MSc/PgDip Sustainable Engineering: Offshore Renewable Energy
ApplyKey facts
- Start date: January & September
- Accreditation: RIN /IMarEST
- Study mode and duration: MSc:12 months full-time
PgDip: 9 months full-time 8th in the world for Marine/Ocean Engineering (Shanghai Rankings Academic Ranking 2023)
Study with us
- combines study in specialist, advanced engineering technologies underpinned with training in sustainability
- cross-disciplinary programme with input from industry
- satisfy key requirements to attain Chartered Engineer status
- develop sought-after understanding of sustainable approaches and practices
Why this course?
This flexible programme combines study in specialist, advanced engineering technologies underpinned with training in sustainability. The programme has been developed with direct industrial involvement to provide you with a solid understanding of modern, sustainable engineering. As well as gaining an understanding of how sustainable engineering applies to Marine Technology, this programme will also provide you with key transferable skills to aid your employability.
The course is designed for experienced or newly qualified engineers in:
- Naval Architecture
- Marine Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering or related disciplines
The Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering (NAOME), a leading institution in Scotland, offers excellent teaching and research facilities in naval architecture, ocean and marine engineering, which expands your career opportunities in naval architecture, marine, offshore oil and gas industry.
What you’ll study
Studying at least three generic modules will meet the key requirements to attain Chartered Engineer status.
You must take three specialist modules if you are studying for the Postgraduate Certificate and up to five if you are studying for a Postgraduate Diploma or MSc.
Successful completion of six modules leads to the award of a Postgraduate Certificate.
Group project
You’ll work with a group of students from different pathways of the Sustainable Engineering programme. You’ll produce sustainable solutions to real-life industry problems. This project will include site visits, field trips and progress reports to industry partners.
Successful completion of eight modules and the group project leads to the award of a Postgraduate Diploma.
Individual project (MSc only)
MSc students will study a selected topic in depth and submit a thesis.
Successful completion of eight modules, the group project and an individual project leads to the award of an MSc.
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the Royal Institute of Naval Architects (RINA) and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) on behalf of the UK Engineering Council.
Facilities
We have excellent teaching facilities including:
- Catalina – our departmental racing yacht
- Kelvin Hydrodynamics Lab – the largest ship-model experiment tank in any UK university
- Towing/wave tank exclusively for teaching purposes
- Marine engine laboratory
- Cutting-edge computer facilities
- Industry standard software
Student competitions
NAOME supports and promotes students in various competitions and awards, from cash bursaries for top performing students to the highest of awards from international organisations.
In recent years, students from NAOME have been triumphant in the following high profile competitions:
- Science, Engineering & Technology Student of the Year (SET Awards)
- Best Maritime Technology Student (SET Awards)
- Double winner of BP’s Ultimate Field Trip Competition
- Strathclyder of the Year
Course content
A typical selection of classes offered on the programme are outlined below. Please note that these classes may be subject to change.
Sustainability
This class aims to provide you with an understanding of the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development. The social, environmental and economic impact of development strategies will be identified and the mitigation of negative impacts discussed.
Energy Resources & Policy
Against the background of international commitments on atmospheric emissions, diminishing fossil fuel resources and the liberalisation of energy markets, this class examines sustainable options for energy production, supply and consumption.
The aim is to give you an understanding of current trends and to enable a critical evaluation of emerging ideas, technologies and policies.
Electrical Power Systems
This class aims to provide you with an understanding of the operation of modern electrical power systems along with the techniques to undertake a basic technical analysis of key electrical devices and systems.
Finite Element Analysis of Floating Structures
This module aims to provide you with a theoretical and practical knowledge of the finite element method and the skills required to analyse marine structures with ANSYS graphical user interface (GUI).
This module covers:
- introduction to finite element analysis and ANSYS GUI
- truss elements and applications
- solid elements and applications
- beam elements and applications
- plane stress, plane strain and axisymmetry concepts
- plane elements and applications
- plate & shell elements and applications
- assembly process and constructing of the global stiffness matrix
At the end of this module you'll be able to:
- understand the basics of finite element analysis
- understand how to perform finite element analysis by using a commercial finite element software
- understand specifying necessary input parameters for the analysis
- understand how to visualize and evaluate the results
There is one exam and one coursework assignment. The exam is during the exam period of the first semester. Exam has a weight of 70% and coursework assignment has a weight of 30%.
