Energy Informatics MSc

Who is it for? This course is suitable for Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Information Technology graduates and practicing IT engineers wishing to pursue a technical management career in the strongly growing energy industry sector. It develops professional engineers and scientists with the multidisciplinary skills and ability to analyse current and future energy engineering problems.
Why this course?

Developed economies now face a number of challenges in procuring energy security and responding to energy pricing and affordability issues, as well as dealing with contributions to carbon emission targets. Due to the growth of sustainable and renewable energy production, energy informatics plays a significant role in managing the world's growing energy demand. Both developed and developing countries are facing great challenges in improvements in energy efficiency, reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and enlargements of renewable energy applications. For example, the UK Government has set ambitious targets to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions to 80% of today’s by 2050; the China Government has also planned to significantly reduce CO2 emissions to a level of 5,000 million tons in 2050, which is half of current emissions.

Through this course, you will develop professional informatics skills required in the growing energy sector, with essential abilities applicable in both the renewables industry (wind, geothermal and solar) and the traditional energy industry (oil and gas).

Students benefit from dedicated state-of-the-art facilities including unique engineering-scale facilities for the development of efficient technologies with low CO2 emissions. In addition to management, communication, team work and research skills, each student will attain at least the following learning outcomes from this degree course:

• Develop systematic strategies using traditional methods to resolve the technical and economic issues involved in the design and operation of industrial energy systems.
• Apply effectively the informatics knowledge gained to solve practical problems in principal subject areas of energy systems.

Course details

The taught programme for the Energy Informatics masters is generally delivered from October to February and is comprised of eight modules. The modules are delivered over one week of intensive delivery with a second week being free from structured teaching to allow time for more independent learning and reflection.

Students on the part-time programme will complete all of the modules based on a flexible schedule that will be agreed with the course director.

Group project

The group project is an applied, multidisciplinary, team-based activity. Often solving real-world, industry-based problems, students are provided with the opportunity to take responsibility for a consultancy-type project while working under academic supervision. Success is dependent on the integration of various activities and working within agreed objectives, deadlines and budgets. Transferable skills such as team work, self-reflection and clear communication are also developed.

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 Co-ordinator, their allocated supervisor and their Course Director. These projects provides 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.

Assessment Taught modules 40%, group project 20% (or dissertation for part-time students), and individual project 40%.