Master’s in Environmental Sciences

The MSc in Environmental Sciences at Wageningen University is a two-year, thesis-oriented programme, with one year dedicated to coursework (60 ECTS) and one year to independent research (24 ECTS of academic internship and 36 ECTS of thesis work). It runs annually in two sessions, one beginning in September, and one in February. The curriculum is highly flexible, allowing students to tailor their studies to personal interests and career goals, with guidance from a study adviser and thesis superviser.

The programme aims to equip students with strong analytical and problem-solving skills, a critical scientific mindset, and in-depth knowledge of environmental and sustainability issues. Graduates are well-prepared for PhD research or careers in applied science, consultancy, and (non-)governmental organisations.

For more detailed information about this programme's profile and learning outcomes, visit the Study Handbook.

The first year consists of coursework (60 ECTS). This entails several compulsory core subjects or restricted optional subjects of the common part that are mandatory for your programme, your specialisation, and thesis track. In addition, you will attend free choice subjects (electives) from any relevant MSc course offered at Wageningen University or another academic institution (subject to approval).  

The second year includes an academic internship (24 ECTS) and a thesis (36 ECTS), both central to the master’s curriculum. 

Internship

The compulsory internship consists of 24 ECTS credits of project work in an institution outside of Wageningen University. The purpose of the internship is to provide students with a unique learning opportunity to apply learned skills and concepts to a professional setting. The experience gained from the internship also serves to help students focusing on their area of interest, as well as building confidence and maturity in their field.  

Internship position 

Whilst securing an internship is primarily a responsibility of the student, the internship coordinator will provide substantial assistance in finding a suitable position, ensuring that the work experience is relevant to the student's study programme. The student  can choose an academic position within an NGO, government, waterboard, consultancy, research institute, technology developing companies, etc. 

Thesis 

The thesis involves 24 weeks of individual research under the supervision of a staff member from a relevant chair group. Research topics are chosen in consultation with the supervisor and must connect to Environmental Sciences, often arising from chair group proposals, partner institutes, or student interests. Experimental theses needing special equipment are usually tied to ongoing Wageningen UR research. The thesis is evaluated by the supervisor and an independent staff member, and students present their findings at a seminar ("colloquium").  

Within this master's programme, you can choose one of the specialisations below to meet your personal interests. Each of them trains you to become an expert in that field. Within your specialisation, you pick at which research group you would like to write your thesis.

The two major parts of your specialisation are the (thesis-preparing) courses and a major thesis. You can extend your specialisation with an internship or a research practice. For a more detailed information on the programme structure per specialisation, visit the MSc Environmental Science Study Handbook page.  

• Specialisation Environmental Quality
  Environmental Quality focuses on an improved understanding of the physical, chemical and biological processes in soil, water and air, and the effects of environmental pollution and climate change on humans and ecosystems. Knowledge from natural sciences is used to identify possible solutions for environmental issues.
• Specialisation Environmental Policy and Economics
  Environmental Policy and Economics covers the contribution of the social sciences to environmental research. The focus is on the social, political, legal and economic aspects of environmental issues and the goal is to provide students with the skills for studying, formulating and designing innovative forms of national and international environmental governance.
• Specialisation Environmental Technology
  This specialisation focuses on developing and evaluating innovative environmental technologies and concepts based on processes from nature. The aim of the environmental technologies is to recover and reuse valuable resources, and maintain and create a viable environment.
• Specialisation Human-Environmental Systems
  The knowledge of both natural and social sciences is applied to address complex environmental problems. The focus is on further developing the methodology and scientific tools for systems analysis in order to analyse the causes, mechanisms, and effects of environmental issues like climate change, and to find potential solutions and adaptation strategies. 

The Master's in Environmental Sciences offers four specialisations and within these specialisations, eleven different thesis tracks are offered. Here you can find the overview of the different thesis tracks per specialisation. Use the links to find a detailed description of the research area and the courses that are part of the thesis tracks. In addition, your programme includes courses from the common part and free choice.

