Hydrology and Water Resources Management
Discover the theoretical background and practical design considerations of hydrology and water resources management.
Course key facts
Qualification
MSc
Duration
1 year
Start date
October 2027
Study mode
Full-time
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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Minimum entry standard
2:1 in Civil Engineering, Natural Sciences, Earth Sciences or other numerate subject.
Course overview
Understand the modern day challenges facing hydrologists on this one-year, multidisciplinary Master's course.
Hydrology explores the natural distribution of water in time and space. On this course, you'll evaluate the impact of manmade changes on the distribution and quality of this water.
While hydrology has traditionally been concerned with floods and water resources, experts are increasingly focused on the problems of pollutant transport, as well as wider issues such as climate change.
This course will deepen your theoretical and practical knowledge of hydrology, which encompasses the physical and life sciences, mathematical sciences, and systems analysis.
You'll also enhance your understanding of water resources management through practical field visits, and carry out an individual research project in an area of your choice.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
This course assumes a suitable grounding in programming principles and mathematical concepts expected from degree holders in numerate subjects. See our entry requirements for further details.
You’ll take all of these core modules.
Core modules
Learn the fundamental theory needed to describe, quantify and model the storage and movement of water on and within the land surface.
Develop programming and computational skills in Python for application to statistical analysis and inference of environmental data.
Understand the problems associated with contaminated land that have arisen from the unmanaged release of pollutants into the environment.
Explore the principles of fluid mechanics and hydraulics and learn how to apply those theories to practical application in river and environmental engineering.
Assess key concepts in hydrogeology related to the movement, storage and quality of groundwater and derive models to explain the behaviour of groundwater.
Become familiar with the atmospheric processes which govern the earth’s climate and which control the surface water fluxes of the hydrological cycle.
Gain a thorough understanding of the various modelling approaches for simulating river runoff and pluvial flood risk.
Explore the statistical methods used to generate data for hydrological design and simulation and the optimal use of available data in the management of water resources systems.
Analyse the effects of urbanisation on the hydrological cycle and learn how to apply basic methods of hydrological analysis.
Engage with water quality issues and uncover the basic concepts of surface water quality assessment, modelling and engineering.
Gain direct experience and develop practical field work skills in various operational hydrological contexts during a 5-day field trip.
Work in a group on two practical hydrological problems where you'll apply concepts and theory previously covered on the course.
Undertake a specific piece of independent research in the form of a critical review, laboratory- or field-based experimental investigation, modelling/numerical analysis project, or a design-related project.
Improve your technical, research and communication skills and produce a written research paper and a visual poster.
Professional accreditation
This MSc degree is accredited on behalf of the Engineering Council by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM), comprising:
- Institution of Civil Engineers
- Institution of Structural Engineers
- Institute of Highway Engineers
- Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation
- Permanent Way Institution
This degree is recognised as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree**.
Registering as a Chartered Engineer will improve your career prospects and provide higher earning potential. It will also help to demonstrate your commitment to professional standards, the engineering profession and sustainable development.
Our accreditation agreement with members of the Joint Board of Moderators is renewed every five years. The current accreditation agreement is due to be renewed in 2026.
**Candidates completing the MSc who hold an underpinning accredited IEng degree or a non-accredited Bachelor's degree will need to apply for an academic assessment to determine whether they will meet the educational base for CEng registration.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Tutorials
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Seminars and workshops
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Computing labs
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Group work
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Design projects
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Individual research project
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Virtual learning environment
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Field data collection and overseas research
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Site visits
Balance of assessment
This is an example of how assessments are usually divided, based on a typical pathway through the course. The actual breakdown may be different depending on the modules you choose.
Key
- Coursework
- Examinations
- 55% Title 1 goes here
- 45% Title 2 goes here
Assessment methods
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Coursework
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Group projects and presentations
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Research dissertation
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Research poster
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Written exams
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by 23.59 (UK time) on the closing date of an application round, to ensure you receive a response on your application by the relevant decision date.
Round 1
Business School courses only.
Round 2
- Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 6 January 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 3 March 2027
Round 3
- Applications open on Thursday 7 January 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 10 March 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 5 May 2027
Round 4
- Applications open on Thursday 11 March 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 28 April 2027
- Decision by Thursday 1 July 2027
We recommend applying as early as you can – we cannot guarantee that places will be available, or that courses will remain open, in later rounds.
If you are applying for a Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
The application fees for postgraduate courses are:
- £90 for all Master's applications, excluding those to Imperial Business School
- £125 for MSc applications to Imperial Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to Imperial Business School
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs. This includes MRes and PhD combined (1+3) courses with the Centre for Doctoral Training.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Fees and funding
Home fee (CEE 1YFT only)
2027 entry
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £19,400.
Fees are charged by year of entry to the university and not year of study.
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Overseas fee (CEE 1YFT only)
2027 entry
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £45,000.
Fees are charged by year of entry to the university and not year of study.
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Scholarships
View all scholarshipsHow will studying at Imperial help my career?
Graduates from our Department go on to succeed in a range of sectors such as construction, civil engineering, design engineering, engineering consultancy, sustainability and sustainable design, water resource engineering, environmental engineering, disaster management, structural and architectural design, infrastructure monitoring, materials manufacturing, geotechnical engineering, and renewable energy.
Who do our graduates work for?
Our graduates have worked for companies including Jacobs, Vinci, Mott MacDonald, Atkins, Aecom, Stantec, Foster and Partners, Ramboll, AKTII, WSP.
What jobs do our graduates do?
Structural Engineer, Civil Engineer, Design Engineer, Product Manger, Environmental Consultant, Construction Manager, Geotechnical Engineer, Graduate Hydrologist, Transport Planner, Carbon Market Analyst.
What about further study?
Many graduates go on to become PhD candidates at leading institutions worldwide.
What careers support does Imperial offer?
Our Careers Service collaborates with our Department to deliver career planning application talks tailored specifically for Civil and Environmental Engineering students during the course.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44(0) 20 7594 5932
- Email: cvpgo@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Dr Wouter Buytaert
Visit the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering website.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications