Postgraduate study
Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Advanced Power Engineering MSc

Awards: MSc

Study modes: Full-time

Accreditation

Funding opportunities

Our two-year MSc programme in Advanced Power Engineering will train you in the most up-to-date developments in power engineering technologies.

You will expand your knowledge of both traditional and renewable power sources and will explore efficient and sustainable methods of power production.

Through the taught courses 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.

In your second year you will undertake a year-long research project when you will be able to focus on a topic of your choice within Energy Systems. You have the opportunity to do this either within one of our research groups, or in industry in collaboration with a power company. This in-depth project will advance your research and transferable skills, preparing you for a career in the field or further study into a PhD.

How will I learn?

You will be taught by our expert academics who are leaders in their fields and you will deepen your knowledge through:

  • our connections with leading companies in the sector
  • practical activities where you will benefit from our specialist resources and facilities
  • participating in site visits so you can apply theory to real situations
  • gaining experience of using industry approved software
  • actively engaging in our world-leading research as part of your dissertation project

Research project

In close collaboration with our academics, you will work as a full-time researcher on a project putting into practice the knowledge and skills you have acquired during the first two taught semesters, during which you will investigate an actual, industry-relevant 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, or
  • in an industrial placement at one of our collaborating companies within the power sector.

A unique feature of the research project is that instead of a standard MSc dissertation, students on the MSc APE programme publish two journal papers: one review and one research paper, both published in the Edinburgh Power Engineering Research Archive, a journal set up specifically for the dissemination of the research outputs of the Advanced Power Engineering research projects.

Accreditation

The MSc in Advanced Power Engineering is accredited by the UK Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), one the largest professional engineering bodies in the world.

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.

Accredited programmes undergo continuous and robust quality review by the IET and are internationally recognised for the quality of the education they provide.

You will learn through a combination of:

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

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

You will take the following compulsory courses in Semester 1:

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

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
MScAdvanced Power Engineering2 YearsFull-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 advance 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 Advanced Power Engineering programme, you will be equipped to go into a wide range of careers anywhere in the world, such as in:

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

The programmes 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 indicate their level of understanding in power engineering, as well as demonstrating 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 C.

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
MScAdvanced Power Engineering2 YearsFull-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 residency status.

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

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

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

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