+ 60 ECTS Credits

Master´s Degree in Water Cycle Engineering + 60 ECTS Credits

Master´s Degree in Water Cycle Engineering + 60 ECTS Credits

Do you want to lead the transformation of urban water systems and make them resilient to climate impacts? Specialize in the water cycle to design, operate, and maintain efficient infrastructures.

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Master´s Degree in Water Cycle Engineering + 60 ECTS Credits

Verifiable program data for this master's degree

  • 60 ECTS Credits
  • Faculty of Gestión de Riesgos y Gobernanza Climática
  • Internships at real companies
  • STRUCTURALIA qualification

What will you achieve by completing this master's degree?

Integral water cycle

Build a deep understanding from capture and treatment to distribution, urban sanitation, and reuse.

Climate adaptation

Analyze key climatology concepts and model scenarios to develop adaptation strategies for water security.

Carbon and decarbonization

Evaluate water carbon footprint and design compensation and decarbonization plans for climate neutrality.

Resilient infrastructure

Learn to design and optimize resilient, efficient networks while aligning decisions with current regulations.

Course curriculum

9 modules covering everything from the integral urban water cycle to climate modeling, decarbonization, and resilient infrastructure design. Click to see full content.

01

Module 1. Climate Variability And Climate Change

Didactic Unit 1. Concepts Of Climatology

  • Climate: definition
  • Climate: elements and factors
  • Climatology: methods of study
  • The climate system

Didactic Unit 2. Radiation, Terrestrial Energy Balance. Temperature

  • General concepts
  • Radiation
  • Solar-type radiation
  • Earth's energy balance
  • Solar radiation and its spatial distribution
  • Incident radiation at a point: calculation
  • Temperature
  • Natural greenhouse effect: gases and mechanisms
  • Energy balance disturbances: natural and human causes

Didactic Unit 3. Climate And Its Classification

  • Climate and generalities
  • Climate classification based on temperature and precipitation
  • The Koppen classification
  • Strahler's classification
  • Types of climates
  • Mountain climates
  • Historical climatic events: Little Ice Age, Medieval Climate Optimum
  • Methods of reconstructing past climate: climate witnesses

Didactic Unit 4. The Limits Of The Planet

  • Biodiversity, "finiteness" of natural resources and "irreversibility" linked to extinction
  • Renewable resources. Current overexploitation of these resources.
  • Renewable resources and environmental refugee conflicts

Didactic Unit 5. The Depletion Of Non-renewable Resources

  • Non-renewable resources, minerals and energy resources
  • The problems generated by their use and conflicts over their control

Didactic Unit 6. Climate Change

  • Evidence of current climate change
  • Future projections for global average temperature as greenhouse gas emissions change
  • The impoverished countries are and will be most affected, the regions and ecosystems that will be particularly affected by climate change, and projections of the economic effects of climate change globally.
  • Fighting climate change is possible, based on global action, mitigation and adaptation.

Didactic Unit 7. Climate Modelling: Future Scenarios And Projections

  • History and evolution of climate modelling
  • Components of climate models
  • Types of climate models
  • Reference scenarios
  • IPCC and CMIP6 simulations
  • Projections of key climate variables

Unit Didactic Unit 8. Carbon Footprint As a Measure Of Change

  • Evolution of the carbon footprint concept
  • International norms and standards
  • Carbon footprint categories
  • Scope of application and calculation objects
  • What is Life Cycle Assessment?

Didactic Unit 9. Compensation. Climate Neutrality And Decarbonisation Strategies

  • Climate neutrality and Net Zero targets
  • Reduction or compensation strategies?
  • Carbon offsetting mechanisms
  • Carbon markets and emissions trading systems

Didactic Unit 10. Keys To Sustainable Adaptation

  • Difference between mitigation and adaptation
  • Local, national and global adaptation strategies
  • Climate-resilient infrastructure and ecosystem-based solutions
  • Integrating climate change into spatial and sectoral planning
02

Module 2. Water Resources Abstraction And Management

Didactic Unit 1. Water As a Resource

  • Integral water cycle. Hydrology (I)
  • Integral water cycle. Hydrology (II)
  • General catchment infrastructure concepts
  • Auscultation of dams
  • Flood control in reservoirs

Didactic Unit 2. Catchment Infrastructure (i)

  • Surface water catchment. Infrastructures
  • Factory dams. Gravity dam
  • Loose material dams
  • Groundwater abstraction. Wells and aquifers
  • Water supply to populations at risk

Didactic Unit 3. Catchment Infrastructure (ii)

  • Dam safety. Intakes, spillways and spillways.
  • Dam safety. Types of spillways
  • Dam construction. Construction considerations and maintenance
  • Regrowth and reinforcements
  • Hydroelectric developments

Didactic Unit 4. Adduction And Regulation Infrastructures

  • Adduction and regulation infrastructures
  • Pressure conduction
  • Channels (I)
  • Channels (II)
  • Water lifting system
03

