Master’s in Urban Hydrology and Sustainable Drainage Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in urban hydrology and sustainable drainage engineering: 12 modules covering urban hydrology, conventional drainage networks, SWMM and dual 1D/2D modelling, SuDS design, stormwater quality, sponge cities, rainwater harvesting, digital drainage management and planning, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Estimate design rainfall and runoff in urban catchments.
Size conventional drainage networks and storm tanks.
Model networks with SWMM and dual 1D/2D models.
Design sustainable urban drainage systems.
Reduce combined sewer overflows and improve water quality.
Plan climate-adapted sponge cities.
Manage drainage and its assets digitally.
Who it's for
- Urban drainage engineers designing stormwater and combined networks.
- SuDS specialists working on green and blue infrastructure.
- Hydraulic modellers using SWMM, InfoWorks ICM or MIKE+.
- Municipal sewerage officers responsible for networks and by-laws.
- Climate adaptation consultants advising cities.
- Network operations engineers at water utilities.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the water and sanitation sector.
What you'll work with
- EN 752:2017 (drain and sewer systems outside buildings)
- Instruction 5.2-IC (Spanish standard for road surface drainage)
- Directive 2007/60/EC (assessment and management of flood risks)
- Directive (EU) 2024/3019 (urban wastewater treatment)
- Royal Decree 665/2023 (Spanish regulation on overflows from sanitation systems)
- UNE-EN 16941-1:2018 (on-site non-potable water systems: rainwater)
- CIRIA C753 The SuDS Manual (design guidance for sustainable drainage systems)
- EPA SWMM
- InfoWorks ICM
- MIKE+
- HEC-RAS
- QGIS
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Effects of urbanisation on runoff1.2Design rainfall and IDF curves1.3Synthetic design storms1.4Modified rational method1.5SCS curve number1.6Hydrographs in urban catchments1.7Time of concentration in cities1.8Instruction 5.2-IC on drainage1.9Continuous rainfall series1.10Case study: IDF curves for a city
2.1Sewer layout and gradients2.2Manholes and drop structures2.3Gullies and surface inlets2.4Hydraulic sizing of sewers2.5Minimum velocities and self-cleansing2.6Combined sewer overflows2.7Storm tanks2.8Stormwater pumping stations2.9Sewer pipe materials2.10Lab: stormwater network in SWMM
3.1Structure of a SWMM model3.2Definition of subcatchments3.3Horton and Green-Ampt infiltration models3.4Hydraulic transport in conduits3.5Dynamic wave and surcharge3.6Calibration with flow meters3.7Runoff quality modelling3.8Rainfall and climate change scenarios3.9Post-processing and interpretation of results3.10Practical exercise: calibration of a SWMM model
4.1Coupling of network and surface4.2Surface flooding in streets4.32D meshes in urban environments4.4Representation of buildings and kerbs4.5Models in InfoWorks ICM4.6Models in MIKE+4.7Hazard criteria for pedestrians4.8Pluvial flood maps4.9Comparison of 1D and 2D results4.10Workshop: dual model of a neighbourhood in InfoWorks ICM
5.1Principles of SuDS5.2Runoff management train5.3Green and blue roofs5.4Permeable and porous pavements5.5Infiltration trenches5.6Vegetated swales5.7Rain gardens and tree pits5.8Detention and retention ponds5.9Constructed urban wetlands5.10Lab: infiltration test on a pavement
6.1SuDS design criteria6.2Calculation of capture volumes6.3Ground permeability tests6.4Selection of substrates and vegetation6.5Water quality improvement6.6SuDS maintenance plans6.7CIRIA C753 manual6.8Landscape and urban integration6.9Construction and operating costs6.10Practical exercise: SuDS design for a street
7.1Pollutants in urban runoff7.2First flush effect7.3Combined sewer discharges7.4Royal Decree 665/2023 and overflows7.5Impact on the receiving environment7.6Stormwater treatment7.7Continuous quality monitoring7.8Build-up and wash-off models7.9Ecology of urban rivers7.10Case study: reducing CSOs in a catchment
8.1The sponge city concept8.2Green and blue infrastructure8.3Urban heat island mitigation8.4Biodiversity in urban spaces8.5Water-sensitive urban planning8.6Copenhagen Cloudburst Plan8.7Climate adaptation of drainage8.8Urban water resilience8.9Public participation in projects8.10Workshop: adaptation plan for a neighbourhood
9.1Rainwater harvesting in buildings9.2Storage tanks9.3Non-potable uses of rainwater9.4Quality and treatment for reuse9.5Requirements according to UNE-EN 16941-19.6Sizing with daily balances9.7Managed aquifer recharge9.8Neighbourhood-scale reuse9.9Economic viability of harvesting9.10Lab: water balance of a rainwater tank
10.1Level and flow sensors in the network10.2Sewerage SCADA10.3Real-time control of networks10.4Radar rainfall forecasting10.5Digital twins of sewer systems10.6AI for overflow prediction10.7Pluvial flood alerts10.8Drainage data management10.9CCTV inspection of sewers10.10Practical exercise: real-time control strategy
11.1Urban drainage master plans11.2Municipal drainage by-laws11.3Financing of stormwater infrastructure11.4Drainage charges and their design11.5Maintenance of networks and SuDS11.6Sewerage asset management11.7Trenchless sewer rehabilitation11.8Procurement of sewerage services11.9Drainage performance indicators11.10Case study: drainage master plan for a medium-sized city
12.1Delineation of the urban catchment12.2Design rainfall analysis12.3Model of the existing network12.4Flood risk diagnosis12.5SuDS and network proposal12.6Modelling of alternatives12.7Quality and adaptation assessment12.8Budget and maintenance12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is EPA SWMM, InfoWorks ICM, MIKE+, HEC-RAS and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: dual modelling of pluvial flooding, infiltration tests on pavements and soils, and monitoring of drainage networks. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: EN 752:2017, Instruction 5.2-IC on surface drainage, Directive 2007/60/EC, Directive (EU) 2024/3019, Royal Decree 665/2023, UNE-EN 16941-1:2018, CIRIA C753 The SuDS Manual.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with EPA SWMM, InfoWorks ICM, MIKE+, HEC-RAS and QGIS, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent professional experience, plus a suitable computer and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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