Water Protection and Freshwater Restoration
Date of implementation
31.8. – 18.12.2026
Scope
Type of studies and location
Which degree program is the course from?
Degree Programme in Water Engineering and Circular Economy
Teaching language
What will you learn?
Students can:
• Explain the ecological and chemical status and classification of water bodies.
• Identify types, sources, and impacts of external and internal loading.
• Describe key bio-geochemical processes and lake ecosystem structure.
• Summarize the principles of water policies, legislation, and River Basin Management.
• Recognize common methods for river, stream, and lake restoration.
• Evaluate restoration outcomes and propose suitable water protection measures.
What do the studies include?
This course introduces the ecological and chemical status of water bodies, including classification methods used in Finland and the EU. Students learn about the types, sources, and impacts of loading on aquatic environments, as well as key bio-geochemical cycles, lake morphology, thermal stratification, and food webs. The course also covers the fundamentals of water policies, legislation, and River Basin Management planning at both international and national levels. In the applied section, students become familiar with commonly used restoration methods for rivers, streams, and lakes, and assess the effectiveness of restoration efforts in Finland.
Course duration: weeks 36-43
1. Basics of water protection and freshwater systems
– Key concepts and terminology related to water protection
– Structure and functioning of freshwater systems
– The hydrological cycle and catchment-based approach
– Introduction to nutrient cycles (nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon)
– Basic principles of water quality and ecological status
– Types of loading sources and impacts of loading
2. Water policies and governance
– Key water protection policies and directives (EU and Baltic Sea region)
– Key water protection policies in Finland
– Roles of different stakeholders in water management
– Introduction to River Basin Management planning
3. Limnology
– Physical, chemical and biological characteristics of inland waters
– Stratification, mixing processes and seasonal dynamics
– Nutrient dynamics and primary production
– Oxygen conditions and ecosystem functioning
– Impacts of nutrient loading and eutrophication on aquatic ecosystems
4. River and lake restoration
– Principles of freshwater restoration
– Restoration methods for rivers, streams and lakes
– Measures to reduce nutrient loading and improve ecological status
– Role of internal processes (e.g. sediment interactions) in restoration
– Evaluation of restoration outcomes and effectiveness
When and where will the course be held?
You can find the exact teaching times and places on Lukkarikone.
- Change the language from the top right corner under “FI”. Enter the course code TE00DP80-3001 and press search.
- Add the course to the schedule by pressing +Add on the search results list.
- The course schedule is now shown on the calendar view, where you'll find the time and place of each meeting.
If the teaching times are not shown on Lukkarikone, contact the teacher.
Enroll
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Enrollment period
Study places
8
Price:
75 €
Who is the course suitable for?
Open UAS courses are open to everyone. Open UAS courses are selections from Bachelor’s and Master’s degree program curricula, and you’ll usually study in the same group as degree students.
When you enroll, you will be asked to authenticate yourself before you can access the enrolment form. You will need Finnish online banking credentials or a mobile certificate.
There may be prerequisites for participation on individual courses. You can find information on required previous studies or know-how in the course details on our study guide, see the link for course details above. Please note that you are responsible for making sure that you have the skills and know-how required for participation.
To participate on Master’s level courses, you must have completed a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent higher education degree in Finland or abroad.
Open UAS offers individual courses in both Finnish and in English. Please note that you must have sufficient language skills to take part in Open UAS studies. Generally, language skills at level B1 or above are recommended for participating in higher education. Some study options may have specific language skill requirements.
Open UAS study fee
Open UAS studies are subject to a study fee. Individual courses usually cost 15 € per ECTS credit. Read more about study fees.
If the study fee for a course differs, or if the course is free of charge, the information is available in the course information above.
Starting the studies
Once you have enrolled in an Open UAS course, you will receive an email confirming your enrollment and payment instructions. Your registration will be accepted once the payment has been completed.
The guidelines for new open UAS students contain instructions on how to start studying on an open UAS course.
5 reasons to study at Open UAS
- Open UAS studies are for everyone, regardless of age or background.
- You can try what’s it like to study at a UAS or get to know a study field you’re interested in.
- You can take individual courses or larger study modules.
- If you’re aiming for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, you can complete credits in advance.
- You’ll gain new skills, learn and be inspired.
Enjoy every person’s right to study. Learn more about Open studies.