Renewable Energy Engineering MSc

Dubai Campus

Start date
September
Duration
1 year (full-time), 2 years (part-time)
Campus
Dubai
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees

2024
Full-time programme fee AED 138,456
Your tuition fee can be paid in 3 instalments per year.
Scholarships are available.

This programme will help you to meet the global energy demands of tomorrow. You will learn about established and emerging renewable energy technologies, preparing you for a successful career in a transformed energy sector.

Subject to Ministry of Education Accreditation.

The climate crisis, resource depletion and a growing need for energy security are all driving the demand for more sustainable technologies. Renewable energy plays a pivotal role in a more sustainable future but must fit into global energy systems and markets. Key drivers such as climate change, air quality, reliability of demand, and growing urbanization, further direct energy trends.

This interdisciplinary programme will enable graduates to develop a deep understanding of renewable energy technologies and how they fit into global systems and policy. It considers the whole energy generation system, from generation and storage to distribution and efficient utilization. Course content is developed by the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham.

You will study a total of 180 credits over a 12-month (full time) or 24-month (part time) course. 120 credits are delivered as taught modules where you will learn about specific renewable energy technologies and the design of renewable energy systems. Policy, economic and geopolitical aspects of the global energy market are also covered, with a focus on renewables.

Following the taught modules, you will complete a 60 credit research project allowing you to develop your skills in experimental design, data analysis and presentation to non-specialist audiences.

Why study Renewable Energy Engineering at Birmingham Dubai?

  • The University of Birmingham (UoB) is a global Top 100 university (QS World University Rankings 2021). Studying with UoB Dubai, you will graduate with the same UoB degree as in the UK, which is recognised all around the world for its research base and industrially focussed profile.
  • This course provides detailed knowledge around the renewable energy system from technologies to policies. It is set in the context of current challenges, such as growing demand and depletion of resources, which ensures that our graduates are well-equipped with the skills needed to address these globally important issues.
  • The course covers material across multiple aspects of the renewable energy sector, and allows specialization in a specific area in the research project.
  • Our expertise in global energy technologies ensures that we are able to deliver a modern, highly relevant course, from an internationally-recognised University.
  • The combination of taught modules and research project will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue an exciting career in an energy sector built not on fossil fuels but the sustainable technologies of the future.

Speak to our programme director

This programme is led by Dr Hassan Ali, Associate Professor and Programme Director for MSc Renewable Energy Engineering. Email: h.a.ali.1@bham.ac.uk

Modules

All modules are 10 credits unless stated otherwise

Core modules

  • Advanced Technologies for Energy
    Fundamental engineering concepts relating to thermodynamics, conventional power generation, renewable power generation, and the current energy mix in local and global markets and how this is changing. The heat & power needs of a developed economy, climate change processes and climate change modelling is also presented.
  • Design of Renewable Energy Systems
    Analysis of UAE primary and secondary energy mix, transmission and distribution of energy and overall demand. Students should apply other knowledge gained in other lectures to energy system design.
  • Economics of Energy Markets
    Introduction of a range of economics topics so that they can understand the commercial context of engineering decisions. Highlight the main features of government policies. Introduction to economic issues in energy, in particular electricity systems.
  • Energy Data and Analysis
    Introduction to the analysis of energy data. Various data sources analysed with Python software. Energy data to include gas, electrical and liquid fuel data on supply and demand side.
  • Energy Storage Solutions
    Integration of energy storage within whole energy system. Wider implications explored e.g. recycling & reuse of batteries, hybrid / distributed solutions and electric vehicles. Will include mechanical and thermal energy storage, power to gas, batteries, economics and environmental issues.
  • Renewable Systems and Policy
    Topics covered are the demand for energy, fossil fuels, electricity generation (conventional, nuclear and renewable), hydrogen, electricity networks, electricity markets, investment decisions, energy security, energy and the environment, and energy policy.
  • Sustainable Cooling Technologies
    Challenges for cooling and cold chain (e.g food & vaccine distribution, space cooling), assessing need for cooling, renewable energy and clean technology for designing solutions to meet cooling needs, skills and business models for maintaining sustainable cooling, case studies for sustainable cooling in developed and developing countries.
  • Sustainable Energy and the Environment
  • Systems for Renewable Energy
    Operating principles, characteristics and classifications of energy storage solutions and their integration within a whole energy system. Operating principles, characteristics and interactions of distributed heat and power technologies, their technical and environmental benefits, planning, operating and grid integrations challenges.
  • Renewable Energy Research Project - 60 credits
    The projects may focus on experimental, modeling, non-laboratory research or a combination of these. The exact nature will vary depending on specific project but will students will critically evaluate literature, apply knowledge to plan their own independent project, execute analysis, present research and write a report.

Optional modules

Choose 30 credits of options. Example optional are listed below:

  • Fuel Cell Technologies (Ren Energy)
  • Decarbonisation of Transport
  • Research Led Option 1
  • Research Led Option 2

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods

Fees

2024

We charge an annual tution fee:

  • Full-time pogramme AED 138,456
  • Part-time programme AED 69,228/year

Your tuition fee can be paid in 3 instalments per year.

Scholarships

We have a number of scholarships available.

How To Apply

To find out more information about our application process please visit our 'How to apply page' before starting your application.

 

Our Standard Requirements

You should have, or expect to obtain, a 2:1 Honours degree from a UK academic institution (or an equivalent overseas qualification) in engineering or physical sciences.

Consideration may also be given to excellent applicants with degrees in life sciences and economics where these included an adequate component of mathematics.

Further consideration may be given to candidates with extensive, relevant post-degree experience.

International students

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries – learn more about international entry requirements. Standard English language requirements apply.

For students whose first language is not English, one of the following English language qualifications is required:

IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band is equivalent to:

  • TOEFL: 80 overall with no less than 19 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 21 in Speaking and 19 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 64 with no less than 59 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 169, with no less than 162 in any component

Mathematics

If you do not meet the entry requirements for maths, you may be eligible to take our maths entry test. For a one to one consultation with our team about this opportunity please contact dubai@contacts.bham.ac.uk or +971 424 92300.

International Requirements


Multiple learning and teaching methods are used in order to provide a broad, well-rounded academic experience. The exact combination of methods used will vary from module to module but, broadly, they will consist of:

  • Face to face lectures, tutorials, workshops and supervison
  • Structured independent study e.g reading & preparing for scheduled learning activity
  • Module & course-based general study
  • Working on assessments, coursework, and reports.

This course will run over 12 months in a full-time mode, and there is also scope to undertake the programme on a part-time basis.

It is widely accepted that the annual investment in global energy infrastructure needs to greatly increase in order for challenges surrounding energy supply and demand, sustainability and climate change to be tackled. To these ends, the opportunities for exciting careers in the energy sector will also grow. The skills obtained through this course will give an excellent basis for a career oriented towards working in the expanding energy sector.

Graduating from this programme

  • You will be able to understand the major features of global energy issues, energy technologies and interactions with energy economics and policy;
  • You will have broad research and analytical skills related to renewable energy technologies and systems;
  • You will be able to analyse and solve problems in the energy sector using a multidisciplinary approach, applying professional judgments to balance performance, costs, benefits, safety and social and environmental impact; and
  • You will be ideally placed to have an exciting career in a changing global energy sector.