UK’s University of Strathclyde’s launches MSc Renewable Energy and Decarbonisation Technologies: Job prospects, scholarships, curriculum and more

The MSc Renewable Energy and Decarbonisation Technologies is a postgraduate programme. The course aims to provide students with detailed knowledge of the technology required to ensure future energy transition in industry. It will give both a theoretical and practical grounding for future managers and engineers of energy-based projects.

The course focuses on the problems related to industry decarbonisation, state-of-the-art technologies and future technologies that will support this process on a significant scale. It will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of renewable energy technologies and how they can be used to reduce carbon emissions. The programme covers topics such as solar, wind as well as energy storage, energy efficiency, and energy policy.

Students will learn about the scientific principles and engineering techniques behind these technologies, as well as the economic and environmental considerations involved in their implementation. They will also gain an understanding of the challenges associated with the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to overcome them.

Upon completion of the programme, graduates will be equipped to pursue a career in the renewable energy industry or related fields such as sustainability, environmental policy, or energy consulting.

What led to the birth of the idea of launching MSc Renewable Energy and Decarbonisation Technologies?

The research and study of renewables is at the heart of many departments across the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. Combined with this, it was seen as a great opportunity and industry need to develop a programme in this with Decarbonisation Technologies.

It was identified that there is a need to address and implement the transition in the industry from fossil fuels to zero/ low carbon sources through the integration of electrical technologies into our current and future energy systems. This new course from Strathclyde will enable this.

What is the course curriculum for this course?

Students will have two semesters of compulsory and optional classes, followed by a three-month summer research project in their chosen area. There’s the opportunity to carry this out through the department’s competitive MSc industrial internships.

The internships are offered in collaboration with selected department industry partners, including oil and gas companies, ScottishPower, Smarter Grid Solutions and SSE. Students will address real-world engineering challenges facing the partner, with site visits, access and provision of relevant technical data and/or facilities provided, along with an industry mentor and academic supervisor.

The syllabus will look somewhat like this:

Semester 1
Asset Management and Condition Monitoring
Energy Economics
Wind Energy and Distributed Energy Resources.
Solar Energy Systems
Energy Storage Systems

Semester 2
Assignment and Professional Studies
Energy Decarbonisation Technologies
Power Electronics Principles
Offshore Wind Farms O&M and Economics

Semester 3
Project in Electrical Energy Transition – the aim of the research project is to provide students with an opportunity to bring their knowledge and skills together and deploy them in a significant practical investigation, using relevant engineering literature, and where relevant, initial experiments or simulations.

What are the job prospects for this course (the different kinds of job roles)? What is the average salary for a fresher after this course?

The job prospects for graduates with an MSc in Renewable Energy and Decarbonisation Technologies are excellent as the world is increasingly focused on transitioning to more sustainable and decarbonised energy systems. There is a growing demand for professionals who can develop, implement, and manage renewable energy technologies, and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years. The course provides the advanced level of knowledge and understanding required for challenging, well paid and exciting careers in the future high growth power and energy sectors

Graduates with an MSc in Renewable Energy & Decarbonisation Technologies may find job opportunities in a variety of industries, including:

Energy companies: renewable energy companies, utility companies, and oil and gas companies that are transitioning to renewable energy.

Government agencies: local, state, and federal government agencies that are promoting renewable energy and implementing policies to reduce carbon emissions.

Engineering firms: engineering firms that specialize in renewable energy technologies, such as wind power, solar power, and energy storage.

Consulting firms: consulting firms that provide advice and guidance to companies and governments on renewable energy and decarbonization.

Research institutions: research institutions that focus on renewable energy technologies, such as universities and national laboratories.

Some specific job titles that graduates with an MSc in Renewable Energy and Decarbonisation Technologies may be qualified for include:

Renewable Energy Engineer
Energy Analyst
Sustainability Consultant
Energy Storage Specialist
Project Manager
Energy Efficiency Consultant
Solar Energy Specialist
Wind Energy Specialist
Energy Policy Analyst
Research Scientist

Overall, the job prospects for graduates with an MSc in Renewable Energy and Decarbonisation Technologies are promising, and the demand for professionals with this expertise is likely to continue to grow in the coming years.

Will there be any special scholarships/fellowships available for aspirants of this course?

The University of Strathclyde offers a number of scholarships for its Faculty of Engineering applicants joining postgraduate taught and postgraduate research courses in academic year 2023/24. Students applying for this postgraduate taught degree course will receive a scholarship award equivalent to a 15 per cent reduction of their tuition fees, which will typically be £3,670. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is August 18, 2023.

In addition to this, the university also has a limited number of Dean’s International Excellence Awards for our postgraduate taught applicants. These scholarships are worth £5,000 and £8,000 and will be offered to exceptional applicants at postgraduate taught level only. Applicants need to only submit one application and will be considered for all levels of postgraduate taught scholarships.

What would be the fee structure for this course, and the timeline?

The fee for international students joining this course for 2023/24 is £24,450 and the course duration is 1 year.