Sustainable Energy Systems (MSc)

at University of Edinburgh

Semester 1
 

Compulsory courses:

• Technologies for Sustainable Energy

• Energy and Environmental Economics

• Engineering Research Methods with Grand Challenge (MSc)
   

Plus, one of the following, depending on the student's academic background:

• Electrical Engineering Fundamentals of Renewable Energy

• Mechanical Engineering Fundamentals of Renewable Energy
   

Of these two courses, students must take the one that they are the least familiar with, so that they can appreciate the breadth of the field as well as be able to keep up with courses in Semester 2 that draw on these subjects.
 

Students are also required to either be already knowledgeable of contents of the other course or ensure that they assimilate these that they not already familiar with by independent study during the Semester. Thus, for example, a Chemical Engineer would be required to register on the Electrical Engineering Fundamentals of Renewable Energy course, since they should already have a good knowledge of significant part of the other course (Mechanical Engineering Fundamentals etc.), such as fluid mechanics. However, they should still check the contents of the Mechanical Engineering course during the Semester, making sure that their knowledge of solids mechanics is at the level that is required in the programme.
 

Optional courses In addition, all students will also choose 20 credits of optional courses, from the Schools of Engineering, GeoSciences, Business School, Social and Political Science, and Edinburgh College of Art, depending on availability.
 

Semester 2
 

Compulsory courses:

• Solar Energy & Photovoltaic Systems (MSc)

• Principles of Wind Energy (MSc)

• Marine Energy (MSc)
   

Optional courses All students will also choose 30 credits of optional courses from the Schools of Engineering, GeoSciences, Business School, Social and Political Science, and Edinburgh College of Art, depending on availability.
 

A list of optional courses will be confirmed at the beginning of the academic year.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in engineering or physics.
 

If you apply with a background in another field, you may be accepted if you hold a UK first class honours degree, or its international equivalent, and have studied mathematics to first year undergraduate level, including vectorial calculus (gradients, curls, etc), complex algebra and Fourier transforms. You must also be able to demonstrate a strong interest in the energy sector.
 

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.
 

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified*:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.
• Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

The fees for Sustainable Energy Systems (MSc) may vary from £30,000 to £40,000 annually for tuition fees. The fee's prices may get higher for International Students.

Graduates go on to a wide range of activities in industry, public organisations or academia. The MSc has well established links with industry, with many graduates finding employment with leading national and international companies involved with energy, consultancy and engineering. Thus, recent graduates are now working in a variety of fields and roles, including as civil, structural, automotive, subsea and electrical engineers, and as power systems, energy and environment and renewable energy consultants. Employing firms include Arup, Alstom, Avery, Dennison, GE, Schneider, SSE, Scottish Power and many other small, medium and large organisations.