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Studies & Degrees in Hydrology

Hydrology is the science of water on and under the land. The US Geological Survey (USGS) defines it as the science that covers the occurrence, distribution, movement and properties of the waters of the earth and their relationship with the environment. Hydrologists research the distribution, circulation and physical properties of surface water and groundwater, and they forecast water supplies, floods and the spread of pollution.

Students learn to measure and model the water cycle: rainfall, evaporation, streamflow, infiltration into the soil and groundwater flow. The Hydrology major of the University of California, Davis shows the usual mix. It asks for a strong background in physics, mathematics, chemistry and biology, adds breadth from ecology, geology, engineering, policy and law, and has core courses such as physical hydrology, groundwater hydrology, aqueous geochemistry and soil physics, together with water law, geographic information systems and field methods.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degrees. Few universities offer hydrology as a first degree of its own. One that does is UC Davis, where the Bachelor of Science in Hydrology requires a minimum of 130 units. More often students reach hydrology through a degree in geology, environmental science, geography, civil engineering or agricultural engineering, with water courses as a specialisation.
  • Master's degrees. Many students specialise at this level. In Spain, official degrees follow a fixed structure: a bachelor's degree (grado) of 240 ECTS credits and master's degrees of 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The Máster Universitario en Hidrología y Gestión de los Recursos Hídricos is a joint master's degree of the Universidad de Alcalá and the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. It has 60 ECTS credits, lasts one academic year full time and is taught in Spanish, with 30 places. Classes run from Monday to Friday, 16:00 to 20:00. A blended version is taught online for nine months with two weeks on campus. The Universidad de Alcalá lists an indicative price for first enrolment of €3,635 for Spanish students and residents and €5,435 for non-EU students who are not residents.
  • Doctorate. Research careers in universities and public research bodies normally continue with a PhD after the master's degree.

Where to study hydrology

SpainExchange lists 11 active schools for hydrology: five in Spain, four in the United States, one in Sweden and one in Vietnam. In Spain they are the Universidad de Alcalá, the Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio in Villanueva de la Cañada, the Universidad de Extremadura, the Universidad de La Laguna and the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. In the United States they are The Ohio State University, Purdue University, the University of California, Davis and the University of Colorado at Denver. The list also includes Uppsala Universitet and Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

The language of instruction depends on the programme. The Alcalá master's degree is taught in Spanish, and English counts for 10% in its selection criteria. Check the language of each programme before applying.

Careers

Hydrologists work for water authorities, environmental agencies, consulting and engineering firms, water utilities and research institutes. Typical tasks are measuring streamflow, sampling water and soil, modelling floods and droughts, and assessing projects such as irrigation systems, hydroelectric plants and wastewater treatment works.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics counted about 6,300 hydrologist jobs in the United States in 2025. The largest employers were the federal government (26%), state governments (26%) and management, scientific and technical consulting services (18%). It projects employment to grow 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 400 openings a year. UC Davis reports that its students commonly find internships and jobs with state and federal agencies, private consulting firms, environmental groups, irrigation districts and utility companies. In Spain, the academic committee of the Alcalá master's degree includes members from the Madrid water utility Canal de Isabel II and from the Confederación Hidrográfica del Tajo, the Tagus river basin authority.

Frequently asked questions

Is hydrology the same as water engineering?

Not quite. Hydrology studies how water moves and how much there is, and what quality it has. According to the USGS, the engineering hydrologist or water resources engineer plans, designs, builds and operates projects to control, use and manage water resources.

Do I need a master's degree to work as a hydrologist?

Not always. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, hydrologists typically need a bachelor's degree in geology, hydrology or a related field, and some employers prefer candidates with a master's degree.

Which degree do I need to enter a hydrology master's in Spain?

The joint master's degree of the Universidad de Alcalá and the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos is aimed at graduates in the exact, physical or natural sciences, engineers and architects. Selection is based on the academic record (50%), previous training and experience (40%) and knowledge of English (10%).

Can I study hydrology partly online?

Yes. The blended version of the Alcalá master's degree is taught online for nine months through a learning platform, with two weeks of classes on campus.