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Hear more about studying at Birmingham. Chat to one of our friendly postgraduate students to get their thoughts on our courses, stunning campus and life in a vibrant and cultural city.
Take the lead in the future of our energy networks. Our two-year MSc will develop your advanced power engineering skills and prepare you for a research career.
You’ll discover the challenges facing the electrical power industry and learn how to develop innovative solutions to power system problems. Earn a qualification respected around the world and prepare for a PhD.
This degree is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology. The renewal of our accreditation takes us past a 40 year unbroken record of offering professional engineering qualifications.
The best thing about the course is that I experienced both taught and research curricula. In the first year, I had the opportunity to be taught by lecturers with many years of experience in the academic and power industry. In the second year, the research curriculum gave me an insight into research work as a pre-PhD student.
Hear more about studying at Birmingham. Chat to one of our friendly postgraduate students to get their thoughts on our courses, stunning campus and life in a vibrant and cultural city.
Join a 2 year full-time adventure with our programme, offering a rich array of experiences such as lectures, laboratory work, tutorials, and assignments. The centrepiece of the programme is the advanced research project which you'll be dedicating a lot of time to in your second year.
In this term, you'll immerse yourself in three compulsory modules tailored to offer immersive learning opportunities. Our teaching approach integrates lectures, tutorials, and simulation-based lab experiments to facilitate hands-on understanding of electrical power systems and deep into the material.
Each module is assessed through a combination of presentations, group assignments, individual tasks, and a final examination. The culmination of this term is marked by the final examination, scheduled for January.
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Learn advanced concepts of electrical power systems and renewable energy. We’ll prepare you to lead teams in the design, control and operation of smart grids, the electrical power systems and networks of the future. In your second year, you’ll focus on an extended research project and delve deeper into your chosen topic.
Birmingham is ranked 80th in the QS World University Rankings 2025, maintaining our position in the top 100 universities globally and placing us 12th amongst UK universities.
Study a course which is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
Develop power engineering skills through expert teaching and extensive research in collaboration with industry partners.
Benefit from instruction by world-leading experts in electrical power systems. You’ll take part in an intensive year-long advanced research project, tackling original problems to hone your research skills and enhance your career prospects.
Our course is suitable to take full-time, part-time or by module to gain Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points. You'll undertake six 20-credit modules in the first year and an extensive research project in the second year.
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Any optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
Performance required for progressing to Year 2: Successful completion of Year 1 with a good overall 2.1 is needed.
Core modules:
Module Title | Credits | Semester |
---|---|---|
HVDC and FACTS | 20 | Semester 2 |
Introductory Module for Electrical Power Systems | 20 | Semester 1 |
Power Systems Stability Control and Protection | 20 | Semester 1 |
Renewable Energy Systems Integration | 20 | Semester 2 |
Power System Economics | 20 | Semester 2 |
Power Systems Operation and Control | 20 | Semester 1 |
Core module:
Module Title | Credits | Semester |
---|---|---|
Electrical Power Systems with Advanced Research Project | 120 | Full Term |
Students are able to study any of the Research Skills Training modules currently available to MRes, MSc by Research or PhD students (not for award of credit).
Profile of Dr Dilan Jayaweera, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham
Profile of Dr Daniel Donaldson, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham
profile of Professor Xiao-Ping Zhang, University of Birmingham.
To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
In Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering or a relevant subject.
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:
Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.
Full-time
Part-time
Note: The fees above are for the first year of the programme, this is taught component of the programme.
Year 2 is the research section of the course. Fees for year 2 will not be confirmed until 2025. The year 2 fees below are relevant to students who started in 2024.
We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2025 entry are above.
The fees quoted are for one year only. For those studying courses that are longer than one year, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.
Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. You can check whether you are eligible for UK or international fees with our admissions team.
Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding.
To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.
To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.
We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.
To apply for a postgraduate programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.
Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.
Application deadline for UK and non visa requiring applicants. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full. Early applications are encouraged.
Whether you are a future or current engineer, elevate your skill set by learning advanced concepts in electrical power systems and renewable energy. Be the next leader involved in the operation, control, design, and economic analysis of the electrical power systems and networks including smart grids.
Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.
Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.
At Birmingham, your university experience isn’t just about studying. You will have the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.
Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.
Explore our beautiful campus from wherever you are. Get a feel for the wide range of historic and modern spaces and state-of-the-art facilities.