Management and Technology of Water and Waste Water

The Management and Technology of Water and Waste Water MSc brings together two areas often regarded as separate: engineering science and process engineering on the one hand, and management on the other. Students will develop the skills to gain a detailed understanding of today's water industry systems, particularly in the area of management, engineering, and process engineering, with the focus being on water collection, treatment, and purification. In these areas, students will be taught joined-up thinking across business administration, water management, and technical issues. They will be able to understand complex water management systems and apply such systems and technologies internationally with due regard to regional and national contexts.
Alongside in-depth lectures on advanced engineering, students will also attend special lectures covering process technology, water treatment and waste water purification, management and administration, and water management.

Educational organisation

The Master's degree courses consist of the following elements:

• advanced theories
• core subjects
• electives
• non-technical course offerings

The Master's thesis is an examination paper which concludes the scientific education in every Master's degree course within the academic International Studies in Engineering (ISE) programme. It is used to show that a student is capable of dealing with a problem from the corresponding field of engineering sciences autonomously, using scientific methods and presenting it comprehensibly within a given period of time. The duration for work on the Master's thesis is six months.

Study abroad unit(s)

It is obligatory for German students to stay abroad for a period of three to six months.
During this time the students can:

• participate in lectures at a foreign university and earn credits by passing the examinations, or
• work on their final thesis

Forms of assessment

According to the examination regulations, the type and duration of the examination will be defined by the lecturer before the semester starts. Therefore, an examination can be a written test of 60 to 120 minutes or an oral examination of 30 to 60 minutes. The language of the examination is the same as the language of the lecture.

Course objectives

Graduates can expect to find good career prospects in managerial roles, particularly in the areas of water supply and waste water disposal, or with water companies or planning and engineering consultancies. Alternatively, they may choose to pursue a doctorate in either Germany or elsewhere. Graduates can especially expect to find themselves working at the interface between process engineering, water technology, and water management:

• project planning for water treatment and waste water purification plants from a process engineering and business viewpoint;
• operation of water treatment and waste water purification facilities from a process engineering and financial viewpoint;
• setting up, implementation, and assessment of quality management systems.

Graduates will:
1) master profound knowledge of advanced principles of mathematics and natural sciences as well as become experts in the fundamentals of mechanical and process engineering, including their interdisciplinary extensions;
2) develop advanced knowledge and skills in water and waste water treatment;
3) be able to develop concepts and solutions for standard as well as for unconventional problems and, in doing so, be able to combine technical problem solving with managerial duties;
4) be able to integrate process engineering with environmental and water management technology and will be able to pursue their preference for a commercial or academic career via their choice of electives;
5) benefit from an enhanced overall education with increased confidence in German or English, and profit from enhanced employability and well-developed skills in teamwork and communication;
6) have demonstrated that they can apply scientific methods to deal independently with problems from the area of environmental and water management technology (or its use in conjunction with another area of engineering) within a specific time frame, and be able to present the issues clearly.

Language requirements

Applicants must be able to demonstrate German and English language skills corresponding to Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
At the start of the programme, students must undergo placement tests in order to determine their knowledge in both languages and be placed in the appropriate courses. Students with a language certification from a qualified institute are exempt from sitting the placement test.
During the course of the ISE Master's programme, students must work towards a level B2 certification in both German and English. Students must reach a B2 proficiency level by the time they register for the final thesis. In some individual cases, language courses are a required part of the programme.

Academic requirements

The qualification for a MSc course of study in the ISE programme is met by a student's successful completion of a related degree course of study (BSc or a comparable degree) of at least three academic years' duration in the field of natural sciences or engineering sciences or computer science. The applicant must have had an average grade of 2.5 or better.
Another requirement is knowledge of German and English, at least at level B1 achieved on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Enrolment fees

All students are required to pay a social contribution of about 300 EUR per semester. The social contribution includes a semester ticket covering public transport in North Rhine-Westphalia, subsidised meals in the canteen of the university, and other services.

Costs of living

We recommend budgeting around 750 to 900 EUR per month for personal expenses.

Job opportunities

Students may be employed as student assistants at institutes within the Department of Engineering as well as by affiliated research institutions. Companies in the region also offer similar jobs.

Services and support for international students

The Support Center for (International) Engineering Students (SCIES) acts as a help desk for all study-related questions in the Department of Engineering. The mission of SCIES is to support all students at the Department of Engineering and to help them gain the most from their experience at the University of Duisburg-Essen. SCIES answers questions with regard to studies, helps in administrative matters, supports in finding accommodation, and is the first level of support for all of the students' questions.

Accommodation

Accommodation is available through the Student Services Office or on the private market. Rent for a single room in a student residence is approx. 280 EUR.
For more information, see: http://www.uni-due.de/scies/accommodation.shtml.