Specialisation Environmental Quality

1. Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management (AEW)

   This track focuses on understanding and managing the health of marine and freshwater ecosystems by combining environmental engineering, chemistry and aquatic ecology. Students study how physical, chemical and biological processes interact—from detailed lab‑scale investigations to fieldwork in real ecosystems—and use integrated models to assess substance fate, nutrient cycles and ecosystem functioning. The research covers topics such as pollutant transport, nutrient dynamics, ecological impacts, and interactions between water flow and biota. Learn more about the education and research programme by visiting the Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group page.

2. Soil Biology (SBL)

   The Soil Biology track focuses on how soil organisms drive ecosystem functions — from nutrient cycling and carbon storage to soil fertility and climate regulation. You will study interactions between soils, microbes, plants, and land management, using fieldwork, lab techniques and soil‑landscape modelling methods. The work is carried out within the Soil Biology Group, giving you access to cutting‑edge research and specialised supervision.

3. Soil Chemistry (SOC)

   The Soil Chemistry thesis track is supervised by the Soil Chemistry Group and focuses on chemical compounds and soil particles — including nutrients, contaminants, organic matter, clay, iron, and aluminium (hydr)oxides — to study chemical speciation, bioavailability, and soil structure. Students investigate processes that control nutrient or contaminant mobility and bioavailability, contributing to sustainable soil use, soil protection, and groundwater quality. The track combines coursework and research and prepares you to tackle real‑world problems like soil remediation, soil fertility, and risk assessment.

4. Air Quality and Atmospheric Chemistry (MAQ)

   The Air Quality and Atmospheric Chemistry track is led by the Meteorology and Air Quality Group. It focuses on understanding atmospheric processes and their influence on weather, climate, air quality and the exchange of energy, water, carbon, and aerosols between land and atmosphere. Research topics span from global‑scale CO₂ and aerosol dynamics to local‑scale pollutant dispersion, using observational data, modelling, and simulation. Students in this track follow core courses like Atmospheric Composition & Air Quality and Meteorology & Climate, and complete an internship and a master’s thesis within MAQ.

5. Toxicology (TOX)

   This track focuses on food and environmental toxicology, studying how harmful substances impact human health and ecosystems via food or environmental exposure. Research includes cell‑based assays, in vitro and in silico models, and ecological risk assessment. Topics include toxic effects on humans and wildlife, hormone disruptors, mixture toxicity, and chemical risk evaluation (e.g. REACH). This thesis track is part of the Toxicology Group at Wageningen University & Research.

6. Marine Animal Ecology (MAE)

   The MAE thesis track of the MSc in Environmental Sciences focuses on how marine animals respond to environmental change — from early life stages to adult ecology — aiming to predict shifts in populations, detect ecosystem changes early, and support coastal reef restoration. The work spans lab, aquarium and field experiments, studying impacts like pollution, toxic compounds, climate stress and biodiversity loss. This track is offered by the Marine Animal Ecology Group. 

Specialisation Environmental Policy and Economics

1. Environmental Policy (ENP)

   In the Environmental Policy track you learn to analyse, evaluate and design democratic governance systems and policy frameworks for environmental reform — from local to global scales. The track draws on sociology and political science and explores themes like sustainable consumption and production, natural resource use, and global environmental change. As a student, you will examine how environmental science and technology, institutions, and social actors interact to drive transitions to sustainability. This track is offered by the Environmental Policy Group.

2. Environmental Economics (ENR)

   The thesis track is offered by the Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Group, and trains students to analyse economic and policy‑related aspects of sustainability, natural resource use and environmental protection. Using economic models, valuation methods or empirical data, you will explore issues such as climate change mitigation, resource management, and designing policies for a circular, low‑carbon economy. The track involves core courses in environmental economics and offers a master’s thesis and internship to apply your knowledge in real‑world contexts. 

