Programme Specification for the 2025/6 academic year
MSc Renewable Energy Engineering with Industrial Placement
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MSc Renewable Energy Engineering with Industrial Placement | Programme code | PTS2ENEENECA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Academic year | 2025/6 | |
| Campus(es) | Cornwall Campus |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
This programme is designed to develop a critical awareness of the engineering challenges, and their solutions, posed by a rapidly changing global energy landscape. It will provide you with the knowledge and skills to assess renewable energy resources, design appropriate renewable energy systems, evaluate the performance of these systems and provide a clear understanding of the impact that renewable energy development has on our existing energy system.
Based at our Penryn campus, with access to our well-equipped, state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, you will have the opportunity to expand your engineering proficiency and develop key professional skills within an environment that is specifically designed to enhance your learning experience.
The programme differs to others due to its significant flexibility. After providing a solid foundation in the core knowledge and skills required of a renewable energy engineer, you can choose from a wide range of optional modules (see Section 4), thus attaining a professional degree that is focussed towards your preferred future career pathway.
Additionally, you may wish to choose one of five specialisms and have this reflected in your degree title as below:
MSc Renewable Energy Engineering (Solar Energy)
MSc Renewable Energy Engineering (Energy Storage Systems)
MSc Renewable Energy Engineering (Offshore Energy)
MSc Renewable Energy Engineering (Wind Energy)
MSc Renewable Energy Engineering (Low Carbon Transport)
In order to have your specialism added as above you will need to choose and pass the module indicated in section five and make your specialism the focus of your final research project.
This choice is up to you and can be made after you start the programme. You are not required to choose a specialism and can still choose the modules as options even if you do not wish to have a specialism added to your degree title.
During the placement, you will be able to apply the knowledge and skills you have developed during Stage 1 of the programme and gain vital experience to help you become a professional engineer after graduation. The strong industry connections together with the highly relevant curriculum ensure that the graduates will have a significant advantage in the competitive marketplace.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
This Programme will provide you with core, up-to-date knowledge of the rapidly advancing renewable energy sector.
Through a wide range of compulsory and optional modules, it will:
- allow you to specialise in topics of your own choosing, leading to an MSc tailored to better suit your future ambitions;
- introduce you to conventional energy systems and explore how we transition towards higher levels of cleaner, renewable energy technology penetration;
- through the provision of detailed formative and summative coursework feedback, develop your professional skills in areas of: presenting, group-work, communication, and report writing.
- allow you to develop your software skills through training with leading edge, industry-standard software (e.g. GIS, CAD/CAM, PVSyst, GaBi, Bladed, MATLAB, etc.). (This is a representative list of some of the software used today. This list may change in order to stay relevant to the industry.)
- provide you with the opportunity to conduct research on an open-ended topic of relevance to the renewable energy sector.
- develop research skills, personal skills and core academic skills which will prepare you for a wider range of employment opportunities. To put these skills into practice and thus further develop them during your industrial placement.
4. Programme Structure
Your MSc Renewable Energy Engineering programme is a 2-year programme of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 7 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). This programme is divided into 2 Stages. Each Stage is normally equivalent to an academic year. The programme is also divided into units of study called modules which are assigned a number of credits. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.
Stage 1 consists of 4 modules taught over Term 1 and Term 2.
Stage 2 consists of a 9-12 month industrial placement, followed by completion and submission of the dissertation.
The programme stages are to be weighted 2:1.
Interim Awards
If you do not complete the programme you may be able to exit with a lower qualification.
- Postgraduate Diploma: At least 120 credits of which 90 or more must be at NQF level 7.
- Postgraduate Certificate: At least 60 credits of which 45 or more must be at NQF level 7.
In both cases you must have successfully completed the core programme modules.
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
The above table describes the programme modules. Given the rapid change in the renewable energy sector, these modules may be updated, deleted or replaced in future years as a consequence of programme development. Details at any time may be obtained from the College website for renewable energy (see http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/renewable-energy/).
You may take option modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module. Descriptions of the individual modules are given in full on the College website for renewable energy (see http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/renewable-energy/).
