Master of Hydrobiology
Table of contents
The master's program in Hydrobiology is accredited.
Important note: The Master of Hydrobiology is a german-language study program.
Educational Objectives and Career Opportunities
Hydrobiology is the study of organisms living in aquatic environments, particularly with regard to their specific biological adaptations to the aquatic habitat. In its modern scientific form, hydrobiology largely encompasses the field of limnology—the science of inland water bodies as ecosystems. Limnology observes, analyzes, and models relationships within the hydrosphere, including its biological and ecological structure as well as its material and energy balances.
The goal of the program is to equip students with the qualifications to understand aquatic ecosystems in terms of their integrated structure and function, to independently apply this knowledge to address water protection challenges, and to further develop it independently and creatively within the context of ecological research.
The competencies to be acquired range from the molecular and organismic levels to the ecosystem and management levels, including experimental methods in the laboratory and in the field, modeling, and planning tasks. The program is integrated into a network of water resources management, forestry, earth sciences, and biology, and incorporates methodologies from key related disciplines such as hydrology/meteorology, environmental chemistry, urban water management, as well as organismic and molecular biology.
Graduates are equipped with broad specialized knowledge, mastery of scientific methods, and the ability to think abstractly and holistically, enabling them to meet the diverse and complex demands of research and application in the field of aquatic ecology.
In the field of hydrobiology, the program covers fundamental techniques of scientific work, experimental research methods, and systems analysis approaches for analyzing observational data, as well as for planning and evaluating laboratory and field experiments. In addition, students learn the most important techniques for assessing water quality. The methodological foundations of ecotoxicology are presented. Students develop a broad knowledge of species and an in-depth understanding of ecological relationships. All modules of the master’s program focus on understanding aquatic systems. Statistical and systems analysis methods are repeatedly applied to foster a process-oriented way of thinking. Elective-compulsory specializations within the research-oriented modules include modeling, molecular, and ecological techniques. The application-oriented modules focus on techniques in ecotoxicology, waste management, municipal water management, and hydrological analysis.
Graduates find employment in municipalities, water and wastewater associations, state and federal environmental agencies, state and federal institutions, research institutions, and engineering and planning firms. There are also a wide range of opportunities abroad to participate in the planning and implementation of water management measures, particularly in connection with projects related to sustainable resource use.
Course Content and Modules
The required modules comprise a total of 70 credit points. The list of required electives allows students to deepen their knowledge in line with their career goals. Students must earn at least 20 credit points in required electives. The master’s thesis is part of the master’s examination that concludes the program. It is written in the 4th semester. The completion period is 23 weeks. A total of 30 credit points are awarded for the master’s thesis. The modularized program comprises a total of 120 credit points.
Studienablauf Master Hydobiologie
You can find the program documents for our degree programs on the website of the Office of Academic Affairs for Civil Engineering and Environmental Studies.
Here you will find the following for the master’s program in Hydrobiology:
- the examination regulations
- the study regulations, including module descriptions and the program schedule
The required curriculum includes the following modules:
| Modulname | LP | WiSe | SoSe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrobiologie und Gewässergüte | 5 | X | |
| Biodiversität der Wasserorganismen | 10 | X | |
| Statistische Methoden in der Ökologie | 5 | X | |
| Analyse und Simulation aquatischer Ökosysteme | 5 | X | |
| Ökotoxikologie | 5 | X | |
| Freilandkurs Gewässerökologie | 10 | X | |
| Molekulare und mikrobielle Ökologie | 5 | X | |
| Fachbeiträge Hydrobiologie | 5 | X | |
| Berufspraxis Hydrobiologie | 12 | X | |
| Forschung Hydrobiologie | 8 | X |
For more detailed information, please refer to the module descriptions ( Appendix 1 of the Study Regulations).
The elective-required track includes the following modules:
| Modulname | LP | WiSe | SoSe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ökologie und Wasserqualitätsmanagement | 10 | X | |
| Vertiefung Biodiversität | 5 | X | |
| Gewässerökologie und Bioindikation | 10 | X | |
| Regionale Hydrologie | 10 | X | |
| Hydrometeorologie und Landschaftsklima | 5 | X | |
| Hydrowissenschaftliche Studienfahrt | 5 | X | |
|
Große hydrowissenschaftliche Studienfahrt |
10 | X | |
| Genehmigungs- und Planungsrecht für Umweltingenieurinnen und Umweltingenieure | 5 | X | |
| Modellierung und Bilanzierung in der Abfall- und Kreislaufwirtschaft | 5 | X | |
| Vorsorge in der Abfall- und Kreislaufwirtschaft | 5 | X | |
| Ingenieurhydrologie | 5 | X | |
| Hydrologische Modelle | 5 | X | |
| Flussgebietsbewirtschaftung | 5 | X | |
| Hydrologische Modellierungspraxis | 5 | X | |
| Angewandte Meteorologie in der Hydrologie | 5 | X | |
| Bodenwasserhaushalt | 5 | X | |
| Wasserqualität | 5 | X | |
| Grundwasserbewirtschaftung mit Computermodellen | 5 | X | |
| Hydrogeologische und hydrogeochemische Methoden | 5 | X | |
| Treatment Plant Design | 5 | X | |
| Isotopenanalytik in aquatischen Systemen | 5 | X | |
| Fallstudien der Grundwasserbewirtschaftung | 5 | X | |
| Wassertransport und -verteilung | 5 | X | |
| Integriertes Wasser-, Energie- und Ressourcenmanagement in der Industrie | 5 | X | |
| Fundamentals of Integrated Water Resources Management | 5 | X | |
| Integrated Water Resources Management case studies | 5 | X | |
| Stoffhaushalt terrestrischer Biogeosysteme | 5 | X |
For more detailed information, please refer to the module descriptions ( Appendix 1 of the Study Regulations).
Affiliated Institutes
Institute of Hydrobiology
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)
Contact
If you have any questions about the program, please contact the academic advising office of the Department of Hydro Sciences, the Faculty Student Council, or the program coordinators.
Informationon the previous course structure for the 2018 Study Plan ( and earlier) can be found here.
Application Information
This Master programme is a German-language study programme. More detailed information can therefore be found on the German web page.
Here you find further information about the study possibilities at the TU Dresden, application, necessary language skills and students' life in Dresden.