The Vienna Doctoral Programme on Water Resource Systems is an interdisciplinary three to four year programme aimed at researching complex water resource systems such as aquifers, streams, catchments and water infrastructure, and providing excellent doctoral education to the doctoral researchers. Interplay of the disciplines, international networking, a tailor made training programme and an efficient mentoring concept are key priorities of the programme. The programme is funded by the Austrian Science Funds FWF and will run over the period 2009 - 2021.