Welcome to COASTHazar!
The Coastal Hazards, Risks, Climate Change Impacts, and Adaptation MSc, also known as COASTHazar, is a 2-year Erasmus Mundus joint master’s programme spanning 120 EC* credits. Designed to attract top-tier students worldwide, aiming to cultivate highly skilled professionals capable of safeguarding societies against coastal hazards globally.
The COASTHazar Erasmus Mundus joint master’s is a 2-year 120 ECTS programme.
Students start at University of Cantabria, with courses addressing core competences, such as wave dynamics and tides, ocean and atmospheric sciences, fundamental coastal processes and coastal ecosystems, risk theory and introduction to MATLAB, ending with three short courses.
At IHE Delft, in the second semester, students take more advanced courses in areas like coastal morphodynamics, coastal and wave modelling, climate change impacts and adaptation and coastal protection measures, followed by two 1-week long short courses, after which students take part in an international summer school.
During the third semester at University of Algarve, during the third semester, students acquire advanced skills in nature-based solutions, coastal erosion, marine systems, GIS. During the third semester students engage in a set of field work activities, collecting and analysing data in short field campaigns. The semester ends with the presentation and defence of the thesis proposal.
The thesis work will be conducted during the fourth semester.
Why Apply
Approximately half of the global population lives within a proximity of 150 km from a coastline, and eight of the world’s largest megacities are strategically positioned along the coast with significant ports in close proximity.
Coastal regions are particularly susceptible to a range of natural hazards, including flooding, erosion, and extreme wind and wave events, all of which are intensifying due to the impacts of climate change. The escalation of hazards and risks has been further compounded by the increased urbanization of coastal areas and population growth.
This collective vulnerability systematically jeopardizes lives, ecosystems, properties, and economies.
Addressing the amplified risk and vulnerability to coastal human settlements and activities necessitates a comprehensive understanding of these hazards, encompassing their physics, effective risk management, and the exploration of potential solutions and adaptation measures.
The COASTHazar program envisions a reality where coastal areas and coastal human settlements confront escalating hazards and risks, demanding specialized, holistic, and multidisciplinary knowledge and competencies. This vision resonates among the programme’s associated partners who recognize the current imperative for professionals equipped with such expertise in the labour market