Module 3. Drinking Water Treatment: Drinking Water Purification And Desalination

Didactic Unit 1. Design Of The Treatment Process

  • The origin of water
  • Water chemistry
  • Water pollution
  • Specific pollutants
  • Treatment of specific pollutants

Didactic Unit 2. Separation Of Liquid And Solid Phases

  • Intake and pre-treatment works
  • Coagulation and flocculation
  • Sedimentation
  • Filtration with granular material
  • Advanced filtration

Didactic Unit 3. Disinfection

  • Water disinfection technologies
  • Chlorine and sodium hypochlorite
  • Chlorine dioxide and chloramines
  • Ozone and potassium permanganate
  • Case study: design of a DWTP

Didactic Unit 4. Seawater Desalination

  • Desalination systems
  • Water quality and intake works
  • Pre-treatment
  • Reverse osmosis membrane filtration
  • Post-treatment and auxiliary systems
04

Module 4. Water Distribution Pipes And Networks

Didactic Unit 1. Introduction To Networks And Connections

  • General terms and conditions
  • Components of the service connection (I)
  • Service connection components (II)
  • Service connection components (III)
  • Dimensioning and installation of the service connection

Didactic Unit 2. Supply System Components

  • General considerations. Pipes (I)
  • General considerations. Tubes (II)
  • General considerations. Pipes (III)
  • Unions and special parts
  • Operating and control elements

Didactic Unit 3. Supply System Design

  • Design and layout criteria
  • Hydraulic dimensioning of pipelines
  • Calculation of cathodic protection
  • Pipe protection and cleaning
  • Practical exercises on pipe networks

Didactic Unit 4. Construction Considerations And Quality Management

  • Constructive considerations
  • Underground trench installations (I)
  • Underground trench installations (II)
  • Quality management (I)
  • Quality management (II)
05

Module 5. Sewerage Network

Didactic Unit 1. Gravity Sewerage Networks

  • Structure and types of networks
  • Pipelines
  • Materials and sections. Joints and special parts
  • Manholes: manholes, manholes, service connections
  • Urban drainage

Didactic Unit 2. Construction, Maintenance And Operation Of The Sewerage Network

  • Buried piping installations
  • Trenchless pipeline installations
  • Maintenance of the sewerage network
  • Rehabilitation of the sewerage network
  • Advanced network operation

Didactic Unit 3. Wastewater Pumping Station (ebar)

  • General configuration of the WWTP
  • Drive and complementary elements
  • Centrifugal pumps
  • Operation of a centrifugal pump
  • Additional facilities

Didactic Unit 4. Spillways And Storm Tanks

  • Spillways and retention basins
  • Elements of a storm tank
  • Elements of the holding chamber
  • Storm tank design
  • Design of storm tank elements
06

Module 6. Exploitation And Design Of E.d.a.r.s.

Didactic Unit 1. Wastewater. Primary Treatment

  • Waste water
  • Schematic of the WWTP
  • Pre-treatment
  • Primary treatment
  • Secondary treatment

Didactic Unit 2. Water Line. Secondary Treatment

  • Conventional activated sludge
  • Activated sludge equipment and process types
  • Advanced treatments
  • Biofilm process
  • Purification in small towns

Didactic Unit 3. Water Line. Tertiary Treatment

  • Dimensioning of biological WWTP reactor for nitrogen removal according to ATV-131 standard.
  • Reclaimed water qualities and uses
  • Regeneration technologies
  • Filtration
  • Disinfection

Didactic Unit 4. Sludge And Gas Line

  • Sludge
  • Thickening
  • Stabilisation
  • Dehydration
  • Gas line
07

Module 7. Electromechanical Equipment In Water Treatment Plants

Didactic Unit 1. Pumping And Isolation Systems

  • Types of pumps used in treatment plants.
  • Submersible pumps.
  • Surface or dry chamber centrifugal pumps
  • Surface or dry chamber screw pumps
  • Isolation systems (Valves)

Didactic Unit 2. Solid Separation Systems

  • Pre-treatment in water treatment plants
  • Equipment in a desander-degreaser.
  • Equipment in decanters and thickeners.
  • Anaerobic sludge digestion equipment
  • Sludge dewatering equipment

Didactic Unit 3. Agitation And Aeration Systems

  • Agitation and aeration in biological reactors
  • Agitation of coagulation and flocculation tanks and preparation of the chemicals used
  • Air generating equipment (blowers, turbo blowers).
  • Fine and coarse bubble aeration.
  • Types of chemicals and storage systems

Didactic Unit 4. Instrumentation And Control

  • Flow and level measurement
  • Pressure measurement and water analysis
  • Control processes (automation)
  • SCADA control system (I)
  • SCADA control system (II)
08

Module 8. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems

Didactic Unit 1. Rainfall Management Through Suds

  • Concept and implications of sustainable drainage.
  • Multidisciplinary design.
  • Assessment of the environment.
  • Flood risk management.
  • Non-structural measures

Didactic Unit 2. Control At Source: Collection And Transportation

  • Hydraulics for SUDS design.
  • Rainwater harvesting systems.
  • Green roofs and vertical gardens.
  • Gravel trenches and filter drains.
  • Green ditches.

