Postgraduate study
Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Electrical Power Engineering MSc

Awards: MSc

Study modes: Full-time

Accreditation

Funding opportunities

Our Electrical Power Engineering MSc is a one-year programme designed to equip you with broad and robust training on modern power engineering technologies, with a strong focus on renewable energy conversion and smart grids.

In semesters 1 and 2, you will acquire the advanced fundamentals, research tools and techniques of power engineering, as well as an in-depth knowledge of emerging technologies and advanced numerical methods to address some of the world's grand challenges, such as integration of wind energy, offshore renewables, energy storage and photovoltaics.

You will also complete an individual dissertation project over the summer months, which provides a good opportunity for you to apply your acquired skills to a real-world problem.

How will I learn?

You will be taught by our experts who are leaders in their field and you will deepen your knowledge through:

  • our connections with leading power engineering companies in the sector
  • practical labs where you will benefit from our specialist power electronics and machines facilities
  • participating in site visits so you can experience the application of theory to real situations
  • gaining experience of using industry-approved software
  • being exposed to industrial guest speakers on leading technology and power engineering challenges
  • actively engaging in our world-leading research on power engineering as part of your dissertation project

Research project

In close collaboration with our academics, you will undertake a research project to put into practice the knowledge and skills you have acquired during the first two taught semesters, during which you will investigate an actual power engineering problem.

You can carry out your project within either:

  • one of our power research groups working alongside academics and researchers from the Institute for Energy Systems
  • in an industrial placement at one of our collaborating companies within the power sector

Accreditation

The MSc in Electrical Power Engineering is accredited by the UK Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), one the largest professional engineering bodies in the world. Accredited programmes undergo continuous and robust quality review by the IET and are internationally recognised for the quality of the education they provide.

Your MSc can therefore count towards the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) in the UK. Chartered Engineers not only have a firm grasp of the underpinning knowledge of their field, but also possess the required professional skills to excel in the modern engineering environment.

You will learn through a combination of:

  • taught courses
  • workshops
  • practical laboratories
  • group design projects
  • a research dissertation

The courses correspond to 120 credits of taught material, plus 60 credits of a research project.

Semester 1

You will take the following compulsory courses in Semester 1:

  • Distributed Energy Resources and Smart Grids
  • Engineering Research Methods with Grand Challenge
  • Power Conversion
  • Power Systems

Semester 2

You will take the following compulsory courses in Semester 2:

  • Power Systems Engineering and Economics
  • Principles of Wind Energy
  • Solar Energy & Photovoltaic Systems
  • Advanced Power Electronics and Machines

Research Project

  • Electrical Power Engineering Dissertation

Courses can change from year to year. Those listed provide a representation of courses previously offered. Courses for the forthcoming year will be published on the Degree Programme Table in the Spring.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScElectrical Power Engineering1 YearFull-timeProgramme structure 2023/24

Our aim is to train the next generation of power engineers who are equipped to contribute to the rapidly changing needs of the industry and society. We will support you to:

  • build your knowledge of the most recent, cutting-edge developments in power engineering
  • acquire advanced research and development skills and training, allowing you to excel in both industrial and academic settings
  • understand and tackle the global energy trilemma of supplying secure, equitable and environmentally sustainable energy, while appreciating the technical, social and economic challenges faced in both developed and developing countries.

Power engineering is one of the most in-demand professions in the UK and worldwide with Governments putting plans in place to decarbonise and modernise the electricity sector.

The transition to a green economy will require a highly skilled workforce led by electrical power engineers with a solid academic background, an appreciation of the trajectory of the industry and an understanding of the challenges and implications brought about by the introduction of new power technologies.

As a graduate from our MSc Electrical Power Engineering programme, you will be equipped to go into a wide range of careers anywhere in the world, such as in:

  • energy consultancies
  • energy utilities or manufacturers
  • engineering or construction companies
  • renewable energy developers
  • academia
  • governments

The programme runs in a close association with other activities within the broader Electrical Engineering programme within the School, and existing research associations and consortia (such as the EPSRC Centre for Energy Systems Integration), meaning you will benefit from:

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 degree, or international equivalent, in Electrical and/or Electronic Engineering.

Applicants with different academic backgrounds may be considered but we expect you to have passed at least two power engineering related courses with marks equivalent to UK 2:1 as a minimum. Examples of relevant courses are power electronics, power systems, electric machines, control engineering, renewable energy etc. This requirement may be partially met by relevant industrial experience; applicants with non-standard backgrounds may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants will also need to submit a personal statement, which should clearly demonstrate both their level of understanding of power engineering, and their strong interest in and commitment to the field.

Please note that entry to this programme is very competitive. A typical offer will normally require a UK first class honours degree or equivalent.

Students from China

This degree is Band B.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

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

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. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • 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.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Deposit

If you receive an offer of admission you will need to pay a deposit to secure your place.

  • £1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)

Any applicants who are required to pay will receive an offer with full details. (If there is no information on your offer about the deposit, then you are not required to pay.)

Find out more about tuition fee deposits:

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScElectrical Power Engineering1 YearFull-timeTuition fees

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Engineering International Masters Scholarships

  • £3,000

The scholarships will be awarded to overseas applicants who have been accepted for admission on a full-time basis for an eligible postgraduate taught Masters programme within the School of Engineering.

The scholarship will be awarded broadly on the basis of academic merit with candidates requiring a first-class honours degree from a UK university or overseas equivalent.

Learn more about this scholarship:

Scottish Power Scholarship

  • Full tuition fees plus a monthly maintenance allowance

ScottishPower has been building relationships with universities in our communities for a number of years. Working together, we aim to support development of future talent while mitigating the projected skills gap within the energy sector.

The programme is designed to financially support high achieving recent graduates in Spain, the United Kingdom and Mexico, who are interested in pursuing an advanced degree in industry relevant fields such as engineering, smart grids, renewable energy, sustainability, energy and environment, information technology, big data, cybersecurity, and more.

Learn more about this scholarship:

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • School of Engineering
  • Sanderson Building
  • The King's Buildings Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH9 3FB
Programme start date Application deadline
9 September 2024 31 May 2024

Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines.

We strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications may close earlier than the published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.

We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline.

We aim to make the majority of decisions within eight weeks of the selection deadline.

If we have not made you an offer by a specific selection deadline this means one of two things:

  • your application has been unsuccessful, in which case we will contact you to let you know, or
  • your application is still being considered, will be carried forward for consideration in the next selection deadline and we’ll be in touch once a decision is made

Selection Deadlines

Round Application Deadline Decisions made or applications rolled to next deadline
1 15 December 1 March
2 31 March 31 May
3 31 May 31 July

You must submit one reference with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • School of Engineering
  • Sanderson Building
  • The King's Buildings Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH9 3FB