Flood and Water Management

PgDip

  • Entry year 2026
  • Duration Full time 1 - 2 years, Part time 1 - 2 years
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Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • Taught by industry practitioners from JBA Consulting and academics

  • Bespoke training for both industry professionals and university graduates

  • Professional recognition by Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management

Solutions to mitigate flood and pollution risk and better utilise water supplies for societal, economic and environmental gain requires world-leading hydrologists to design, implement, manage and evaluate. The PGDip Flood and Water Management programme at Lancaster is specifically designed to enhance your skills and your potential to be a world-leading hydrologist.

You will have the opportunity to develop your graduate and/or professional skills in the use of field technology and state-of-the-art models using both industry-standard procedures and next generation approaches. You will develop new insights into contemporary water issues and optimal ways to resolve them.

Training is delivered by a combination of leading academics and industry practitioners from environmental protection company JBA Consulting meaning you receive direct input from professionals working in the field, giving you the skills that employers require.

Flexible training

We offer both full and part-time versions of this programme. Our flexible approach means you can start your training at any point. You may wish to enrol at the traditional academic start of the semester in Autumn or begin at any point in the academic year. This is particularly helpful for those taking the part-time option.

The in-person components are taught over intensive 2-3 contiguous-day activities to support those undertaking the programme part-time and provide a depth of focused learning for full-time participants.

Who is this programme for?

You may be a graduate that has enjoyed hydrology aspects of your degree and would like to develop your hydrological skills to start a career with an organisation in the national or international water sector. Or you may be a practitioner working within environmental consultancies, government agencies and planning departments, water companies and water-focused charities who wishes to develop skills in flood and/or water management as part of your professional and career development.

Looking ahead to employability

Your qualification will show to others (employers, professional organisations, contractors, peers) that you:

  • Demonstrate a systematic knowledge of current ideas and issues at the forefront of hydrological science and professional practice
  • Are able to evaluate a wide range of field- and numerical-techniques applicable to scientific research in hydrology and professional practice in flood and wider water management
  • Can deal with complex issues in the water environment, often with incomplete information, to make sound judgements

What to expect

Training is delivered in a friendly, interactive and professional atmosphere with hands-on practical experience throughout. This practical work involves both field exercises and use of the latest industry standard models – delivered by leaders in field hydrology and commercial modelling in the UK.

We offer two pathways with dedicated modules to tailor your training. Each pathway has a set of three core modules and a selection of optional modules of which you will choose three:

Mitigation of flood and coastal risk

This pathway provides core training focused on flood mitigation, covering topics such as sustainable urban drainage, floodplain restoration and flood forecasting.

Management of water resources – water supply and environmental restoration

This pathway provides core training focused on mitigating pollution of water resources, managing water supplies and advanced monitoring technologies.

Discover your pathway core and optional modules.

Three things we’d like you to know

  • Lancaster is well situated for field work. We have natural water sources all around; water treatment works; and a number of areas under flood risk
  • You will work with the latest field technology and models used by industry
  • You will learn alongside recent graduates and experienced industry practitioners to gain much from peer-to-peer learning and networking opportunities

Programme options

We offer a suite of postgraduate level awards in Flood and Water Management:

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Flood and Water Management – 3 core modules
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Flood and Water Management – 3 core modules and 3 optional modules
  • Master’s in Flood and Water Management - 3 core modules and 3 optional modules plus dissertation

The Certificate and Diploma programmes include a sub-set of modules from the Master’s programme, and each programme is offered independently of the others. This flexibility is valuable to those who are combining study with work or other responsibilities, or who are unsure about entering postgraduate level study.

On successful completion of the Certificate, you can progress to the Diploma or the Master’s, with exemption and a fee discount for modules already taken. Similarly, after the Diploma, you can sign up for the Master’s and take only the remaining modules.

Careers

Graduating from the PGDip Flood and Water Management programme gives you the competences for roles such as:

  • Graduate scientists and technical leads within environmental consultancies
  • Project managers within government agencies in the UK (e.g., Environment Agency) or other countries
  • Planning officers in local government
  • Graduate scientists and technical roles within water supply or sewerage companies
  • Specialist science roles with environmental charities and water development charities
  • Research assistant roles within universities and research institutes

You may wish to continue onto our MSc in Flood and Water Management.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

2:2 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in a science or engineering subject that includes hydrology modules; for example Civil or Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Geography or Natural Sciences.

We may also consider non-standard applicants at a 2:2 degree level in a related subject, alongside relevant experience and/or training courses (CPD) in hydrology or flood management.

English language requirements

We require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test.

We also consider other English language qualifications and if your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.

Help from our Admissions team

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.

We also have more details on our website about:

Pre-master's programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master's pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master's degrees. Visit INTO Lancaster University for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Course structure

We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

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Fees and funding

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2026/27 entry fees have not yet been set.

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Scholarships and bursaries

Details of our scholarships and bursaries for 2026-entry study are not yet available, but you can use our opportunities for 2025-entry applicants as guidance.

Check our current list of scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. Find out more about our  Charter and student policies.