Specialisation Environmental Technology

1. Environmental Technology (ETE)

   In the Environmental Technology track, you learn to develop and evaluate sustainable environmental technologies inspired by natural processes — ranging from water treatment and resource recovery to urban waste‑, water- and energy‑management. Research is organised around three themes: biorecovery, water reuse, and urban system engineering. The chair group behind this track is the Environmental Technology Group. 

Specialisation Human-Environmental Systems

1. Environmental Systems Analysis (ESA)

   Students in the Environmental Systems Analysis track develop and apply systems‑analysis methods to study complex environmental problems by combining natural science, social science, and technology. Typical research focuses include ecosystem services, pollution and nutrient management, environmental modelling, and ecological-economic assessments. The thesis and internship options are supervised by the Earth Systems and Global Change Group. 

2. Water Systems and Global Change (WSG)

   The Water Systems and Global Change Group focuses on sustainable water-system management under global change, studying how climate, socio‑economic shifts and human demand affect water quantity and quality. As a student in this track, you can join ongoing research into topics such as water scarcity, pollution, the water‑food‑energy nexus, and climate adaptation — or design your own water‑related thesis project. The curriculum combines courses like Modelling Future Water Stress, Integrated Water Management and Climate Adaptation in Water Management with a thesis and internship. Just like the ESA track, WSG is also part of the Earth Systems and Global Change Group.

• Lectures – theoretical frameworks for climate processes and models.
• Practicals (laboratory, field and computer): collecting and interpreting data and field measurements.
• Group projects – interdisciplinary collaborations on real climate cases with students from other studies.
• Fieldwork – Doing practical research in the field.
• Internship or thesis research – applied research in an institution outside the university. 

At WUR, we see you as more than just a student number. That’s why we offer more access to lecturers, study advisors, and student counsellors than most universities in the Netherlands. This level of support reduces the risk of dropping out while adding a personal touch that enriches your academic journey—reflecting our sincere commitment to your success.

• The Master's in Urban Environmental Management also focuses on a diverse approach to environmental threats. But this master's study programme specifically focuses on urban environments, whereas Environmental Sciences also studies natural and agrarian environments as well as the earth as a whole.
• The Master's in Tourism, Society and Environment focuses on sustainable, environmental-friendly solutions specifically in the domain of tourism and leisure time. Special attention is placed on people from different cultures.
• The Master's in Earth System Sciences also focuses on the environment but at global level consisting mainly of natural sciences disciplines like meteorology, soil sciences, hydrology and geology. Creating modules to imitate our earth’s systems and the human impact thereupon is an important part of this study programme.
• The Master's in Biobased Sciences shares the interdisciplinary approach with MSc Environmental Sciences. While MSc Environmental Sciences is oriented on improving the state of the environment and finding sustainable solutions, MSc Biobased Sciences focuses on enabling a biobased and circular economy.
• The Master's in International Land and Water Management and Master’s in Forest and Nature Conservation focus on the sustainable use of natural resources and the management and conservation of nature, land and water. These studies focus less on the beta perspective compared with the many specialisations offered by the master's Environmental Sciences.
• The Master’s in Climate Studies focusses on climate, includes earth, life and  social sciences, understanding climate and climate action pathways, flexible programme. 

Check more information on Studiekeuze123.nl. 

In the MSc in Environmental Sciences, two subjects specifically focus on career preparation: the internship and the course Academic Master's Cluster (AMC). Besides, there are also additional possibilities related to career preparation.

Academic Master's Cluster (AMC)

In this course, you apply your knowledge and skills to a real-life interdisciplinary consultancy project. For MSc in Environmental Sciences students, there is also the European Workshop: a two-week experience abroad focused on applied environmental issues.

Internship

You will spend at least four months applying your skills in a professional environment such as NGOs, research institutes, consultancies, or companies—tailoring your internship to suit your career goals.

Career-oriented track (optional)

WUR offers extra tracks and programmes to help you steer your career in a specific direction during your master's.

