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GroundwatCh Joint Master’s programme receives full accreditation
IHE Delft’s International Joint Master’s Programme on Groundwater and Global Change (GroundwatCh), supported by the European Commission under the Erasmus Mundus programme, has been accredited by the Dutch, Portuguese and German accreditation agencies as an independent joint programme with a joint degree at the European level.
Interested? Deadline for applications in January.
The idea for the GroundwatCh Masters’ was conceived 12 years ago. Today, it has grown into a fully-fledged programme, which launched its 10th edition in September 2025. The recognition means that IHE Delft and its partners Instituto Superior Técnico and Technische Universität Dresden can officially issue a joint Masters’ diploma. This achievement was made possible by the consortium partners and more than 40 associated partners spanning UN organizations, public institutions and the private sector.
“It is very rewarding to see an idea that began 12 years ago, with dear friends and colleagues, evolve into an impactful programme, contributing to changing lives and strengthening knowledge, skills and awareness of groundwater as the world’s most crucial freshwater resource,” said Tibor Stigter IHE Delft Associate Professor of Hydrogeology and Groundwater Resources and coordinator of the programme. Adding that together, the three full partners and the partner organisations are committed to delivering joint, applied, interdisciplinary and inclusive groundwater education at the postgraduate level.
GroundwatCH alumni
In the past decade, the Erasmus Mundus GroundwatCh programme has seen almost 150 students graduate. Those alumni have become true ambassadors for the GroundwatCh programme with almost half of them pursuing PhDs in groundwater or related water research. In a survey, 55% indicated they were employed at a university or research institution, the second largest employment area being the private sector, in particular consulting firms. At the time of the survey, 93% of the alumni were employed.
Claudia Ruz Vargas is an alumna of the first batch of GroundwatCh students (2015-2017), in other words one of the first “certified GroundwatChers”. She now works at IGRAC as Senior Groundwater Specialist. “The GroundwatCh programme gave me the tools to understand groundwater issues in a broad context and to work on addressing them,” she said. “Many of my fellow students went on to complete PhDs and to work in the groundwater or wider water sector, whether in Europe, in their home countries, or elsewhere. I am still part of a vibrant international network of young professionals."
About the Erasmus Mundus GroundwatCh programme
The two-year joint Master GroundwatCh programme in Groundwater and Global Change takes place in 3 cities, Lisbon, Delft and Dresden over four semesters. Each year around 20 participants attend the programme. Its multidisciplinary curriculum covers hydrogeology, soil and climate science, as well as integrated water resources management and climate change adaptation related to groundwater, with strong fieldwork and internship components. Students conduct a research-based thesis at one of the three universities or at a university in one of the partner institutions or associated organisations.
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