Course summary
MSc Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition will equip you with the skills and knowledge to have a real impact as a leader in renewable energy and energy transition. You don’t need to be an engineer to apply for this master’s programme as it is suitable to professionals from a wide variety of academic backgrounds who want to work in the industry and through interdisciplinary teaching and learning, you’ll be prepared for active participation in the transitions of energy generation and use. You’ll acquire a broad knowledge of renewable energy systems and the issues surrounding them, and you’ll gain the tools to understand the wider systems that rely on energy and look for solutions beyond the simple decarbonisation of existing activities. At the centre of the programme is the discipline of Transition Engineering. This is a relatively new field that focuses on driving and facilitating transitions towards a more sustainable and resilient future. It is rooted in the recognition that significant societal and technological shifts are necessary to address pressing global challenges, such as climate change and resource depletion. You’ll learn from experts in renewable energy, economics, and transition engineering, and develop a clear understanding of the key drivers of energy transition and transition engineering through being introduced to:
- aspects of energy transition,
- the technologies of renewable energy generation and its integration into wider systems,
- the importance of energy efficiency in buildings and in transport,
- energy policy,
- economics,
- project finance,
- environmental science, which is critical for predicting and managing the impacts of energy systems.
Modules
Mandatory September -Economics of Renewable Energy -Transition Engineering - Achieving zero carbon InTIME -Renewable Technology 1: Generation Mandatory January -Energy Transition Lab -Renewable Technology Commercialisation -Future Energy Systems in Buildings, Transport and Infrastructure -Integration of Renewable Technology Mandatory May -ILES Environment Dissertation Optional September -Environmental Processes -Oceanography -Climate Change, Sustainability and Adaptation
Assessment method
You will be assessed by coursework, exams, and your dissertation, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme.
Entry requirements
A minimum of honours degree at 2:2 or non-UK equivalent in any academic subject provided you have basic maths skills. Evidence of experience from a work environment is also encouraged. Please include your CV as part of your application. We welcome applications from international students and accept qualifications from around the world. Please refer to the entry requirements for your country for more details. English language requirements If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability. The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5. If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.
English language requirements
Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not been educated previously in the English language must provide evidence of their English language ability to ensure they can cope with the demands of a Heriot-Watt programme taught and assessed in English. Further information about the English Language tests that we currently accept as proof of English Language ability including our own English Language programmes, can be viewed on our website.
HWU English Language Requirements
https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/entry/english-language-requirements.htm
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £10528 | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £10528 | Whole course |
| Scotland | £10528 | Whole course |
| Wales | £10528 | Whole course |
| International | £19816 | Whole course |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
All course costs are covered by the tuition fee. For students studying at the Orkney Campus this includes electronic versions of the course notes.
Students should budget additional funds sufficient to cover living expenses such as accommodation, travel to and from the university, food, clothing and leisure pursuits.
Financial support
Tuition fee loans of £5,500 are available to Scottish distance learning students on taught postgraduate courses. Full-time distance learning postgraduate students can also access a £4,500 living cost loan. Find out more from the Students Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
Sponsorship information
Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support. Postgraduate European Union Scholarship Open to any student coming from an EU country, this scholarship is an automatically applied £5,000 fee reduction for a full-time postgraduate taught programme at Heriot-Watt University.
Provider information
Heriot-Watt University
Riccarton
Edinburgh
EH14 4AS