Master in
Erasmus Mundus Master of Applied Ecohydrology (MAEH) (M.Sc.) University of Antwerp
Introduction
MAEH is a two-year master programme (120 ECTS credits) offered by four European Universities: the University of Algarve (Portugal), the University of Lodz (Poland), the Technische Hochschule Lübeck (Germany), and the University of Antwerp (Belgium). After successful completion of the programme, you will obtain the Joint Master's degree in Applied Ecohydrology. The programme supported by the Erasmus+ fully financially supports 22 scholarships each year, including all expenses with travels, insurance, installation, university fees, and 1000 euros monthly subsistence. The MAEH is scientifically supported by the UNESCO Ecohydrology Programme of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme, which has been developing the concept of ecohydrology for more than 20 years.
The strengths of this two-year study programme are:
- Gain in-depth knowledge, skills and competences to restore, engineer and manage aquatic ecosystems and their services to society.
- Innovate by putting ecohydrology principles central when exploring solutions for societal challenges, such as water security and global change.
- Apply nature-based solutions to water problems (regarding both quality and quantity) that are adaptable to local situations in all geographic contexts.
- Develop transdisciplinary skills in water sciences and form a global network by working together with international academic and professional experts.
- Contribute to a better future by managing water resources and ecosystem services in an integrated, transborder and sustainable way.
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Erasmus Mundus Scholarships
Erasmus Mundus is a programme funded by the European Commission. Its aims are to encourage mobility (long-term and short-term) of students and staff, to attract the best talents to Europe, and to promote European higher education worldwide.
The Master in Applied Ecohydrology provides 22 scholarships funded by Erasmus Mundus to students from all nationalities. The Erasmus Mundus scholarship is a full scholarship that includes the programme tuition fees, a monthly allowance and travel costs up to a total of 49,000 euro for the full 2-year programme. The tuition fee is automatically deducted from the scholarship.
The student receives EUR 1,000/month allowance as support for housing and general subsistence. European students do not receive this monthly allowance when staying in their home country.
A further travel allowance of up to EUR 3,000/year (European students: EUR 1000/year) and an instalment fee of EUR 1,000 payment (only for non-European students) is also provided.
If you had previously received an Erasmus Mundus scholarship you are not eligible for a new scholarship.
Curriculum
The Maeh Merges Fundamental Different Expertise In Water Science:
Each semester focuses on a different discipline in water science:
Semester 1
Ecohydrology
When starting your MAEH studies, you will be submerged in the field of Ecohydrology. The basic concept is the dual regulation between biota and hydrology. Ecohydrology integrates knowledge of ecology and hydrology. It provides a scientific understanding of how to restore the carrying capacity of aquatic ecosystems and ecosystem services provided to society. Ecohydrology forms the scientific basis for Nature-Based Solutions that are derived from the understanding of the hydrological cycle at a river basin scale. Class activities are diverse ranging from lectures to lab courses and field excursions. Ecohydrology courses are taught at the University of Algarve in Portugal together with practical field and laboratory training at Lodz University in Poland (at the end of the first semester, first academic year).
Semester 2
Water engineering
In the second semester of the first academic year, you will study water engineering at Technische Hochschule Lübeck in Germany. Water engineering is a relevant discipline for the development of societies and urban systems as they depend on a safe and regular supply of clean water and rely on protection from extremes such as floods and droughts. Ecohydrology principles are understood, applied, and integrated fully into the engineering design resulting in engineered nature-based solutions for water retention, nutrient retention, nature-based water treatment, and flood protection by natural floodplain development. In the theoretically and practically oriented courses, you will learn advanced engineering techniques and skills, to plan, devise and implement technical structures and systems to design, restore and use ecosystem services in a sustainable manner and to reduce water-related risks to society.
Semester 3
Integrated Water Management
After the summer training in Poland, you will travel to Belgium to start your second academic year of MAEH at the University of Antwerp. The third semester is dedicated to Integrated Water Management, which is defined as the coordinated and integrated development, management, and restoration of the water system taking into account the ecosystem quality objectives, its multifunctional use, today and in the future. Besides sustainability and regulatory frameworks, you will learn about the need for a holistic and transboundary approach and how to implement interdisciplinary projects while reconciling the often contrasting needs of multiple stakeholders. Teaching methods are diverse ranging from lectures and computer classes to field excursions and case studies in groups.
Semester 4
You will complete your MAEH programme with a 30 ECTS master dissertation, which is scheduled in the fourth semester and can be done at one of the four partner universities.
Strengths
Students will gain a transdisciplinary perspective on global water issues and will learn how to integrate ecosystem functioning (ecohydrology) with water engineering solutions and how to apply and manage selected solutions, in real social and economic contexts.
The partners associated with the programme include private companies and public institutions at each of the consortium member countries. Students will be exposed to the reality of the world of work, by the close collaboration of private and institutional stakeholders. Students will gain the global knowledge and international experience from various case studies in cooperation with UNESCO Ecohydrology and Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) demonstration sites.
- Understand the complexity of global water problems and the need for holistic solutions;
- Experience internationally valued demonstration sites and case studies from UNESCO-IHP and LTER (Long-term Ecological Research);
- Learn in-depth knowledge, skills, and competencies to restore, engineer, and manage aquatic ecosystems and their services to society;
- Innovate by putting ecohydrology principles central when exploring solutions for societal challenges such as water security and global change;
- Apply nature-based solutions to water problems (regarding both quality and quantity) that are adaptable to local situations in all geographic contexts;
- Develop transdisciplinary skills in water sciences and a global network by working together with international academic and professional experts;
- Contribute to a better future by managing water resources and ecosystem services in an integrated, transboundary, and sustainable way.