Course overview

Description

Hydrogeology deals with the distribution, flow and interaction of groundwater with the Earth including the hydrosphere, biosphere and lithosphere. The subject investigates the chemical, physical and biological interactions occurring between water, soils/rocks, the environment and society. This course develops students' abilities to deal with topics such as groundwater dynamics, exploration, drilling and aquifer tests, sustainable allocation of groundwater, contamination and computer modelling.

Course title
Master of Hydrogeology (coursework or coursework and dissertation)
Award abbreviation
MHydrGeo
Course code
72540
Course type
Master's degree by coursework or by coursework and dissertation
Status
Current / 2024
Administered by
Earth Sciences
CRICOS code
074963C

Course details

Intake periods
Beginning of year and mid-year
Attendance type
Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
Articulation
The Master of Hydrogeology has the following exit awards: 72240 Graduate Certificate in Hydrogeology (24 points) (24 points), 72340 Graduate Diploma in Hydrogeology (48 points) (48 points)
Credit points required
96
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester.
Standard course duration
1.5 years (duration may vary for mid year commencement) full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising 72 points of taught units and 24 points of admission credit, as recognised and granted by the School
Maximum course duration
2 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising up to 96 points of taught study (see Rule 5 for further information)
Time limit
4 years
Delivery mode
Internal
Locations offered
UWA (Perth)
Domestic fee type
Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP
Available to international students
Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
Course Coordinator(s)
Dr Sarah Bourke
Fees
Visit the fees calculator.

Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.

No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.

Course structure

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
SS
summer teaching period
N/A
not available in 2024 – may be available in 2025 or 2026
NS
non-standard teaching period

All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.

Students who have not completed tertiary units that are deemed equivalent to the conversion units for the course must complete relevant conversion units up to the value of 24 points from this group, as advised by the School(s):

Note: Take units up to the value of 24 points from this group

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1, S2ENVT4411Geographic Information Systems Applications
Incompatibility
Unit(s) GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems (ID 1384)
The total workload for the unit is 150 hours. This includes podcasts for viewing and reading to be undertaken prior to attending one compulsory 3-hour workshop per week where students will be contributing to interactive discussions together with practical lab work using GIS software. Completion of the practical workshop labs is necessary to enable skills for completing written unit assessment. Independent learning is required throughout the unit.
S2GEOS4403Introduction to Basin Analysis
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
72550 Master of Geoscience
or 72540 Master of Hydrogeology
workshops: up to 4 hours per week
S1, S2SCIE4401Data Use in Science
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
72510 Master of Agricultural Science
or 72520 Master of Biological Science
or 72530 Master of Environmental Science
or 72550 Master of Geoscience
or 72540 Master of Hydrogeology
or 71520 Master of Biomedical Science
or 71580 Master of Biotechnology
or 71570 Master of Geographic Information Science
or 73530 Master of Agricultural Economics
or 73550 Master of Business Psychology
or 70550 Master of Bioinformatics
or 71590 Master of Oceanography
or 74540 Master of Marine Biology
Incompatibility
STAT1400 Statistics for Science
or STAX1400 Statistics for Science
and
STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
or STAX1520 Economic and Business Statistics
and SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
24 hours. The total workload for this unit is 150 hours.
S1, S2SCIE4403Ethical Conduct and Communication of Science
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
73660 Master of Medical Physics
Incompatibility
SCOM1101 Communicating Science (ID 1553)
or SCOX1101 Communicating Science
and SCOM2208 Science Writing (ID 1559)
Weekly face-to-face OR online workshops. This unit runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2, and can be taken in either semester.

Take all units (30 points):

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
NSGEOS4401Hydrogeological SystemsNoneWorkshops: 2 x 4 hours per week for up to 7 weeks. Total workload is 150 hours.
S1, S2GEOS4499Water in a Changing Climate
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
72540 Master of Hydrogeology
or 72530 Master of Environmental Science
2 x 3 hr workshops per week for 8 weeks
S2GEOS5501Groundwater Flow Modelling
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) GEOS4401 Hydrogeological Systems
or prior approval
lectures/labs: 2 x 4 hrs per week for 6 weeks. Total workload is 150 hours.
NSGEOS5504Mining Hydrogeology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
two Unit(s) GEOS4401 Hydrogeological Systems
and Unit(s) GEOS5501 Groundwater Flow Modelling
workshops: up to 4 hours per week for 8 weeks
NSGEOS5511Groundwater Hydrochemistry
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
two Unit(s) GEOS4401 Hydrogeological Systems
and Unit(s) GEOS5501 Groundwater Flow Modelling
workshops up to 2 x 3 hours per week; total workload is 150 hours

For students in course by coursework only, take one unit to the value of 6 points from this group:

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
N/AGEOS5023Hydrogeology Field Excursion
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) GEOS4401 Hydrogeological Systems
or prior approval
Attendance on campus 2 weeks for preparatory workshops. Attendance on field excursion for 5-10 days depending on location. Preparatory workshops and reading undertaken prior to the field excursion, participation in the field excursion and completion of final field report after the field excursion is expected to be ~150 hours.
S1, S2, SSGEOS5502Hydrogeology Industry Placement
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) GEOS4401 Hydrogeological Systems and three Unit(s) at level four and prior approval
there are no formal contact hours

