Master’s in Water, Environment & Coastal Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in water, environmental and coastal engineering: 12 modules covering hydrology, applied hydraulics, water supply, sanitation and wastewater treatment, water quality, environmental assessment, coastal engineering, maritime works, floods, waste and contaminated soils, and water management and sustainability, 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
Analyse the hydrological cycle and water resources of a river basin.
Apply hydraulics to watercourses, networks and intake works.
Design water supply, sanitation and wastewater treatment systems.
Assess water quality and the environmental impact of projects.
Design coastal protection and beach nourishment schemes.
Manage flood risk through integrated measures.
Apply sustainability and climate adaptation criteria.
Who it's for
- Hydraulic engineers working on watercourses, networks and hydraulic structures.
- Environmental technicians involved in permitting and monitoring.
- Coastal engineers dealing with erosion and maritime works.
- Hydrological planning officers at river basin authorities.
- Wastewater treatment engineers designing or operating plants.
- Environmental assessment consultants preparing impact studies.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the water and sanitation sector.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive)
- Directive 2007/60/EC (assessment and management of flood risks)
- Law 22/1988 (Spanish Coastal Law)
- Law 21/2013 (Spanish environmental assessment law)
- Royal Decree 3/2023 (quality of water intended for human consumption)
- Directive (EU) 2024/3019 (urban wastewater treatment)
- Law 7/2022 (waste and contaminated soils)
- ROM 1.0-09 (recommendations for the design of breakwaters)
- HEC-RAS
- HEC-HMS
- EPANET
- QGIS
- SMC
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Hydrological cycle and water balance1.2Precipitation and storm analysis1.3Infiltration and runoff1.4Synthetic unit hydrographs1.5Groundwater resources and aquifers1.6Hydrological planning by river basin district1.7Objectives of the Water Framework Directive1.8Climate change and water resources1.9SWAT and HEC-HMS hydrological models1.10Case study: water balance of a Mediterranean basin
2.1Open channel flow2.2Uniform flow and the Manning equation2.3Hydraulic jump and backwater curves2.4Pressurised pipe flow2.5Water hammer and protection2.6Pumping and characteristic curves2.7Intake works and spillways2.8Hydraulics of bridges and culverts2.9HEC-RAS 1D and 2D models2.10Lab: backwater curves in HEC-RAS
3.1Surface and groundwater abstraction3.2Conventional staged drinking water treatment3.3Royal Decree 3/2023 on drinking water3.4Water distribution networks3.5Network modelling with EPANET3.6District metering and leakage control3.7Storage tanks and regulation3.8Efficiency and non-revenue water3.9Remote meter reading and digital management3.10Practical exercise: EPANET model of a district
4.1Combined and separate sewer networks4.2Pretreatment and primary treatment4.3Activated sludge process4.4Nitrogen and phosphorus removal4.5Sludge treatment and recovery4.6Directive (EU) 2024/3019 on urban wastewater4.7Water reclamation and reuse4.8Wastewater treatment for small communities4.9Operation and control of WWTPs4.10Workshop: sizing a biological reactor
5.1Ecological status of water bodies5.2Biological and hydromorphological indicators5.3Diffuse nitrate pollution5.4Discharge authorisations5.5Water quality models5.6Eutrophication of reservoirs5.7Emerging contaminants and microplastics5.8Groundwater contamination5.9Quality monitoring networks5.10Lab: dissolved oxygen model of a river
6.1Environmental impact assessment of projects6.2Law 21/2013 on environmental assessment6.3Content of the environmental impact study6.4Preventive and corrective measures6.5Environmental monitoring programme6.6Effects on the Natura 2000 network6.7Strategic environmental assessment6.8Public participation in assessment6.9Cumulative impact indicators6.10Practical exercise: impact study for a wastewater treatment plant
7.1Wave generation and statistics7.2Tides and sea level7.3Wave propagation towards the coast7.4Longshore sediment transport7.5Beach equilibrium profiles7.6Coastal erosion and its causes7.7Coastal Law 22/19887.8Maritime-terrestrial public domain7.9Sea level rise7.10Case study: diagnosis of beach erosion
8.1Rubble-mound and vertical breakwaters8.2Groynes and detached breakwaters8.3Artificial beach nourishment8.4Nature-based solutions8.5Armour layer stability with Hudson and Van der Meer8.6Overtopping and run-up8.7ROM maritime works recommendations8.8Modelling of beach evolution8.9Video-based coastal monitoring8.10Lab: sizing a rubble-mound breakwater
9.1Floods Directive 2007/60/EC9.2Hazard and risk maps9.3Flood risk management plans9.4Urban drainage and storms9.5Sustainable urban drainage systems9.6Early warning systems9.7Flood damage analysis9.8Structural and non-structural measures9.9Climate projections of extremes9.10Practical exercise: flood map with HEC-RAS 2D
10.1Waste management under Law 7/202210.2Design of controlled landfills10.3Leachate treatment10.4Investigation of contaminated soils10.5Soil remediation techniques10.6Quantitative environmental risk analysis10.7Energy recovery from waste10.8Circular economy of water10.9Environmental liability and financial guarantees10.10Case study: remediation of an industrial site
11.1Water footprint of products and services11.2Water and river basin governance11.3Tariffs and cost recovery11.4Public and private water management11.5Digitalisation of the water cycle11.6Sustainable Development Goal 611.7Water conflicts11.8Financing of hydraulic infrastructure11.9ISO 14001 environmental management in utilities11.10Workshop: sustainability plan for a water utility
12.1Definition of the study area12.2Hydrological and environmental diagnosis12.3Hydraulic or coastal analysis12.4Proposed technical solution12.5Sizing of the solution12.6Environmental assessment of the solution12.7Climate adaptation analysis12.8Budget for the works12.9Master'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 HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, EPANET, QGIS and SMC, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: hydraulic modelling of watercourses and networks, environmental impact studies of real projects and coastal erosion diagnoses. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive), Directive 2007/60/EC, Coastal Law 22/1988, Law 21/2013 on environmental assessment, Royal Decree 3/2023, Directive (EU) 2024/3019, Law 7/2022 on waste, ROM 1.0-09.
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 HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, EPANET, QGIS and SMC, 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.
Related programmes
Airport Engineering/Ports & City Node (Urban Focus)
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in airports, ports and city node engineering with an urban focus, with 12 modules covering transport nodes and the city,…
Master’s in Cybersecurity Engineering for Urban Infrastructure and ITS
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in cybersecurity engineering for urban infrastructure and ITS, structured in 12 modules covering the regulatory framework, ITS and OT security,…
Master’s in Coastal Engineering and Urban Maritime Works
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in coastal and urban maritime works engineering: 12 modules covering marine dynamics, beach morphodynamics, breakwaters, seafronts and promenades, beach nourishment…
More in Civil, Rail & Smart Cities
All Civil, Rail & Smart Cities programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships