Course summary

Meeting future energy needs is one of the greatest challenges facing the world in the twenty-first century. Emerging economies are leading a huge increase in global energy consumption, and demand is projected to rise further in the near future. We urgently need new supplies of affordable, sustainable energy. Our Sustainable Energy Engineering programme provides students with the tools and knowledge needed tackle the greatest challenges regarding sustainable development and alternative energies. This unrivalled and innovative programme will place you at the forefront of one of the most important fields of the century. In Year 1 you’ll build a strong foundation in fundamental engineering concepts such as fluid mechanics, design, materials and mathematical modelling, whilst being introduced to Sustainable Energy engineering through our ‘Explore Sustainable Energy Engineering’ module. Modules in design and experimental practice, will help you to develop the practical workshop and laboratory-based skills necessary for all engineers, and put core programme material into perspective and to practical use. Year 2 will continue building your knowledge on key engineering principles across modules in Thermodynamic Cycles, Heat and mass transfer, Fluid Mechanics, Numerical Method and Data Analysis, and Control Systems, along with specific modules in energy and sustainability. You’ll also understand the challenges new sustainable materials need to overcome to be used in innovative energy systems through our modules on Functional Materials and Structural Properties of Materials. For your third-year design project, you’ll design and conduct an individual project to address a real-world issue related to sustainability and energy and learn how engineering can influence the way we build a sustainable society. Students who choose to take the MEng degree will carry out an industry or research-linked project that focuses on solving real engineering research and design problems. We've recently undertaken a review of our programmes to ensure that they will prepare you for life beyond 2030 and ensure they reflect the global challenges facing both our society and your future as engineers. We have developed the modules we offer in consultation with our students, staff and industry to enhance your student experience and graduate employability. We have mapped the modules in our programmes to a range of attributes that we would like our students to attain, within the areas of creativity, resilience, communication and professional practice in order to produce well-rounded, interested and highly employable graduates. This not only ensures that students develop the required technical knowledge and understanding as they progress through their degree, but also gives us the confidence that students will graduate with skills they can apply to a range of future careers or higher-level study.