For students in course by coursework and dissertation only, take all units (24 points):

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1, S2GEOS5015Masters Research Project in Hydrogeology Part 1
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
72540 Master of Hydrogeology and satisfy eligibility criteria for research project
or dissertation
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
Or Enrolment in
Unit(s) GEOS5016 Masters Research Project in Hydrogeology Part 2
Incompatibility
Unit(s) SCIE5590 Literature Review and Research Proposal
and Unit(s) SCIE5511 Science Research Project Part 1
and Unit(s) SCIE5512 Science Research Project Part 2
and Unit(s) SCIE5513 Science Research Project Part 3
supervision sessions with one or two supervisors over two semesters; independent research and study. Students are guided in this process through an induction program starting the week before semester.
S1, S2GEOS5016Masters Research Project in Hydrogeology Part 2
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
72540 Master of Hydrogeology
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
Or Enrolment in
GEOS5015 Masters Research Project in Hydrogeology Part 1
supervision sessions with one or two supervisors over two semesters; independent research and study. Students are guided in this process through an induction program starting the week before semester.
S1, S2GEOS5017Masters Research Project in Hydrogeology Part 3
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
two Unit(s) GEOS5015 Masters Research Project in Hydrogeology Part 1
and Unit(s) GEOS5016 Masters Research Project in Hydrogeology Part 2
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
Or Enrolment in
GEOS5018 Masters Research Project in Hydrogeology Part 4
Incompatibility
Unit(s) SCIE5590 Literature Review and Research Proposal
and Unit(s) SCIE5511 Science Research Project Part 1
and Unit(s) SCIE5512 Science Research Project Part 2
and Unit(s) SCIE5513 Science Research Project Part 3
supervision sessions with one or two supervisors over two semesters; independent research and study. Students are guided in this process through an induction program starting the week before semester.
S1, S2GEOS5018Masters Research Project in Hydrogeology Part 4
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
72540 Master of Hydrogeology
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
Or Enrolment in
Unit(s) GEOS5017 Masters Research Project in Hydrogeology Part 3
supervision sessions with one or two supervisors over two semesters; independent research and study. Students are guided in this process through an induction program starting the week before semester.

For students in course by coursework only, take unit(s) to the value of 36 points, of which 4 units must be at Level 5.

For students in course by coursework and dissertation, take unit(s) to the value of 12 points.

