Master of Engineering: Energy (Leuven)

The first year consists of electrical and mechanical engineering courses, as well as more general socio-economic, energy-related subjects and integrated problem solving and projects.

In the second year, you continue your specialisation by, among other things, writing a master's thesis on a subject related to electrical energy, thermomechanical energy, or more general technicaleconomic aspects. You can also participate in an international exchange or do an internship.

• Thermomechanical energy: emphasis on the mechanical aspects of energy supply and ‘energy machines and systems’
• Electrical energy: emphasis on the electrical aspects of energy supply and energy converter
• General techno-economic energy: a broader specialisation, with a focus on non-technical aspects (economy, legal framework, environment)

Three corresponding specialisation options

• thermomechanical energy
• electrical energy
• techno-economic energy knowledge

At the Faculty of Engineering Science, students are given the opportunity to complete one or two semesters of their degree within the Erasmus+ programme at an European university, or an university outside Europe.

Students are also encouraged to carry out industrial and research internships abroad under supervision of the departmental Internship Coordinator. These internships take place between the third Bachelor’s year and the first Master’s year, or between the two Master’s years.

Other study abroad opportunities are shortsummer coursesorganised by the Board of European Students of Technology (BEST) network or by universities all over the world.

1. Proficiency in one or more scientific disciplines

• The graduate has an active, advanced knowledge of and insight in energy conversion and rational use of energy in each of the following three areas:
• Electrical energy (e.g. the generation from different primary sources of energy, transmission and distribution, control and regulation, efficient use)
• Thermo-mechanical energy (e.g. the use of primary sources, conversion to other vectors, combustion, engines and turbines)
• Economic and regulatory aspects of energy (e.g. markets, regulations, organization in the European context)
• The graduate actively looks for structure, coherence between and integration of the relevant fields in these three domains.
• Based on this knowledge / the integration, the graduate can participate in state-of-the-art design, management and production activities of energy converters and systems in their economic, regulatory and environmental context.
• The graduate possesses the skills and the attitude to independently and efficiently apply, expand and formalize this knowledge in the context of more advanced ideas or applications in at least one of the three aforementioned domains.

2. Proficiency in research

• The graduate is capable of structuring realistic problems (of a more complex nature) as a research question, designing a research plan, developing innovative solutions and synthetizing. He thereby considers the limits of the system.
• The graduate is able to choose the appropriate level of abstraction on a component, device and system level, given the process stage of the research problem.
• The graduate is capable of and has the attitude to integrate related energy systems and other disciplines where needed in his own research.

3. Competent in designing

• The graduate can design energy components and systems with an eye for the dynamic interaction between individual components in a global system.
• The graduate can deal with changeability of the designing process by external circumstances, such as social tendencies or political decisions, or advancing insight. He can adjust this process based on these circumstances.

4. Scientific approach

• The graduate can critically examine existing theories, models or interpretations in the field of energy.
• The graduate can use, develop and validate models and experimental techniques and is able to make an informed choice between modelling and measuring methods.
• The graduate possesses the skills and knows the techniques to become more proficient in his technical field throughout his entire life. He knows the sources of information, recognizes their value and knows how to apply them in new circumstances. He also possesses the skills to continue to develop in non-technical elements of the field of energy, such as economic, environmental and regulatory aspects.

5. Basic intellectual skills

• The graduate can critically reflect on his own thoughts, decisions and actions.
• The graduate can ask adequate questions regarding an argument in the field of energy and take a reasoned position. He hereby considers the social context.
• The graduate can apply methods of reasoning to the discipline (e.g. interactions between components of the electricity system as a base for stability, energy and pinch analysis in thermodynamics, market forces and integration of renewable sources of energy) and is able to recognize and refute fallacies.
• The graduate can work purposefully: possesses a pragmatic approach, can deal with limited sources, can handle risks.

6. Skilled in collaboration and communication

• The graduate can effectively report on research and project results to experts, peers and stakeholders, in Dutch and/or in English, both orally and in writing.
• The graduate is able to cooperate and manage projects in a (multidisciplinary) team: he can distribute and assume responsibilities, keep an eye on time and resource constraints, document project progress and results and can compromise.

7. Taking the temporal and social context into account

• The graduate considers the (changing) social context, such as societal support, policy decisions, the socio-economic context, geopolitics, energy markets and climate change when analyzing and solving complex energy problems.
• The graduate considers the existing and future challenges of power supply and can contribute to the transition of the energy system in a globalized society, from a technical and socio-economic perspective.