Integrated Management of Water, Soil and Waste

The main objective of the Doctoral programme is to provide graduate students with detailed knowledge, critical understanding, strategies and tools to take an interdisciplinary and integrated approach towards the management of water, soil and waste.

The joint Doctoral programme aims at creating a new generation of environmental scientists, engineers and managers to conduct, promote and provide guidance on the sustainable management of water, soil and waste. These resources and their sustainable management are of concern to the United Nations and its member states, particularly to developing countries and emerging economies.

About the Programme

Considering that the theme of the joint Doctoral programme is new and unique in the academic world, prospective students are expected to come from a variety of backgrounds. To ensure that the students have an evenly-matched starting point, and also to introduce the basic concepts of the nexus of water, soil and waste, the programme comprises 35 course credits in addition to 175 dissertation credits. This total of 210 credits spans over 7 semesters. The credits are defined in terms of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

All coursework is science-based and all courses require basic knowledge in physics, chemistry and mathematics at undergraduate level. In addition, the courses will also require basic knowledge in social sciences. In line with UNU-FLORES research agenda, research topics for dissertations will be focused on solving current challenges related to the nexus of water, soil and waste. Courses will be offered by academic staff at both universities. Doctoral dissertations will also be co-supervised by advisors from both universities.

Highlights

* The degree is jointly offered by the United Nations University and the Technische Universität Dresden, Germany;
* The focus of the programme is on integrated management of water, soil and waste using a nexus approach, making it the first of its kind;
* The programme has a strong focus on developing countries;
* Students have access to the facilities and services of TUD, one of eleven Universities of Excellence in Germany, as well as the network of UNU Institutes;
* Doctoral research includes close cooperation with UN agencies and programmes as well as other international organizations;
* Students have the opportunity to get internships at various UN agencies.

Contents

The Doctoral programme includes mandatory and elective courses. The courses can further be categorized into thematic courses (to be taken in the first and second semester) and methodological courses. In addition, students have the opportunity to take courses at the recently established Graduate Academy of TUD. Courses and workshops offered in the framework of the Graduate Academy are of short duration (typically 1-2 days) and without credits.

Students devote the first semester to learning the basic concepts of the nexus of water, soil and waste as well as important aspects of governance and capacity development. The Doctoral students will also start working on their research topics during the first semester. Half of the second semester is again course-based while the other half is devoted to the preparation of the final dissertation proposal and its defence. In agreement with the Dissertation Supervisor, Doctoral students are allowed to choose additional courses focusing on specific skills required for their research topics. However, these courses will not be counted towards the grades. From the third semester onwards, Doctoral candidates will concentrate fully on their research topic.

Requirements

Applicants are required to have basic knowledge in undergraduate level physics, chemistry and mathematics with a Bachelors degree in one of the following fields:

* Engineering;
* Natural Sciences;
* Social sciences; or
* Other closely related field.

All applicants are also required to have a research-based Masters degree in environmental resource management.

Experience related to the nexus of water, soil and waste or environmental resource management will be considered an asset.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band: 7 TOEFL paper-based test score : 600 TOEFL iBT® test: 100

Funding

A limited number of scholarships will be made available to qualified applicants by UNU-FLORES with contributions from various donors.