Cranfield University

Msc in Renewable Energy

Who is it for?

This course is designed for engineering, maths or science graduates who wish to develop a successful and rewarding career in the renewable energy sector. It will equip you with the multidisciplinary skills required to design, optimise and evaluate the technical and economic viability of renewable energy schemes. The engineering route will provide you with the state-of-the-art technical skills required to design renewable energy systems, including finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and technology lifecycle management (TLM). Alternatively, you can specialise in managing renewable energy projects and systems, focusing on topics such as health and safety and environment; energy entrepreneurship and asset management.

Course structure

• Taught modules
• Group project (or dissertation for part-time students)
• Individual project

Individual project

The individual project is the chance for students to focus on an area of particular interest to them and their future career. Students select the individual project in consultation with the Thesis Coordinator and their Course Director. These projects provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to carry out independent research, think and work in an original way, contribute to knowledge, and overcome genuine problems in the offshore industry. Many of the projects are supported by external organisations.

Group project

The group project is an applied, multidisciplinary, team-based activity. Often solving real-world, industry-based problems, you and your fellow students will have the opportunity to take responsibility for a consultancy-type project while working under academic supervision. The group project is highly valued by employers for developing your ability to work within agreed objectives, deadlines and budgets, whilst developing transferable skills such as team work, self-reflection and effective communication.

Informed by the industry

The Renewable Energy MSc is closely aligned with industry to ensure that you are fully prepared for your new career.

• Cranfield’s long-standing strategic partnerships with prominent players in the energy sector ensures that the course content meets the needs of global employers in the renewable energy sector,
• The teaching team are heavily involved in industrially-funded research and development, enabling you to benefit from real-world case studies throughout the course,
• An industrial advisory board for the course scrutinises course content and ensures its relevance to the needs of global employers,
• State-of-the-art technical modules cover a range of industry-relevant topics including Renewable Engineering Technologies, Engineering Stress Analysis: Theory and Simulations, Fluid Mechanics and Loading, Design of Offshore Energy Structures,
• Management modules cover essential industry relevant topics including Energy Entrepreneurship, Energy Economics and Policy and Sustainability and Environmental Assessment.

Future career

With the current global focus on developing low carbon energy production and renewable energy technologies, you can expect to be highly sought after by employers. Equipped with the expertise to analyse current and future energy needs and to design and implement appropriate solutions, a wide range of careers are open to you, as a professional scientist or engineer across the full breadth of industrial and public sector organisations involved in renewable energy.

For example, on completion of the course, our students have been employed by organisations such as E.ON, Vestas, Vattenfall, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, ABB, Scottish Renewables, EDF and Iberdrola.