Didactic Unit 3. Infiltration Systems

  • Hydrology.
  • Bioretention systems.
  • Permeable surfaces.
  • Ditches and infiltration pits.
  • Citizen consultations.

Didactic Unit 4. Passive Storage And Treatment Systems

  • Landscaping.
  • Detention tanks.
  • Retention basins.
  • Constructed wetlands.
  • Design process of an integrated system.
09

Module 9. Natural Hazards Engineering: Droughts And Floods

Didactic Unit 1. Assessment Of Water Resources

  • Hydrological balance.
  • Climatology.
  • Precipitation
  • Evaporation and transpiration
  • Geology and hydrology.

Didactic Unit 2. Droughts

  • Definition of droughts
  • Ecological flows.
  • Groundwater.
  • Special drought plans.
  • Indicator systems for special drought plans

Didactic Unit 3. Flooding

  • Introduction and concepts.
  • Precipitation analysis
  • Flood flows and flood zones.
  • Flood Risk Management Plans.
  • Emergency management

Didactic Unit 4. Engineering Solutions For The Management Of Natural Risks

  • Geomorphological-historical analysis
  • Adaptation of exposure to flooding
  • Conventional solutions
  • Nature-based solutions
  • Nature-based urban solutions

Teaching faculty

Teaching team with professional experience in Master´s Degree in Water Cycle Engineering + 60 ECTS Credits.

AR

Adrián Rodríguez Porres

Faculty of Gestión de Proyectos en Arquitectura

metodología BIM

VG

Vidal Gascón Culebras

Inteligencia Artificial aplicada

JM

Julia Molina Virués

Faculty of Gestión de Proyectos en Arquitectura

arquitectura sostenible

Charo Rey Zabalza

Charo Rey Zabalza

Faculty of Medioambiente y Sostenibilidad

economía circular

ÁS

Ángel Sanz Bernabé

control de calidad

Isabella Sánchez Bermúdez

Isabella Sánchez Bermúdez

Faculty of Dirección de Proyectos e Innovación Tecnológica

comunicación estratégica

Rogelio Delgado Mingorance

Rogelio Delgado Mingorance

Faculty of Ingeniería Industrial

gestión y dirección de proyectos

Miguel Ángel Aparicio Jiménez

Miguel Ángel Aparicio Jiménez

What jobs could you get?

With this master's degree you could apply for roles such as:

  • Plant manager (PTAR)
  • Design engineer in water projects
  • Project manager at engineering firms
  • Water resources consultant
  • Operations and maintenance leader
  • Advisor on decarbonization strategies

Methodology

Our teaching methodology

Equipo diverso de ingeniería trabajando con portátiles en un laboratorio maker con impresoras 3D
Learn whenever you want

Progress at your own pace, from wherever you are,
with close support.

Realistic

The EDUCA LXP methodology avoids excessively theoretical knowledge and inefficient practical methods. The combination of constantly updated content with personalized guidance throughout the learning process makes EDUCA LXP a unique methodology.

Student First

The EDUCA LXP methodology and EDUCA EDTECH Group's training place the student at the center of the learning experience, drawing on their feedback. Their feedback drives our continuous improvement.

Artificial Intelligence

Personalized learning would not be possible without a precise combination of academic experience, technology research, and Artificial Intelligence. That is why we rely on in-house AI tools, tailored to each school in the group.

Active industry professionals

Our teaching team, besides being specialists in their field, has specific training in the technology tools that make up the EDUCA EDTECH ecosystem.

Rankings and recognitions

Assessed by independent online higher-education organizations.

Organization of American States (OAS)

Since 2010, Structuralia has run a scholarship program for master's degrees in Spanish and English together with the Organization of American States (OAS), aimed at outstanding professionals from the Americas as part of the Partnerships for Education and Training Program (PAEC), which has already benefited more than 3,500 students from the region.

APICE

Structuralia and the Pan-American Association of Educational Credit Institutions (APICE) offer a specialized training scholarship program for professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean in master's degrees specialized in the STEM sector.

Educa Edtech

The Educa Edtech Foundation was created to foster personal and professional growth while championing knowledge transfer as a way to change the world, overseeing the rollout of solutions and granting aid to those who deserve it.

Financial Magazine

This outlet's 2025 Ranking has included up to 10 Structuralia master's programs across several categories, among them: Data Science, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Urban Planning, Energy and the Environment.

Mundo Posgrado

In the latest edition of its regular annual rankings, Structuralia's master's programs made the Top 10 best master's degrees in Spain in the Renewable Energy and Integrated Management Systems categories.

Escudo Digital

The Master's program in Cybersecurity and Information Risk is included in the Top 25 best cybersecurity training programs according to "Escudo Digital".

Our numbers

92%of our students would recommend us
30+countries with active students
60%of our faculty are active industry professionals
15 yearstraining specialists in engineering and architecture

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