The Continental Water Sustainability Master’s program is a two-year international program dedicated to the sustainability of continental waters. This excellence-oriented program leads to the award of a double degree.

Master Sciences de la Terre et des planètes, environnement
Parcours Continental Water Sustainability

Partenaires

Langue d'enseignementAnglais
Credits120 crédits
Durée2 ans
Catalogue2026-2027

Training future professionals in sustainable socio-hydrosystem management

The Master in Continental Water Sustainability is a two-year international programme, fully taught in English, dedicated to understanding and addressing the major challenges related to the sustainability of continental hydrosystems (rivers, lakes, wetlands etc). This programme of excellence leads to a double degree, awarded on the one hand by the University of Strasbourg, co-accredited by the National School for Water and Environmental Engineering at Strasbourg (ENGEES), and on the other hand by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

Designed to respond to global water management challenges (such as water governance, ecological restoration, urban hydrology, climate issues, pollution, water use conflicts, etc.), the programme trains professionals capable of analysing socio-hydrosystems, designing innovative solutions, and implementing them in diverse environmental, social and institutional contexts.

From Science Fiction to Academic Vision

Born out of science fiction, nexialism refers to an approach that connects fields of knowledge rather than compartmentalising them. It is this vision that underpins the Master in Continental Water Sustainability (CWS).

“ Nexialism is the science of joining together in an orderly fashion the knowledge of one field of learning with that of other fields. It provides techniques for speeding up the processes of absorbing knowledge and of using effectively what has been learned. ”

The Voyage of the Space Beagle, A.E. van Vogt (1950)

Nexialism, as defined by the novelist A. E. van Vogt, is the very DNA of the CWS Master’s programme: the curriculum is entirely designed to train experts capable of a holistic approach to continental socio-ecological hydrosystems.

Beyond providing a strong academic foundation, our ambition is to develop students’ ability to think interdisciplinarily, to collaborate across cultures, to adopt approaches that may lie outside conventional frameworks, and to remain strongly oriented toward problem-solving.

Innovative, solution-oriented teaching

An interdisciplinary approach

The programme combines:

  • Natural sciences and engineering (hydrology, ecology, etc.),
  • Human and social sciences (sociology, communication strategies, etc.).

This approach enables students to understand the interactions between the physical, biological and social dimensions of aquatic ecosystems and to develop sustainable responses to complex water management challenges.
 

Learning by doing

The programme places a strong emphasis on practice-based learning.

Students develop key skills in:

  • teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration,
  • communication, negotiation and conflict management,
  • complex project management.

Innovative teaching methods such as hackathons, applied projects and case studies with real stakeholders allow students to build on an international pool of existing solutions, adapt them to different socio-ecological contexts, and assess their long-term efficiency.
 

Key highlights

  • A unique interdisciplinary approach, combining water sciences, engineering and social sciences
  • A solution-oriented and field-based programme
  • A strong international approach
  • A recognised double degree

How to apply

How to apply

To be eligible for the double degree programme, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Required degree
    A first-cycle degree equivalent to 180 ECTS credits in a relevant field with a focus on water-related disciplines
  • English language proficiency:
    • Minimum level B2 (CEFR)

Key dates and application platforms

  • At the University of Strasbourg (Unistra)
    European applicants: February – March 2026 (Upcoming dates)
    Platform: MonMaster

    Non-European Union applicants: October to February, depending on the country
    Platform: Études en France (Campus France)
     
  • At KIT
    Online application:  from April 1 to May 31, 2026
    To apply for the CWS track, select the Master Water Science Engineering
    Platform:  KIT application portal

Academic calendar and programme structure

For the full curriculum, please follow this link.

  Didactic Units (U.E. / Moduls)ECTS

SEMESTER 1

(Karlsruhe)

15 sept. 
-
15 March

Modul 1Field Trip1
Modul 2Sustainable management of hydrosystems (Introduction to)2
Modul 3Mapping of tangible and intangible objects (Introduction to)2
Modul 4Think Like a Scientist: Research Integrity and Best Practices in Water Science and Engineering3
Modul 5Urban Water Infrastructure and Management6
Modul 6Sustainable Management of Rivers and Floodplains3
Modul 7Water and Energy Cycles6
Modul 8Coding (Python or Matlab)3
Modul 9Preparatory projects3
Modul 10Nexialism training (1)1
 SEMESTER 130

SEMESTER 2

(Strasbourg)

15 March
-
15 June

Modul 11Restoration and conservation8
Modul 12Solutions to pollution6
Modul 13Mapping of tangible and intangible objects7
Modul 14Interdisciplinary projects5
Modul 1(Foreign langage3
Modul 16Nexialism training (2)1
 SEMESTER 230

SEMESTER 3

(Strasbourg)

1 Sept.
-
15 Feb.

Modul 17Intelligent government of hydrosystems9
Modul 18Management of water quality and habitat structures10
Modul 19Interdisciplinary projects7
Modul 20Foreign langage3
Modul 21Nexialism training (3)1
 SEMESTER 330

SEMESTER 4

1 March 
- 30 Sept

 Master Thesis30
 SEMESTER 430

Preparing Your Arrival

Preparing for your mobility is an important step towards a successful stay. Here you will find a selection of useful resources from the University of Strasbourg and KIT to help you before your arrival, including administrative procedures, accommodation, welcome services and practical information.

A Strong International Framework

This master’s programme is supported by EUCOR – The European Campus, which promotes cooperation and mobility among five universities in the Upper Rhine region.

It is also part of the framework of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme, as well as its Youth Programme in Ecohydrology, and is recommended by the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education.

The programme is implemented under the auspices of the UNESCO Chair “Rivers and Heritage” and the EUCOR Chair of Excellence “Water and Sustainability.”

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