Sustainable Water Management and Engineering M.Eng.

Climate change and global population growth are placing increasing pressure on water resources worldwide, making sustainable and resilient water management more important — and more complex — than ever. Today’s engineers must combine technical expertise with management skills to tackle these global challenges.

The Master’s programme in Sustainable Water Management and Engineering (MEng) prepares graduates to meet these demands. It equips students with cutting-edge engineering knowledge including the effctive use of GenAI, management competencies, and a strong focus on sustainability and digitalisation. Based on the latest research, the programme fosters systems thinking, practical problem-solving skills, and effective communication..

With this Master’s program, you will be able to

•  identify and analyze current and future challenges in water management,
• develop appropriate solutions and
• implement and evaluate them in interdisciplinary teams.

In addition, you benefit from

• a unique Master‘s degree at the interface of technology and management
• a perfect interdisciplinary toolbox of knowledge and skills of engineering and business know-how
• development of your intercultural competence
• excellent career perspectives

As a graduate, you have excellent career opportunities for leading positions in the water sector, both in Germany and abroad, e.g.

• Management tasks in research and construction in the field of water and waste water management
• Leading positions in industry, public authorities, and medium-sized companies
• Development or research engineer for nature conservation and environmental protection
• Planning and consulting work in specialized engineering offices
• Activity as an expert and appraiser

You are ready to work as

• Product / Project Manager
• Planning Engineer
• Sustainability Manager
• Technical Advisor / Consultant
• Researcher

Semester 1 and 2: Practice-oriented theory

Mandatory modules

• Applied Sustainability
• Risk Management in the Water Sector
• Water, Climate and Society
• Advanced Water Treatment
• Urban Wastewater Cycle
• Integrated Water Resources Management
• Water Quality and Water Cycle
• Smart Water
• Sustainability-Oriented Innovation and Project Management
• New Technologies in the Water Sector

Elective (select one)

• Language, e.g. German A2 and B1
• Subject-specific elective module as offered in the module catalog (subject to change each year), e.g.
  • Advanced Project Case Studies (use of GenAI)
  • Agile, Traditional and Hybrid Methods in International Project Management
  • Intercultural Communication
  • International Human Resource Management
  • Energy Efficiency in Water Management Systems

Semester 3: Internship

• Practical work-experience

• Master‘s thesis with a company

   

View detailed program structure

Internship
Our M.Eng. students spend the third semester doing a practical internship in industry (e.g. manufacturer of equipment for waste water treatment plants) or in engineering offices (e.g. planning of remote controlled sewers or urban rainwater management). The Master thesis is also written during the internship. Thus, you can immediately apply your knowledge and gain profound professional experience at the same time.

Teaching concept
The programme follows a hands-on, interdisciplinary approach, combining current topics such as sustainability, water risk and resource management with core engineering disciplines like water treatment and sewage systems. The three dimensions of sustainability — economic, social and environmental — are embedded throughout, alongside digitalisation and the practical use of AI in engineering.

Specifically to prepare students for entering the German job market, this program examines the role and application of GenAI in German water utilities and develops potential solutions. This equips graduates with in-demand skills that set them apart from other applicants in an increasingly AI-driven job landscape.

Academic requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or similar in engineering or natural sciences providing sufficient knowledge in environmental engineering, water technology and chemistry from an accredited university, at least 210 ECTS or equivalent (depending on home country); minimum grade 2,5 according to the German grading system
• sufficient knowledge in environmental engineering, water technology and chemistry means at least 5 credits (or their equivalent) were achieved in each of these areas
• Applicants with less than 210 credits (ECTS) will be accepted but have to gain the missing credits by either
  • doing an internship (at least 20 weeks) as long as no internship was done during the Bachelor’s degree.
  • Attending appropriate modules at Hof University (for applicants who already did an internship).
  • For both alternatives, please calculate an additional (fourth) semester.

Language requirements

• You need to prove your proficiency in English. This can be done with either of the following:
  • TOEFL minimum 90
  • IELTS 6.5 or above
• In addition: Basic language skills in German, proven by official test score documents - minimum level A1

All applications must be done via our online application portal Primuss.

• The application period for winter intake is between April 15 and May 31.
• The application period for summer intake is between November 05 and November 30.
• An admission committee intensively scrutinizes all applications and decides about final admission. Admission letters will be issued in June for winter intake and December for summer semester intake.

If you acquired your university entrance certificate abroad, uni-assist must assess the certificate before you can send it to Hof University. We advise you to send your documents to uni-assist at least 4 weeks before our application deadline.

If you have any questions concerning the application process, please contactadmission(at)hof-university.de.