Master’s in Flood and River Management Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in flood and river management engineering: 12 modules covering flood hydrology, river hydraulics, geomorphology and sediments, hazard and risk mapping, flood risk management plans, flood defences, river restoration, early warning, land-use planning, coastal and compound flooding, and emergency recovery, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this programme. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Estimate flood flows using statistical and hydrological methods.
Model river flow in one and two dimensions.
Produce flood hazard and risk maps.
Design flood risk management plans and flood defences.
Apply river restoration and nature-based solutions.
Implement early warning systems and emergency plans.
Integrate flood risk into land-use planning.
Who it's for
- River hydraulics engineers working on flood studies and channel works.
- Flood risk management officers preparing maps and management plans.
- Hydraulic modellers using HEC-RAS, Iber or MIKE FLOOD.
- River basin authority technical staff.
- River restoration consultants applying nature-based solutions.
- Civil protection officers responsible for flood emergency planning.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter water administration.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2007/60/EC (assessment and management of flood risks)
- Royal Decree 903/2010 (Spanish transposition of the Floods Directive)
- Royal Decree 849/1986 (Public Water Domain Regulation)
- Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive)
- Royal Decree 264/2021 (dam safety technical standards)
- Basic Civil Protection Guideline on Flood Risk (civil protection planning for floods)
- Law 17/2015 (Spanish National Civil Protection System)
- HEC-RAS
- Iber
- HEC-HMS
- QGIS
- MIKE FLOOD
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Genesis of floods1.2Maximum precipitation and PMP1.3Flood frequency analysis1.4GEV and SQRT-ETmax distributions1.5CEDEX map of maximum flows1.6Flood hydrographs1.7Event-based rainfall-runoff models1.8Mediterranean flash floods1.9Climate change trends1.10Case study: 500-year flow in an ephemeral watercourse
2.1Morphology of river channels2.2Flow resistance in natural channels2.3Estimation of roughness coefficients2.4HEC-RAS one-dimensional models2.5Iber two-dimensional models2.6Transverse structures in channels2.7Backwater caused by bridges2.8Calibration with flood marks2.9Uncertainty in hydraulic models2.10Lab: 2D model of an urban reach in Iber
3.1River dynamics and equilibrium3.2Bedload sediment transport3.3Suspended sediment transport3.4Bank erosion3.5Scour at bridge piers3.6Reservoir sedimentation3.7Effects of gravel extraction3.8River morphodynamic models3.9Historical evolution of channels3.10Practical exercise: pier scour using HEC-18
4.1Requirements of the Floods Directive4.2National Flood Zone Mapping System4.3Delineation of the flood zone4.4Preferential flow zone4.5Vulnerability of land uses and assets4.6Depth-damage curves by land use4.7Flood risk maps4.8Affected population and critical elements4.9Map review by cycles4.10Workshop: preferential flow zone of a reach
5.1Flood risk management plans (FRMPs)5.2Catalogue of measures by type5.3Prevention and land-use planning measures5.4Structural protection measures5.5Preparedness and civil protection5.6Post-flood recovery5.7Coordination between administrations5.8Cost-benefit analysis of measures5.9Monitoring and review of plans5.10Lab: CBA of a flood defence measure
6.1Levees and longitudinal embankments6.2Urban river channelisation6.3Flood attenuation dams6.4Controlled flood storage areas6.5Relief channels and diversions6.6Hydraulic design of defences6.7Levee stability and piping6.8Residual risk and the levee effect6.9Maintenance of flood defences6.10Case study: levee breach and its consequences
7.1National River Restoration Strategy7.2Nature-based solutions for rivers7.3Levee setback and floodplain reconnection7.4Recovery of river space7.5Riparian vegetation and bioengineering7.6Removal of transverse barriers7.7Longitudinal continuity and fish passes7.8Ecological flow regime7.9Monitoring of ecological status7.10Workshop: restoration project for a reach
8.1Automatic hydrological information systems8.2Weather radar and nowcasting8.3Hydrological forecasting models8.4Warning and alert thresholds8.5Civil protection plans for floods8.6Risk communication to the public8.7Reservoir management during floods8.8Dam operating rules8.9Ensemble forecasting8.10Lab: warning system using SAIH data
9.1Public Water Domain Regulation9.2Restrictions on uses in flood zones9.3Flood risk reports in urban planning9.4Insurance and the Insurance Compensation Consortium9.5Adaptation of existing buildings9.6Expropriation and relocation9.7State liability for floods9.8Case law on flood risk9.9Risk adaptation guidelines9.10Practical exercise: flood risk report for a development
10.1Storm surges and coastal storms10.2River-sea interaction10.3Compound pluvial and fluvial flooding10.4Deltas and coastal plains10.5Sea level rise in estuaries10.6Coupled coast-river models10.7Risk in low-lying coastal areas10.8Coastal adaptation strategies10.9Lessons from recent DANA events10.10Case study: compound flooding in a delta
11.1Operational response during a flood11.2Evacuation plans11.3Protection of essential services during floods11.4Post-event damage assessment11.5Reconstruction with resilience criteria11.6Learning after extreme events11.7Community resilience to floods11.8Effects on health and services11.9Psychosocial and social support11.10Workshop: post-flood recovery plan
12.1Selection of the basin or reach12.2Flood hydrology study12.3Calibrated hydraulic model12.4Hazard and risk mapping12.5Risk reduction alternatives12.6Cost-benefit assessment of alternatives12.7Environmental integration and restoration12.8Warning and emergency plan12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is HEC-RAS, Iber, HEC-HMS, QGIS and MIKE FLOOD, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: hydraulic models calibrated with real events, flood zone mapping and cost-benefit analysis of flood defence measures. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Directive 2007/60/EC, Royal Decree 903/2010, Royal Decree 849/1986 (Public Water Domain Regulation), Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive), Royal Decree 264/2021, Basic Civil Protection Guideline on Flood Risk, Law 17/2015 on the National Civil Protection System.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with HEC-RAS, Iber, HEC-HMS, QGIS and MIKE FLOOD, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent professional experience, plus a suitable computer and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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