Groundwater and Global Change – Impacts and Adaptation (GroundwatCh) Dresden University of Technology

As the largest liquid freshwater reservoir on earth, groundwater has both a huge environmental and economic value, and will be an essential resource for adaptation to climate change and reduction of socio-economic vulnerability, particularly in regions where freshwater availability is highly variable and frequently limited.

Several factors foster the need for a more comprehensive and multidisciplinary educational groundwater programme.

First, groundwater is a component of the water cycle interacting with all other components at various temporal and spatial scales.

Second, groundwater systems are largely interdependent with socio-economic development. The presence of important and productive aquifers can boost socio-economic development and alleviate poverty in low-income countries by providing water for public supply and sustainable irrigation, increasing (environmental-friendly) land use efficiency.

On the other hand, the continuous growth of the world population and the socio-economic development of many countries has already caused, and will continue to cause, large impacts on freshwater (including groundwater) systems through uncontrolled exploitation, causing depletion, seawater intrusion, reduction in baseflows in rivers and ecological flows sustaining freshwater ecosystems, or land subsidence.

Third, climate change is foreseen to affect freshwater availability globally, with several hotspots, among which many areas that currently already suffer periods of severe droughts and freshwater scarcity, such as the Mediterranean area of southern Europe and Northern Africa, north-east China, northern and south-western Latin America, large parts of Australia and the western United States, among others.

Fourth, important feedback mechanisms exist between groundwater (and its use), climate and global change, which vary in time and space.

GroundwatCh addresses the current gaps in higher education with regard to the understanding of the complex interactions between groundwater, surface water, climate and global change, and how we should consider these, and can benefit from them, for the implementation of adaptation solutions. Embracing the central theme of Groundwater and Global Change – Impacts and Adaptation, we have linked it to six major thematic fields:

• Hydrological flow and ecosystems (A)
• Groundwater quality and pollution (B)
• Groundwater and climate (C)
• IWRM and sustainable development (D)
• Water infrastructure (E)​
• Monitoring, data and modelling (F)​

As a GroundwatCh student, you will start the academic year at ULisboa IST in September, where you will start with the QGIS introductory (certified) course during the first semester, followed by the mandatory courses addressing core competences in thematic areas A-D, and elective courses in E-F (see https://www.groundwatermaster.eu/about), totalling (at least) 30 ECTS (as you are free to select more elective courses). In February, still in Portugal, you will take preparatory training in interdisciplinary science and fieldwork to prepare for the interdisciplinary project taking place at IHE Delft in the second semester. At the end of February, you will move to IHE Delft, where you will acquire (at least) 30 ECTS in the second semester, taking mandatory and elective courses within all thematic areas. Among the elective courses, you can opt for an ECTS-credited internship at any of the associated partners (APs). Following conclusion of the second semester at the end of July, you can continue your internship if desired, or have a summer break before moving to TU Dresden mid-September, where you will start your third semester with summer school courses and a thematic seminar. Subsequently, you will obtain training (at least 30 ECTS) in thematic areas A, C and F, through compulsory courses in climate modelling and groundwater-soil-land-climate feedback mechanisms as well as a study project and elective courses that can also cover the other thematic areas.

At the end of the third semester, in March of the second academic year, you will start your thesis study (30 ECTS), optionally together with an AP. You will conduct research under the guidance of a professor from one of the full partner universities, and lecturers or researchers from APs can be your mentors. We aim at a balanced distribution of MSc thesis projects and students amongst the three partner universities. The thesis has to be defended at the university where the student is registered, i.e. the university of the supervising professor, in agreement with local institutional regulations.

IHE Delft Institute for Water Eduction

ULisboa, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Lisbon

• Early January for an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship for applicants from partner countries

• Early February for an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship for applicants from programme countries

• End of April for self-payers in case a visa is needed

• End of July for self-payers in case no visa is needed

• Proof that the applicant has successfully accomplished a first degree of higher education equivalent to a BSc degree equivalent to 180 credit points according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)

• A good final mark as shown by a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least B/B+ (US System) or a classification of at least second upper (UK system)

• A Bachelor's degree or comparable in one of the following subjects: geologic, hydraulic, civil, environmental or agricultural engineering, geosciences, environmental sciences, climate sciences, geography, geology, or any other similar subject

• Sufficient academic knowledge of mathematics

AT TU Dresden, students pay approx. 340 EUR per semester (i.e. for six months). This includes a ticket for public transport and regional trains in all of Germany. Additionally, students can use a bike rental service all over the city for free for 30 minutes. The contribution also assures concessions in the university cafeterias and offers benefits (e.g. price reductions) for many cultural and leisure activities in Dresden.

Monthly living expenses per country (in EUR): accommodation-meals-transport

• Lisbon: 300/400-200-200
• Delft: 600/650-200-200
• Dresden: 250/300-200-200

Insurance: 960 EUR (If you are from Europe, you may have a European health insurance card, which is valid in other European countries.)

Details for Dresden: The city offers high quality of living at very moderate costs. Currently, students should expect to pay around 850 EUR per month including rent, food, insurance and basic expenses. This figure is relatively low compared to other big German cities.

In order to top up their budget, some students may want to look for temporary work in Dresden. If so, different regulations apply for students from EU member states, countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, and students from outside the European Union and the EEA area. In addition, restrictions on the duration of employment may apply. Professors, lecturers and group leaders involved in the Master's programme may offer students the possibility of working as academic assistants. However, living expenses can be financed only partially through a job as an academic assistant.

TU Dresden offers plenty of counselling and training within its Career Service to help students with finding professional orientation. They offer workshops to equip students with professional skills and aid to optimise their CV. Moreover, it supports students networking with potential employers.

Additionally, there are special workshops for international students to get to know the German and Saxon job market and network.

It is still relatively easy to find affordable accommodation in Dresden. Accommodation is available either via the "Studentenwerk Dresden" or on the private market. Rent for a single room in a student residence is approx. 250 EUR per month.
Private housing can be found online. We recommend that you move into a hall of residence at the beginning of your stay in Dresden. Subsequently, you can look for a place on the private market or in a shared apartment, which is known as a "Wohngemeinschaft" in German.