Master's Degree in Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Barcelona, Spain
Master degree
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English, Spanish
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
EUR 19 / per credit *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* 19.37 euros per credit (82 euros for students who are not EU nationals and do not currently reside in Spain). Fees for the academic year 2025-2026
Key Summary
About: The Master's in Renewable and Sustainable Energy at The University of Barcelona studies sustainability, the energy transition, renewable sources and energy efficiency. It uses face-to-face, multidisciplinary teaching from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Law and Economics, plus industry seminars. Students can do curricular placements and base their final project on company experience. Taught in Catalan/Spanish (85%) and English (15%).
Career Outcomes: Graduates have career opportunities in research centres, consultancies, legal and regulatory bodies, companies designing or installing renewable systems. They'll take technical and management roles in innovation, project and business development; roles include sustainability consultant, energy analyst and project manager.
Recent generations have benefited from unprecedented economic and social progress thanks to the abundance of energy provided by fossil fuels. However, all the evidence suggests that this period of plenty is coming to an end: on the one hand, because it is increasingly difficult to obtain supplies of fossil fuels; on the other, because the scale of their impact on the environment is a cause of growing concern. In this context, sustainability has emerged as the new paradigm of prosperity for the immediate future.
This master's degree addresses the concept of sustainability from every angle and with the necessary academic rigour. It prepares students to work in companies and institutions that contribute sustainable solutions or actively integrate a concern for sustainability into their business strategies. As several studies have shown, this is a major growth sector that offers a significant number of positions for individuals with training in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. A document prepared in 2012 by the Spanish Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving notes that this sector generates high-quality jobs and forecasts a national increase in employment of 20% by 2015 and of 75% by 2020.
Face-to-face teaching is used, and the teaching staff are drawn from different departments of the faculties of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Law, and Economics and Business. In addition, students will attend seminars given by professionals from companies in the sector based in and around Barcelona. Students will also have the opportunity to carry out curricular placements at some of these companies and can in some cases use the experience as the basis for their final project.
The languages of instruction for this program are Catalan and Spanish: 85%, English: 15%.
This master's degree aims to foster a sensitive, evidence-based approach to the general concept of sustainability and to develop skills in the area of environmental protection and sustainable energy management, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy saving.
The training acquired during the course will prepare students for professional life in various fields such as energy management, auditing and planning, and management of socioeconomic and environmental impacts of new energy sources.
The course also serves as preparation for more detailed study of sustainability technologies through research and the completion of a doctoral thesis.
The University of Barcelona consistently ranks among the top institutions nationally, in Europe, and worldwide. Its performance in the most prestigious international rankings reflects excellence in teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and global engagement.
- Ranked 1st nationally in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)
- Ranked 1st nationally in the THE (Times Higher Education) World University Rankings
- Ranked 1st nationally and 68th in Europe in the QS World University Rankings
- Ranked 1st nationally and 27th in Europe in the Best Global Universities Rankings
Studying at the University of Barcelona means joining a world-class academic community recognized for its innovation and impact.
For more information about scholarships, please submit an information request.
What can you work on ?
Graduates of this master's degree will find employment in research centres, energy and environmental consultancies, legal advisory services, public regulatory bodies, and companies involved in the design, manufacturing and installation of machinery in the field of renewable energies and energy efficiency. They will have the skills for technical and management positions in innovation, project development and quality control departments, among others. Graduates will also be suited to positions in business development departments, as the kind of products and services provided by businesses in this sector require businesspeople with expert technical knowledge.
Recommended applicant profile
Applicants should be particularly sensitive to the challenges of energy sustainability and wish to acquire rigorous academic training in this field, with a particular emphasis on renewable energy, in order to work in the area of research, innovation and development.
To ensure success in this master's degree, applicants should have a strong level of physics, chemistry and mathematics, user-level IT skills, and a good working knowledge of English. The degree is also open to professionals in the private sector who wish to broaden their knowledge of specific fields or techniques.