This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Read our cookie policy

MSc

Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology

The MSc Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology course will develop the cutting-edge multi-disciplinary knowledge and skills to enable you to develop a rewarding career in this fast moving growth industry.

How to apply Book an Open Evening Chat to Us

Key Course Details

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £10,800*

  • International students

    £16,900*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £1,200*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

The renewable energy master’s is based in USW’s Sustainable Environment Research Centre (SERC) - a leading and internationally recognised centre for more than 30 years. SERC is also home to The Wales Centre of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion and the University of South Wales Centre for Renewable Hydrogen Research and Demonstration.

Placeholder Image 1

DESIGNED FOR

In partnership with

  • SERC, Sustainable Environment Research Centre

Career paths

  • Energy Analyst
  • Operations Manager
  • Project Development Manager
  • Development Consultant
  • Environmental Manager

Skills taught

  • Leadership
  • Data analysis
  • Emerging technology use
  • Project planning and communication
  • Creative problem solving

Module Overview

The subjects taught are underpinned by high quality research which is rated as being mainly internationally excellent or world-leading in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework. This included research in Anaerobic Digestion, Analytical Technology, Bioelectrochemical Systems, Biohydrogen and Biomethane Production, Hydrogen Energy, Hydrogen Vehicles and Refuelling, Biopolymer Production, Modelling and Control, Nano Materials and Wastewater Treatment.

Hydro, Tidal, Wave and Wind

This module covers the mechanical renewable energy technologies. This follows the operating principles of these technologies to demonstrate how methods used for analysis of one renewable energy technology can be transferred to others effectively.

Solar, Heat, and the Grid

This module discusses the challenges facing our energy systems, the interrelation between power demand, heat demand, and transport. This is a critical issue for the future where these demand networks will increasingly be interlinked using renewable electricity.

Bioprocesses for a Circular Economy

This module covers the evolution of the concept of biorefineries. It moves from disposal of biodegradable waste in landfill, via anaerobic digestion, to bioplastic production, bioH2 and biomethanation as a route for carbon utilisation and resource recovery.

Industrial Resource Recovery

This module investigates thermo/chemical routes for resource recovery and production. It includes content on production of potable water, as well as pyrolysis, industrial waste gas recovery and upgrading, and incineration.

Hydrogen Energy

This module investigates the potential of hydrogen as a key solution to the energy problems of the 21st century, providing clean and efficient heat and power from a range of indigenous sources

Energy and Environmental Legislation and Policy

The module reviews the legislative frameworks aiming at security of energy supply, overcoming energy dependency, and improving global sustainable development by tackling issues such as clean energy supply, nature conservation, integrated pollution control, transboundary pollution, climate change, waste resources management and planning and land use.

Dissertation

You will complete a substantial dissertation project (60 credits) within the Sustainable Environment Research Centre where you will be supervised by our team of academics and researchers with access to our state-of-the-art laboratories. Your project may also be embedded into one of our externally funded projects such as FLEXIS, or SMART circle, bringing you into contact with industry and ensuring that your work is of industrial relevance. 

Course Highlights

How you'll learn

Each taught module consists of 36 hours of lectures, tutorials, and computing based practical sessions as well as our program of site visits to put the theory into context.

Full time students will typically attend two days a week, with part time students attending one day a week. You will also be expected to work and conduct research individually. 

Site visits includes tours of Radyr Hydro Power Station; Mynydd Portref Wind Farm; Cardiff WWTP; Court Farm Water Treatment Plant; and the Hydrogen Demonstration Centre at Baglan.

You will be able to learn key analytical techniques from our research team at our SERC labs. There will be different forms of assessment including projects, presentations, portfolios, and the written dissertation.

Teaching staff

  • Dr James Reed, (course leader) 
  • Prof Sandra Esteves 
  • Prof Richard Dinsdale 
  • Prof Alan Guwy 
  • Jon Maddy 
  • Dr Jaime Massanet-Nicolau 
  • Dr Tim Patterson 
  • Dr Christian Laycock 
  • Dr Stephen Carr 
  • Dr Iain Michie

Facilities

You will make use of our state-of-the-art biosystems laboratories including our Hydrogen Research and Demonstration Centre at Baglan.

Careers and Employability

Graduate Careers

There is substantial global demand for graduates with expertise in renewable energy and sustainable technology. The argument for the need to produce knowledgeable and highly skilled graduates in this area has never been stronger, and will keep getting stronger. The need to meet emissions targets and a net-zero carbon economy will create a need for highly skilled individuals to implement the changes.

Graduates with a renewable energy qualification can find work in multiple sectors from the renewable energy industry; local authorities; government regulatory agencies; manufacturing industries; energy and environmental consultancy companies; water companies; research and academia and national and international non-governmental organisations.

Possible career paths

Typical roles for graduates of this course include: 

  • Energy Analyst
  • Operations Manager
  • Project Development Manager
  • Process Engineer
  • Development Consultant
  • Environmental Manager
  • Biological Process Manager
  • Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Consultant

Graduates may also progress on to a PhD or research degree.

Careers Support

The University’s Career Services offers a range of advice and guidance to students.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Typical qualification requirements:

A minimum 2:2 Honours degree in a science or engineering-related subject.

International applications welcomed:

We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.

English language requirements

International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing or equivalent.

Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.

If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.

If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.

Contextual offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.

USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

 

We're here to help

Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.

 

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Fee

£10,800

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£16,900

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£16,900

per year*
UK Part-time Fee

£1,200

per 20 credits*

Further Information

Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.

Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy.  We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.

 

Fees and Funding Scholarships and Busaries Alumni Discount

Additional Costs

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.

University Quality Assurance

At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.

If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.

Life at USW

Halls are a big part of your student experience and there’s accommodation at all three of our locations. If you don’t want to live near the campus, there are great transport links to keep you connected.

A student sat smiling and talking to friends off camera in Treforest Student's Union
Student Life
The University's Ty Crawshays building at Treforest, Pontypridd.
Pontypridd Campus, Treforest
A double room at our Pontypridd accommodation featuring a large window.
Accommodation

How to apply

There is an online application process for this course. Please choose the application form for your preferred start date and mode of study (i.e. full-time or part-time).

International admissions

Please see our international admissions advice for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.

Next Steps

How to Apply
Book an Open Evening
Chat to Us