Hydrologist

You can start by doing a degree in:

• environmental science
• geography
• civil engineering
• environmental engineering
• Earth sciences
• ecology

After finishing your degree, you could go on to complete a postgraduate course in water engineering, flood risk management or hydrogeology.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You can do an environmental practitioner degree apprenticeship before specialising in hydrology.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You could start as an assistant hydrologist if you have a relevant degree. Your employer may encourage you to study for a postgraduate qualification, like a master's or PhD in hydrology, while you're working.

Career tips

You can get information about hydrology, including work on water pollution, flooding and drought, from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the British Hydrological Society or Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management for industry news, advice on professional development and networking opportunities.

Further information

You can discover more about careers in hydrology from the British Hydrological Society and The Geological Society.

You'll need:

• maths knowledge
• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• analytical thinking skills
• knowledge of geography
• science skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• knowledge of physics
• excellent written communication skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

You'll need to:

• have a full driving licence

Your day-to-day duties may include:

• measuring river flows and the amount of water above and below ground
• investigating the causes and impact of flooding and drought
• modelling rainfall patterns under different climate conditions
• studying snowfall, glaciers and ice formation
• analysing water samples for chemicals and pollutants
• assessing water use in agriculture and industry
• working on engineering projects like dams, drainage and flood defences
• advising policy makers on sustainable water use
• collecting data from flood events to improve forecasting and risk management

You could work in an office, in a laboratory or in the countryside.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.