MSc in Energy and Sustainability: Energy, Environment and Buildings
Southampton, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
19 Aug 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 32,500 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international students | for UK students: 2 september
** for EU and international students | for UK students: £10,700
Key Summary
About: The MSc in Energy and Sustainability: Energy, Environment and Buildings at The University of Southampton trains you to tackle climate change, secure energy supply and improve building energy efficiency. It mixes classroom teaching, GIS and renewable technologies, responds to changing technology, community needs. The final four months are a research project with industrial partners, and group work gives real practical experience. The university offers merit and competitive scholarships.
Career Outcomes: Graduates work in energy companies, consultancies and public sector in renewable energy development, energy management, building sustainability assessment, climate policy, energy performance evaluation and civil engineering and consultancy roles.
The MSc Energy and Sustainability: Energy, Environment and Buildings programme teaches you the vital skills needed to tackle climate change, ensure energy supply, and manage energy efficiency in buildings. Led by Professor AbuBakr Bahaj, a pioneer in sustainable energy research, this course has been developed with industry specialists to ensure you gain practical, relevant knowledge.
You'll explore the current and projected impacts of climate change on the energy industry, and develop concepts to solve complex problems in sustainable development. The taught component combines classroom learning with field trips, giving you real-world context for your studies. You'll learn about renewable energy technologies and geographical information systems—skills highly valued in civil engineering and by employers.
The course structure is responsive to changes in technology and community needs, meaning you'll study current issues and trends. The final four months are dedicated to a significant research project, often completed with industrial partners such as energy utilities or consultancies. This research-led approach, combined with group work throughout the course, prepares you for careers in the energy sector.
The one-year course consists of 8 taught modules across 2 semesters, followed by a 4-month dedicated research project (June to September).
Semester 1 modules are fixed: Climate Change, Energy and Settlements; Climate Design of Buildings and Cities; Data Analytics in Civil, Environmental, and Energy Systems; Energy Performance Assessment of Buildings.
In Semester 2, you choose your 8th module from the Energy, Resources and Climate Change pathway (either Waste Resource Management or Bioenergy).
The research project can be completed in partnership with industrial partners. Modules are subject to change based on staff availability, research interests, and student demand.
Graduates are qualified to work in energy assessment, building sustainability design, renewable energy development, and climate change mitigation. You'll be able to tackle climate change, manage energy efficiency, assess building and urban energy performance, and apply renewable energy technologies in practice.
Many graduates work for large energy-focused companies, consultancies, and the public sector. The programme is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) towards Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration, provided your bachelor's degree also meets partial accreditation requirements.
Graduates work in large energy-focused companies, energy consultancies, and the public sector.
The programme prepares you for roles in renewable energy development, energy management, building sustainability assessment, and climate policy implementation. Skills in energy performance assessment, renewable energy technologies, and geographical information systems enhance careers in civil engineering and related fields.
You hold a 2:1 honours degree in engineering, chemistry, geography, biological sciences, or environmental sciences, with strong A-level Mathematics and Physics.
You're interested in climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable building design. You want to develop practical skills in energy assessment and gain experience working with industry. You're ready to take on group projects and research-focused learning to launch a career in energy consultancy, utilities, or sustainable development.
Full-time, on-campus delivery. Taught modules delivered across 2 semesters (classroom-based) with field trips providing real-world context. Final 4 months dedicated to supervised research project, which may be completed in partnership with industry. Language of instruction: English. Locations: Highfield and Boldrewood campuses, University of Southampton.