Course summary

MSc Marine Renewable Energy provides you with a comprehensive understanding of the marine energy sector, including the technical, environmental, and economic drivers which shape the industry. You’ll be involved in interdisciplinary teaching and learning to make a positive contribution in the development of sustainable marine renewable energy initiatives. The programme is suitable for those from a wide variety of academic backgrounds who want to work in the marine renewable energy industry. You’ll become familiar with the key drivers and limitations of marine renewable energy technologies and their associated development processes. The curriculum focuses on three themes of environment, technology, and governance. You’ll understand the marine environment, sources of energy, and consider potential environmental effects of marine energy development. You’ll gain an awareness of the fundamental technology options for generating new marine renewable energy platforms and their limitations, including issues surrounding the storage of energy and the integration of marine energy into wider energy systems. You’ll also explore the relevant policy, legislation and planning approaches, and understand the nature of energy markets and the economic instruments used to promote marine renewable energy through using financial appraisal tools for individual developments. This career-focused master’s programme will develop your technical, scientific, and managerial abilities, and provide you with a specialist education to set you up to become a professional in a range of roles within marine renewable energy. Your learning environment You will study the programme full-time for 12 months in Orkney. The MSc Marine Renewable Energy programme is taught though a combination of lectures, tutorials, laboratory practicals and field work, allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers. During your studies, you’ll benefit from relatively small class sizes and have access to our specialist equipment, software and laboratories. You will have the opportunity to work on real-world problems, and work across disciplines to deliver practical solutions with global impact. You’ll have the opportunity to go on a two-week field trip to Malaysia through the optional Tropical and Coral Reefs: Monitoring and Management course. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the marine environment whilst learning different techniques for surveying and monitoring coral reefs.  Outside of the classroom, you’ll benefit from living in a friendly island environment and experience landscapes of remarkable beauty. Orkney offers a large range of sports and leisure activities, and you’ll find there is lots to enjoy and explore. Industry You will learn in our specialist campus situated in Orkney, itself a living laboratory, and a thriving hub for marine renewables, oil and gas, and fisheries sectors. We work closely with industry to ensure our course content is up-to-date and reflects the current and emerging needs of industry and employers. You’ll gain the right blend of knowledge, practical skills, and soft skills to set you up for life after graduation.