The table outlines the structure of the MSc programme. In Term 1, you will take two core/compulsory modules and select one of the optional modules. Short module descriptions are presented in Section 5. Every module has its own assessment criteria, details of which are provided in the module descriptors. In Term 2, you should select 4 of the 7 optional modules.
You may take up to 30 credits of optional modules at Level 6 which may include the following modules: BEP3010, ENE3002 or ENE3010.
After term two you will undertake your placement which will be a minimum of 33 weeks in duration and not longer than 52 weeks. After which you will complete and submit your capstone research project/dissertation that encapsulates the skills and knowledge that you develop during the taught sections of the programme. This research project may take any of several forms — it may be hardware or software based, theoretical/practical, or a combination. It should be predominantly of a research nature and aim to make a small but unique contribution to your chosen subject area. It will lead to a dissertation submission and presentation (outlined in the module descriptor), with the dissertation submitted at the end of Term 3 of your second year.
Students wishing to exit with the degree title MSc Renewable Energy Engineering (Solar Energy) must complete ENEM012.
Students wishing exit with the degree title MSc Renewable Energy Engineering (Energy Storage Systems) must complete ENEM014.
Students wishing to exit with the degree title MSc Renewable Energy Engineering (Offshore Energy) must complete ENEM009.
Students wishing to exit with the degree title MSc Renewable Energy Engineering (Wind Energy) must complete ENEM011.
Students wishing to exit with the degree title MSc Renewable Energy Engineering (Low Carbon Transport) must complete ENEM105.
Additionally, students wishing to choose a pathway should cover a related topic in their research project (ENEM104).
Stage 1
45 credits of compulsory modules, 75 credits of optional modules.
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENEM101 | Renewable Energy Systems | 30 | Yes |
| ENEM106 | Key Skills for Renewable Energy Applications | 15 | Yes |
Optional Modules
a Select one of these options (ENEM006 and ENE3002 can only be selected here if not previously selected).
b Select four of these options.
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENEM006 | Professional Ethics, Competence and Commercial Awareness see note a | 15 | Yes |
| ENE3002 | Network Engineering, Monitoring and Management see note a | 15 | Yes |
| BEP3010 | Social and Technological Innovation see note a | 15 | Yes |
| GEOM363B | Themes in Climate Change see note a | 15 | Yes |
| ENEM105 | Low Carbon Vehicles and Transport see note b | 15 | Yes |
| ENE3010 | Sustainable Architecture see note b | 15 | Yes |
| ENEM008 | Control Engineering for Renewable Energy see note b | 15 | Yes |
| ENEM009 | Advanced Marine Renewable Energy see note b | 15 | Yes |
| ENEM011 | Advanced Wind Energy see note b | 15 | Yes |
| ENEM012 | Solar Energy Research and Innovation see note b | 15 | Yes |
| GEOM247 | Transforming Energy Systems see note b | 15 | Yes |
| ENEM014 | Energy Storage Materials and Systems see note b | 15 | Yes |
Stage 2
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENEM018 | Research Project | 60 | Yes |
| ENGM028 | MSc Industrial Placement | 60 | Yes |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of conventional and renewable energy technologies. | Material is introduced through lectures, seminars, field trips, and guest lectures by industry experts, supported by directed research of texts and journals. Students are given clear guidance in how to manage their learning. Understanding is developed and consolidated in tutorials and by laboratory and private study exercises, carried out individually and in groups, both self-assessed and tutor marked to provide rapid feedback. Project work, involving real-world data and case studies, is used extensively to integrate material and make knowledge functional. Skills 1, 3, 4 and 5 are first introduced in the ENEM101 – Renewable Energy Systems, which acts as an introductory module for the MSc. These skills are then reinforced through subsequent term 2 advanced modules. Skill 2 is covered in ‘ENE3002– Network engineering, monitoring and management’ and continuously applied in many of the term 2 advanced modules. Skill 6 is developed throughout the whole programme. | Emphasis is placed on honing key academic and professional skills and for this reason the overall assessment weighting is approximately 20% traditional written examination and 80% coursework (excluding the research project/dissertation). Course work assessment is in the form of problem sheets, laboratory reports, computer exercises, group or individual feasibility study reports, practical exams, other reports or essays based on directed reading, research or field activities, posters/oral presentations (including the possible preparation and use of visual aids). |
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
