Master of Science in Sustainable Land Management

Content

A country's physical land resources are a fundamental pillar of support for human life and welfare. Worldwide, population pressures and severe degradation, pollution and desertification problems are threatening this - for several countries relatively scarce - natural resource, and cause competition between agricultural or industrial purposes, urban planning and nature conservation. To guarantee a proper use and management of this basic commodity for a nation, well trained specialists with a thorough knowledge of the properties and characteristics of this natural resource, and a solid insight in factors and measures that may alter its actual state and value are warranted and call for a high standard scientific and practical education.

Main subject: Land and Groundwater Management

This major aims at training researchers, academics, government staff and expert consultants in the inventory and detailed characterization of land capacity, and of groundwater in particular. Graduates should be able to understand the development and evolution of groundwater under natural conditions or following human interference using field, map, laboratory and remote sensing data. They should have the scientific knowledge to use and manage land and water in a sustainable way, and to optimize land and groundwater use under different natural and environmental conditions.

Main subject: Urban Land Engineering

This major aims at training researchers, academics, government staff and expert consultants in the inventory and detailed characterization of land capacity, and of urban land in particular. Graduates should be able to understand urban hydrology and hydraulics, and the problem of sustainable mobility and logistics, using field, map, laboratory and remote sensing data. They should have the scientific knowledge to use and manage urban land and water in a sustainable way, and to optimize urban land use under different natural and environmental conditions.

Learning Outcomes

The Master of Science in Sustainable Land Management aims at delivering experts with a broad, advanced up-to-date knowledge in the field of physical land resources, and groundwater and urban land in particular, that are capable to integrate this knowledge with the acquired techniques, skills and attitudes, and to apply them in their professional life. Special consideration is given to analyzing problems in developing countries.

Structure

The Master of Science degree programme in Sustainable Land Management is a two year, full time course. The first year provides a fundamental basis in physical land resources, including supporting methodological courses. The second year offers specialised courses in one of both main subjects: either Land and Groundwater Management or Urban Land Engineering. The students have to prepare a master dissertation in the second year. Successful completion of the programme leads to the award of an Master of Science degree in Sustainable Land Management.
The course curriculum of the first year, and of the main subject in Land and Groundwater Management of the second year is organised at Ghent University, whereas all courses of the main subject in Urban Land Engineering of the second year are lectured at "Vrije Universiteit Brussel". There is one common course in the second year: "Integrated Project", assuring coherence between both majors.
The academic year starts the last week of September. However, students are advised to arrive in Ghent in the first week of September to follow the preparatory summer course.

A wide variety of teaching methods are used in the programme. All course units, except for "Internship" and "Master Dissertation" include lectures. Lectures are fundamental to provide students with the necessary basic knowledge in order to acquire the requested competences .
Besides lectures the following teaching methods are very frequently used: practical classes, PC-room classes and coached exercises. Teaching methods like guided self-study, group work and micro-teaching are occasionally used.
Field work and excursions are evidently an important component of the programme.

Courses

• consult the study guide of the Major in Land and Groundwater Management
• consult the study guide of the Major in Urban Land Engineering

Admission Requirements

Each application file is evaluated by an admission board and has to be approved by the registrar office, irrespective of the diploma obtained.

• Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree of minimum 3 years from a university or recognized equivalent. Good overall scores (at least a second class or equivalent, preferably higher) are recommended.
• Applicants are expected to have a basic science training in physics, mathematics and chemistry, and an overall academic education background in a relevant discipline, related to earth and environmental sciences.

Language requirements

The applicant must be proficient in English. The English language proficiency must be demonstrated by providing a certificate of one of the following tests:

• CEFR B2 
• TOEFL-TEST: at least 510 - 559 (paper-based), or 72 - 94 (internet-based) 
• IELTS ‘Academic Test Report Form’ (TRF): at least 6.0
• ITACE for students met ERK score B2, issued by UGent Language Centre, Linguapolis (UA), KU Leuven or Academisch Centrum voor taalonderwijs (ACTo, VUB)
• certificate B2 by an university language centre
• certificate Practical English 5 of English for Written Academic Purposes from UGent Language Centre
• B2 First (former Cambridge English, First certificate in English (FCE))
• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): at least 59 - 75.

Are exempt from submitting a certificate B2 English: 

• students having successfully completed at least one year of secondary education with English as language of instruction, or having successfully completed secondary school in a Belgian institution;
• students  having successfully completed programme units in higher education with a minimum of 54 ECTS-credits where English was the language of instruction. A certificate that the language of instruction was English has to be submitted for institutions in countries where English is not the national language.

Application Procedure

Before completing the online application, we recommend to carefully read the general guidelines (including a list of necessary documents you will need to upload). 

Application for 2023-24 opens early October 2022

APPLY for the Major in Land and Groundwater Management
APPLY for the Major in Urban Land Engineering

• Application deadlines

Study costs & Scholarship schemes

• Tuition fee
• Living & accommodation expenses: min € 850/month
• Some scholarship schemes take charge of particular costs

Scholarship schemes

• Top Up Grants
• Master Minds
• other scholarship schemes

Contact & Info

Questions related to the application procedure: applications.itc@ugent.be

MSc in Sustainable Land Management

Questions?