. This allows you to understand where water-related problems come from and how you, as a water manager, can contribute to solutions.
Water management is a hands-on programme. As early as your first year, you will therefore go outside a lot. You will work on real projects for organisations in Zeeland and learn to observe, analyse and sketch. You will not only look at the water itself, but also at the users and the environment. You will learn how to cooperate and communicate with your fellow students and professionals in the field.
Year 2
In your second year, you will work with fellow students, HZ research groups and Dutch and foreign organisations on increasingly challenging problems. Three areas of expertise always come together in each project, in which you choose which role to play.
- Are you the aquatic ecologist with knowledge of water quality and ecosystems?
- The creative designer who designs areas from the drawing board?
- The delta manager who sets out a strategy, runs projects and takes all stakeholders into account?
For each project, you choose the role you want to play in the team and what you want to learn more about. You take in-depth courses with experienced HZ researchers.
Year 3
In year 3, you complete a six-month minor. With a minor you can further specialise in your field of study or choose to broaden your knowledge in another study programme. You can do an in-depth minor at the HZ research groups in the field of water, but you can also study for half a year at another university of applied sciences at home or abroad.
During your second semester, you will do an internship at home or abroad with an organisation in your field. You may choose where you want to do this. Your Study Career Coach will help you find a suitable place.
Year 4
In the first half of year 4, you will immerse yourself in a theme of an HZ research group (Aquaculture, Water Technology, Building with Nature or Resilient Deltas). You will also participate in the Coastal Challenge. Here, you will work together with Civil Engineering and Architecture students on a wicked problem that cannot be solved without each other's expertise.
Your final semester is dominated by your graduation internship. During your internship, you are not completely away from HZ. In between, there are online classes and sessions with the other students. This way, you exchange knowledge and experiences and encourage each other on your way to your bachelor’s degrees.
Scholarships and financial aid options are offered to support our students:
- NL Scholarship – A €5,000 scholarship for non-EU students enrolling in a full-time bachelor's program. Applications close on 1 May.
- Financial Aid for EU Students – Some EU students may be eligible for Dutch student finance, which includes loans, grants, and a student travel card. Eligibility depends on working hours and residency status in the Netherlands.
Additionally, part-time job opportunities are available to help manage living expenses. These funding options ensure students have financial support to focus on their studies and personal development.
Our open days are the perfect opportunity to discover HZ, otherwise you can also join our webinars from the comfort of your home. Talk to lecturers, meet our students and learn all about studying at HZ
Why choose HZ?
Your future starts in The Netherlands: at HZ University of Applied Sciences, we warmly welcome international students! While new national regulations affect student admissions elsewhere, these do not apply to Zeeland. This means you can still enroll at HZ without restrictions.
Check the message from Barbara Oomen - Executive Board Chairwoman on the advantages of choosing HZ
Guaranteed housing
Apply for one of our programmes before May 1st, and we ensure you’ll have a place to stay. No stress, no last-minute searching: just focus on your studies!
High-quality education and small-scaled classes
HZ is ranked among the top universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands. At HZ, we offer a safe and supportive environment where a personalized approach is key, thanks to our small-scale classes
Supportive community
A warm and welcoming international student environment, with a variety of services that aim at enhancing the quality of your study at HZ!
Great job opportunities
Our students graduate not only with a bachelor’s degree, but also with the skills and expertise that help them seamlessly enter the workforce.
Hear it from our students!
''As soon as I applied at HZ, I was put in contact with the partner housing company with whom I shared my preferences and in no time I had a place to stay! It wasn't complicated at all''
Samuel, International Business student from Slovakia
Click here to read more about what our students say about finding housing in Vlissingen and Middelburg, studying at HZ, the HZ community and the career opportunities that await you!