Global Water Policy & Management

Duration:

1 year full-time
2-5 years part-time

Overview:

Suitable for graduates wishing to develop the expertise and competence to address the broader challenges of water through an appreciation of social, financial, legal, institutional and environmental factors in global water policy and management. The part-time option allows practitioners to extend their professional development within their current employment.

Takes you on to a wide range of exciting career opportunities in water utilities and water, environment, technical and management consultants, governments, environmental and economic regulatory agencies, non-governmental organisations, industry and businesses in the global water sector. The course also provides an ideal grounding for research positions and PhD studentships.

You will be taught by our internationally renowned research and academic staff with skills in policy development, planning and management, finance and economics who have extensive international experience of solving real-life water management problems. They successfully combine professional experience with high-quality teaching skills and most are members of the Higher Education Academy.

Course Description

There is a growing demand for managers in the water sector who are not only technically competent but who also have an appreciation of consumer and societal factors in water management. This option provides students with the essential skills and knowledge required to work in a number of areas across the water sector, managing multidisciplinary teams and assessing the factors which drive change.

The course focuses on the 'supply' perspective of water and sanitation providers; the 'demand' interests of customers, consumers and users; and the 'governance' perspective of law and regulatory frameworks - all within the context of long-term environmental sustainability and the challenge of climate change. Based upon a sound platform of technological understanding, the programme ranges from the development of the Water Framework Directive in Europe, to private sector involvement in services provision; through social tariffs in high-income countries to the delivery of improved water and sanitation to the world’s slums, and on to the law and politics of transboundary and integrated water resources management.

The MSc course comprises eight assessed modules, a group project, and an individual project. Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) students complete the eight modules and the group project. Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) students complete six modules selected from any of the Water Management options.

Group project

The Society and Water Policy Evaluation group project provides students with the opportunity to take responsibility for a consultancy-type project, while working under academic supervision. The project, which in recent years has included involvement in the Fifth World Water Forum in Istanbul and the World Water Day Conference held in the European Parliament, Strasbourg, focuses on one aspect of policy development through societal involvement in water issues. Success is dependent on the integration of investigative activities, creative thinking in delivering communication tools and working within agreed objectives, deadlines and budgets. Part-time students undertake an individual supervised work-based project which goes beyond their normal work requirements while meeting the intended learning outcomes of the group project.

Individual project

Students select their individual project in consultation with the Course Director. The individual project provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to carry out independent research, think and work in an original way, contribute to knowledge, and overcome genuine problems in water management. Many of the projects are supported by external organisations and many also involve international fieldwork.

Modules:

The modules include lectures and tutorials, and are assessed through written examinations and assignments. There is an emphasis on analysis of real problems, with practical field work to reinforce learning.

• Surface and Groundwater Hydrology
• Water Quality
• World Water and Sanitation Technology
• Managing and Financing World Water and Wastewater
• Water Law
• Environmental Policy
• Globalisation, Institutions and Natural Resource Management
• Research Processes

Entry requirements:

Candidates must possess, or be expected to achieve, a 1st or 2nd class UK Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline such as geography, environmental, or biological science. Other relevant qualifications, together with significant experience, may be considered.

English language requirements - our normal minimum requirement is a TOEFL score of 580 (paper test) or 237 (computer test), essay rating 4.5 or 92 (Internet test), all skills 19 or an IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 for writing, a TOEIC overall score of 830, or a Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English grade C or Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English grade C, although a number of our programmes require higher scores.

Funding:

Funding opportunities exist, including industrial sponsorship, School bursaries and a number of general external schemes.  For the majority of part-time students sponsorship is organised by their employers. We recommend you discuss this with your company in the first instance.

Please note that a formal offer of a place on this course must have been received before consideration can be given for funding. For further details please visit our website or contact our Enquiries Office on the details provided below.

Want to find out more?

Contact our Enquiries Office for further details on all the courses we offer by either email: appliedsciences@cranfield.ac.uk or phone +44 (0)1234 758008. You can also visit our website.

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