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1ENVT4401Advanced Land Use and Management
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
72530 Master of Environmental Science
or 72510 Master of Agricultural Science
or 72540 Master of Hydrogeology
or 71570 Master of Geographic Information Science
or HON-CONBI Conservation Biology
or HON-ENVSC Environmental Science
or HON-AGSCI Agricultural Science
three 2-day blocks (the total workload for the unit is 150 hours)
N/AENVT4406Catchment and River Processes
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
72530 Master of Environmental Science
or 72540 Master of Hydrogeology
or 72520 Master of Biological Science
or 71570 Master of Geographic Information Science
or HON-ENVSC Environmental Science
or HON-NRMGT Natural Resource Management
lectures: 3 hours per week; field trip: one week in week 6
S1ENVT4409Remote Sensing of the Environment
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
Or Enrolment in
Unit(s) ENVT4411 Geographic Information Systems Applications
Or Unit(s) GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems
42
S2ENVT5503Remediation of Soils and Groundwater
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
HON-ENVSC Environmental Science
or 72510 Master of Agricultural Science
or 72530 Master of Environmental Science
or 72540 Master of Hydrogeology
The total workload for the unit is 150 hours.
S1ENVT5512Ecosystem Biogeochemistry
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
72520 Master of Biological Science
or 71580 Master of Biotechnology
or 70630 Master of Science
or 72510 Master of Agricultural Science
or BH004 Bachelor of Science (Honours)
or 72540 Master of Hydrogeology
or 72530 Master of Environmental Science
one full day per week for six consecutive weeks (the total workload for the unit is 150 hours)
S1ENVT5563GIS and Spatial Analysis: Waterway Restoration
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) ENVT4411 Geographic Information Systems Applications
or Unit(s) GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems
Incompatibility
Unit(s) ENVT5508 Advanced Spatial Analytics
and Unit(s) ENVT5561 GIS and Spatial Analysis: Multifunctional Landscapes
and Unit(s) ENVT5562 GIS and Spatial Analysis: Coastal Resilience
and Unit(s) ENVT5565 GIS and Spatial Analysis: Sensor Networks
and Unit(s) ENVT5564 GIS and Spatial Analysis: Contaminated Sites
150
S2ENVT5566Advanced Spatial and Environmental Modelling
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) ENVT4411 Geographic Information Systems Applications
or Unit(s) GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems
or Successful completion of
one Unit(s) ENVT5561 GIS and Spatial Analysis: Multifunctional Landscapes
or Unit(s) ENVT5562 GIS and Spatial Analysis: Coastal Resilience
or Unit(s) ENVT5563 GIS and Spatial Analysis: Waterway Restoration
or Unit(s) ENVT5564 GIS and Spatial Analysis: Contaminated Sites
or Unit(s) ENVT5565 GIS and Spatial Analysis: Sensor Networks
or Enrolment in
62550 Master of Professional Engineering
total of 150 hours
NSGEOP4002Near-Surface and Environmental Geophysics
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
73540 Master of Petroleum Geoscience
or 72540 Master of Hydrogeology
or 72550 Master of Geoscience
or HON-GEOGY Geology
or HON-GEOPH Geophysics
3 x 4 hour workshops per week for 5 weeks
NSGEOS4410Tectonics of Australia in the Indo-Pacific
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
72550 Master of Geoscience
or 73540 Master of Petroleum Geoscience
or 72540 Master of Hydrogeology
or BH004 Bachelor of Science (Honours)
or HON-GEOGY Geology
workshops: 3 x 3 hours per week for 6 weeks. The total workload for the unit is 150 hours.
NSGEOS4413Climate Geoscience
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
HON-GEOGY Geology
or HON-MARSC Marine Science
or HON-ENVSC Environmental Science
or 72550 Master of Geoscience
or 72540 Master of Hydrogeology
or 73540 Master of Petroleum Geoscience
or 71590 Master of Oceanography
or BH004 Bachelor of Science (Honours)
Lectures and practical work. There may be a one-day field trip (TBC)
S2GEOS4418Basin Analysis Techniques
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
72550 Master of Geoscience
or 72540 Master of Hydrogeology
or 73540 Master of Energy Geoscience
Incompatibility
Unit(s) EART3344 Basin Analysis
workshops: 1 x 2 hours and 1 x 3 hours per week
N/AGEOS5023Hydrogeology Field Excursion
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) GEOS4401 Hydrogeological Systems
or prior approval
Attendance on campus 2 weeks for preparatory workshops. Attendance on field excursion for 5-10 days depending on location. Preparatory workshops and reading undertaken prior to the field excursion, participation in the field excursion and completion of final field report after the field excursion is expected to be ~150 hours.
S1, S2, SSGEOS5502Hydrogeology Industry Placement
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) GEOS4401 Hydrogeological Systems and three Unit(s) at level four and prior approval
there are no formal contact hours
S1, S2SCIE4402Data Management and Analysis in the Natural Sciences
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
HON-CONBI Conservation Biology
or HON-ZOOLY Zoology
or HON-BOTNY Botany
or HON-AGSCI Agricultural Science
or HON-ENVSC Environmental Science
or HON-NRMGT Natural Resource Management
or HON-MARSC Marine Science
or 72510 Master of Agricultural Science
or 72520 Master of Biological Science
or 72530 Master of Environmental Science
or 72540 Master of Hydrogeology
or 73530 Master of Agricultural Economics
or 70550 Master of Bioinformatics
or 74230 Graduate Certificate in Bioinformatics
or 74540 Master of Marine Biology
and Successful completion of
any one STAT1400 Statistics for Science
or STAX1400 Statistics for Science
or STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
or STAX1520 Economic and Business Statistics
or SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
or SCIE4401 Data Use in Science
or ENVT4422 Research Methods in Environmental Science
5 days (1 day per fortnight). The total workload for the unit is 150 hours.

See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.

Rules

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.

(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules

2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).

(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.

English Language competency requirements

3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.

Admission requirements

4. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—

(a) a Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;

and

(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent;

and

(c) successfully completed prior tertiary study in geology, environmental engineering, environmental science (including units in hydrology or equivalent), or hydrogeology or in a related cognate discipline as recognised by UWA.

Admission ranking and selection

5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.

Articulations and exit awards

6.(1) This course has the following exit awards:

  • 72240 Graduate Certificate in Hydrogeology (24 points)
  • 72340 Graduate Diploma in Hydrogeology (48 points)

(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of Hydrogeology course before completing it, but after completing 24 points excluding conversion units, with at least 12 points of core units, of which a minimum of 6 points must be degree core

, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Hydrogeology.

(3) A student who withdraws from the Master of Hydrogeology course before completing it, but after completing 48 points at Level 4 or Level 5, which includes the course core units, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Hydrogeology.

Course structure

7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 96 points (maximum value) which include conversion units to a value of 24 points.

(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.

(3) Students who have completed tertiary units that are deemed equivalent to the conversion units for the course are granted credit for conversion units up to a value of 24 points.

Satisfactory progress

8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.

9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.

Progress status

10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.

(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—

(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';

(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';

(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.

11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.

Award with distinction

12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—

(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;

(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;

and

(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.

Deferrals

13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).

Additional rules
Research project

14. Students who request approval to undertake a research project as an optional unit in this course must—

(i) have a weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent in at least 24 points of Level 3 units in their UWA undergraduate major. These units must be relevant to the Masters Specialisation; or

(ii) have a weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent in at least 24 points of Level 3, 4 and 5 units completed within the course; or

(iii) equivalent as recognised by the Faculty; and a supervisor, approved by the Faculty, must have confirmed their willingness and availability to supervise the research project.