Advanced Power Engineering MSc

The programme is delivered over 2 years. In Year 1 there are two semesters of taught courses; in Year 2 a research project runs over two semesters leading to the submission of a masters thesis.

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

Year 1

Semester 1

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

Semester 2

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

Year 2

Semesters 1 and 2

• Research Project: Advanced Power Engineering Dissertation

For the research project, carried out during the second year, you have an option to carry it out within either:

• a research project within one of our power research groups
• an industrial project associated with or placed within a collaborating company in the power sector

The main objective of the programme is to train the next generation of electrical power engineers who:

• are aware of the most recent, cutting edge developments in power engineering
• are able to tackle the global energy trilemma of supplying secure, equitable and environmentally sustainable energy, appreciating the technical, social and economic challenges faced in both developed and developing countries
• have advanced research and development skills allowing them to excel in both industrial and academic settings

Power Engineering is one of the most in-demand professions in the UK and worldwide. Graduates from our MSc programmes go on to a wide range of activities.

Graduates return to jobs and academia in their own countries, or take up employment with well-known companies in Scotland, the UK and elsewhere in the world, for example with:

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

This programme is specifically designed for students who are interested in pursuing a PhD or taking up professional posts with demanding research and development duties.

The programme runs in a close association with other activities within the broader Electrical Engineering programme within the School, including:

• networking events
• industrial presentations
• seminars

It benefits from the current strong connections with industry (coordinated by the Student Industry Liaison Manager), and existing research associations and consortia (such as the EPSRC Centre for Energy Systems Integration).

These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 2 October 2023.

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.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

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.

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:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

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).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English 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:

• Tuition fee deposits

Living costs

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

Tuition 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.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding