Water and Coastal Management
Water and Coastal Management
Coming soon: MSc in Sustainable Marine and Coastal Management
Water and Coastal Management (WCM) is becoming Sustainable Marine and Coastal Management (SMCM).
From the winter term 2026/27, SMCM will replace WCM. The new degree programme opens up new opportunities, whilst retaining the programme’s existing benefits. Students will still be awarded two Master’s degrees, one from the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg and one from the University of Groningen, whilst the programme offers more courses in collaboration with the Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) and the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB). By incorporating the concept of sustainability, we now address the social dimension of societal development in coastal and marine areas.
In Oldenburg, the programme is structured into four sections. The compulsory Case Study remains, in which students work together to solve transdisciplinary problems in a creative manner. The other sections are Coastal Management (formerly Planning), Science and Socioeconomics, where students are free to choose courses based on their interests and backgrounds. The Coastal Management courses offer the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of marine and coastal governance, planning and management issues.
As a result of these changes, graduates become experts in tackling the growing design and planning challenges in coastal and marine areas.
Welcome to Oldenburg and Groningen.
Managing water resources, river catchments and coastal zones are major challenges of today and tomorrow.
Global changes call for a comprehensive scientific approach, an international multidisciplinary focus and a new way of thinking about water and coastal management issues.
We train you to become an international expert in Coastal and Water Management, with two Master’s degrees: one from the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg and one from the University of Groningen.