School of Geography - Faculty of Environment

MSC IN CATCHMENT DYNAMICS AND MANAGEMENT

COURSE OVERVIEW

Hydrology is of fundamental importance to the world’s population, and industry and academia throughout the world demand research training in hydrology. The University of Leeds has a world-class reputation for hydrological research and this programme builds on this success.

This course is for those wishing to advance their skills and career options in river basin processes and management. The important components of the course are hydrology, geomorphology, engineering, water resource management, river ecology, water quality and sediment dynamics, groundwater, river modelling, data analysis and environmental impact assessment.

Many students on the course have first degrees in subjects such as geography, environmental science, engineering or earth sciences. However, the course is also suitable for people who want to change their career direction. For example if you have previously studied a different subject such as maths, chemistry, or biology or have been in industry for a number of years, you would still be welcomed onto the course and can use it as a way opening up new career prospects.

The course advocates  a holistic approach to understanding the functioning of river basin systems as an essential pre-requisite for their management. The dynamics and management of river catchment systems are fundamental concerns in both the developed and developing worlds because of the ever growing pressure on catchment resources and the uncertain impact of climate change.

The course offers:

• Advanced pure and applied education and training in key modern and developing fields of catchment dynamics and management including industrial, laboratory and field techniques and policy.
• Advanced understanding of the links between catchment characteristics, natural and anthropogenic environmental change, river behaviour and water, sediment and contaminant fluxes.
• A detailed understanding of the principles of water resource management
• An appreciation of the institutional and legal frameworks impacting on catchment management.
• An ability to formulate important research questions and design methodological approaches for answering these questions.
• Training in quantitative analysis skills including statistical presentation
• and numerical modelling.
• A range of transferable, marketable skills required to obtain employment in river basin processes and environmental management or to pursue a career in research and education.

Dr Jonathan Carrivick
Programme Manager