7. Demonstrate a systematic and creative approach to problem solving. | Academic knowledge, ICT skills and core skills such as analysis, synthesis evaluation and problem solving are practiced and integrated throughout the MSc programme through active student-centred learning methods such as project work, group activities, seminars, workshops and field-based activity, and the final research project/dissertation. Modules present industry case studies and use real-world data in order to demonstrate professional approaches to problem solving, with students having the opportunity to deploy these approaches throughout their studies. | Independent project work or dissertations are used to assess students’ intellectual skills and abilities. ICT and analytical skills are assessed within many modules through a range of formal written examinations and marked coursework, often involving the use of dedicated analytical software packages (especially during the term 2 advanced modules). |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
10. Demonstrate a full range of transferable, professional employment skills, including: presenting, teamwork, project management, communication, lab work, research and report writing | Personal and transferable skills are developed through written work, presentations, seminars, open question and answer sessions, discussion and group work: team-working is developed through group projects and research. Students receive continuous formative and summative feedback to aid their development of these key professional skills. | These ILOs are assessed through written work, peer assessment, standardised observations by the lecturer against stated performance criteria, etc. Skill 3 is predominantly assessed via the final research project/dissertation. |
7. Programme Regulations
This programme is accredited by a PSRB under license from the Engineering Council. Therefore, the latest Engineering Council regulations on condonement apply to this. Please find further details in the TQA Manual here: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/about/governance/tqa/spec/
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
Academic and personal tutors. It is University policy that all Faculties should have in place a system of academic and personal tutors. The role of academic tutors is to support you on individual modules; the role of personal tutors is to provide you with academic advice and support for the duration of the programme and extends to providing you with details of how to obtain support and guidance on personal difficulties such as accommodation, financial difficulties and sickness. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.
Computing and library facilities. Students have access to good computing and library facilities on the Penryn campus. Computer-based exercises and web-based learning materials are a feature of the programme, which can be accessed via the internet. IT Services provide a range of central services, including open and training clusters of PCs (available on a 24/7 basis) within the Centre. Wireless network access is available from all rooms in the hall of residence on site. On the Penryn campus in Cornwall, the Learning Resource Centre contains a library of 70,000 volumes and some specialist collections. In addition, students have full access to the central University of Exeter library, including the electronic library resources.
Online study resources available through the Exeter Learning Environment (ELE) provide materials for modules that you are registered for, in addition to useful subject and IT resources. Generic study support resources, information on library and research skills, past exam papers, and the Academic Honesty and Plagiarism module are also available through ELE (https://ele.exeter.ac.uk/)
Engineering Teaching Laboratory (ETL). The ETL supports teaching in renewable energy-focused modules and is located on the top floor of the Du Maurier building at the Penryn campus. In addition to providing experimental rigs and demonstration space to support Renewable Energy Engineering modules, it also provides a suite of computers with specialist software for clean energy technologies, space for group and project work, and a dedicated digital maker space shared with other STEM disciplines. Access to these facilities will be available to all Renewable Energy undergraduates, including out of hours on request.
Renewable Energy Engineering Facility (REEF). In 2018, the department opened a new-build specialist energy engineering workshop, REEF. This new facility provides an opportunity for students to get hands-on experience studying the performance of renewable energy equipment in the real environment as well as energy efficiency analysis of the building itself. All students are fully inducted in the use of the workshop equipment, and a dedicated technician is available to support individual and group design and build project work.
Student/Staff Liaison Committee enables students & staff to jointly participate in the management and review of the teaching and learning provision.
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE)
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
Not applicable to this programme.
18. Final Award
MSc Renewable Energy Engineering with Industrial Placement
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | 240 |
ECTS credits | 120 |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
[Masters] Engineering (MEng)
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 20/03/2024 |
Date of last revision | 24/07/2025 |
|---|