• Environmental Education & Environmental Communication and Innovation: You can choose to focus on education and communication by following a track of 36 ECTS (including a thesis or internship).
• International Relations: The Sustainable Development Diplomacy track offers academic and practical training in global sustainability governance and negotiations. This is a variant of the thesis track “Environmental Policy” and can be followed as part of your MSc programme.
• MSc Track Entrepreneurship: This track supports students interested in starting or growing sustainable businesses that address environmental and societal challenges.
• Research: Ambitious students can apply for graduate programmes like WIMEK or WASS. These offer training and support in writing a PhD proposal, preparing you for a research career.

Some of these options can be either part of your master's programme, or partly next to it. Note that you have to apply for most of these programmes and tracks, because only a limited number of students can be admitted. The selection procedure is usually only once a year.

The broad programme prepares you for all kind of rewarding positions in the working field, making your career options great.  
Alumni of Environmental Sciences work in all kinds of institutions, among which:

• A researcher at a University or a research institute.
• An advisor at governmental authorities (miniseries, provinces and municipalities) or waterboards.
• An engineer or a consultant in the industry. 
• A consultant at consultancy firm.

Interested in the master's programme Environmental Sciences? Find out whether your knowledge and skills match the entry level of the programme.

Purpose and reason for the admission requirements

The admission requirements for the master programme Environmental Sciences are defined in such a way that the students should be able to successfully complete at least one of the tracks of the programme nominally in two years. In order to comply, the student must have sufficient knowledge on social, natural and/or life sciences or engineering and should be able to apply this knowledge to environmental issues. Additionally, basic knowledge of statistics is required and students should be able to perform calculations. These admission criteria ensure that the student has a solid basis to follow the advanced studies in the master programme.

The criterion used for admission is

a WUR BSc degree in Environmental Sciences, or equivalent.

The norm for this equivalence is

• an assessment of the students' expertise in at least one of the following areas:  
• Environmental sciences or studies (e.g. environmental quality, natural resource management, human-environment interactions, environmental policy or economics)
• (Environmental) engineering or technology  
• Applied natural sciences (e.g. physics, chemistry, biology, toxicology)
• Social sciences (e.g. policy, economics, governance)

And both the following topics:

• Mathematics (calculus)
• Basics in statistics  

Not all topics mentioned need to be mastered at the same level; they will be weighed by the Admission Board per individual application.

Method of assessment whether this norm is met

Transcript of records displaying the content of previous course subjects and project work;

• Curriculum vitae displaying relevant work, internship and/or project experience on an academic level in a relevant field if applicable.

Scores attributed by the Admission Board

Admitted / not admitted / admitted under condition of obtaining the BSc or MSc degree / not admitted with offer of pre-master.

You can apply for this master's here.

The Admission Board may allow and/or suggest compensation of knowledge gaps by:

• a GPA≥7.0* for the previous education for small discrepancies as new knowledge is sufficiently easily acquired;
• a GPA≥7.0* and an individual pre-master's programme for larger discrepancies that can be compensated in ≤30 ECTS and one year of study. Discuss this before application with one of our study advisers.

*Check the Application & Admission page page for the International credentials evaluation guide for international equivalencies to a Dutch GPA>7.0. This guide includes compensating factors for a slightly lower GPA the Admission Board may include in their judgement.

Additional context for admission

Please upload a personal statement in your application. This should contain information on:

• How was the required pre-knowledge acquired and how does it match with your ambitions in the programme? In case your knowledge on statistics and mathematics is not obvious from your transcript of records, please explain what and in which courses you addressed these topics.
• How will you compensate for missing knowledge?  
• How come your GPA is (slightly) too low?

Contact us to discuss the possibilities of a pre-master or how to mitigate knowledge gaps if you are still in the process of obtaining your degree. 

Find out more about pre-master's programmes.

Studying in the Netherlands is not free. Curious to see what you should expect? All information about the costs of this programme can be found on this page.

Outside your study at WUR, you will most likely fill your day with other fun activities in and outside of Wageningen! Before you know it, you will be hanging out with your roommates, picnicking at the Rhine, visiting the market, or attending one of the many sport activities! All information about student life in Wageningen can be found on this page.