Renewable Marine Energy Systems
This module aims to provide you with:
- principles and methodologies to analyse and evaluate the marine renewable energy sources potential
- principles and methodologies to analyse and compare the main offshore wind, wave, and tidal systems available
This module covers:
- introduction to marine renewable energy systems: context, trends, basic concepts
- offshore wind energy resource characterisation and analysis
- wave energy resource characterisation and analysis
- tidal energy resource characterisation and analysis
- marine Renewable Energy Systems economics: an introduction
- offshore wind turbines: main technologies and modelling approaches
- wave energy converters: main technologies and modelling approaches
At the end of this module you'll be able to:
- analyse the potential of the main marine renewable energy sources (offshore wind, wave, and tidal)
- classify and compare, from a techno-economic point of view, the main offshore wind, wave, and tidal energy systems
- propose a preliminary design of a marine renewable energy system for a given geographical area
- discuss on the main challenges of the experimental testing of marine renewable energy systems
- demonstrate an awareness of the wider, multidisciplinary context for marine renewable energy devices
Assessment and feedback are in the form of:
- quick quizzes for formative feedback
- a class test, mid-way through the module, weighting 40% of the final module mark
- an exam, at the end of the module, weighting 60% of the final module mark
Physical Testing of Offshore Renewable Energy Devices
This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the underlying physics associated with scale model testing of wind wave and tidal current devices and the ability to execute and analyse hydrodynamic tests to assess the performance of marine energy generating systems.
This module covers:
- lab testing: device testing in wave tanks, towing tanks
- similarity, extrapolation to full scale, and scaling challenges for lab testing of marine renewable devices
- experiment design guidelines and standards
- instrumentation: measurement of fluid velocity, water surface elevation, pressure, force, displacement, velocity, and acceleration
- non-intrusive measurement techniques including PIV, LDA, motion capture, and ultrasonic probes
- measures of performance: linearity, repeatability, hysteresis, calibration
- data acquisition and analysis: data sampling, filtering, processing, statistical analysis
- sources of uncertainty, bias and precision, accumulation of uncertainty
- basic linear wave theory
- basic mechanical oscillator theory
At the end of this module you'll be able to:
- be aware of key instrumentation technologies, both traditional and modern, which may be used in them, and application of best-practice guidelines/standards
- understand different scaling laws which may apply from lab-scale or intermediate-scale field-trials to full scale
- be familiar with basic approaches to data analysis and be able to estimate the levels of uncertainty of their measurements
- be aware of techniques which can help them choose an efficient set of tests in the context of a highly time- and cost-limited campaign
Assessment and feedback are in the form of the online quizzes, laboratory exercises and coursework (three lab reports) which will test your understanding of the learning outcomes and your ability to apply your learning to problems. You'll also give a presentation on one of the labs.
Design Management
This class provides a structured introduction to the design management process, issues and tools.
Financial Engineering
The class aims to introduce elements of financial engineering that are applied to reduce risk of business insolvency and enhance the financial robustness of business enterprises.
Risk Management
You'll explore the entire process of structuring a risk problem, modelling it, supporting and communicating recommendations, both theoretically and in practice. Risk management is linked with decision analysis in so far as we explore decision-making under uncertainty and it has links with quantitative business analysis as we explore the use of statistics in understanding risk. However, the topic has some unique attributes such as risk communication and the role that experts play in risk assessment.
Project Management
Learning & teaching
There are two teaching semesters of 11 weeks each.
Each year about 15 experts from the industry give talks and seminars on wide-ranging topics. Industrial visits are made to a variety of companies.
You’re required to attend an induction prior to the start of the course.
Assessment
There are two types of method for module assessment. One is course work assessment only, the other is examination assessment. For examined modules the final assessment mark consists of 30-40% course work and 60-70% examination.
Chat to a student ambassador
If you want to know more about what it’s like to be an Engineering student at the University of Strathclyde, a selection of our current students are here to help!
Our Unibuddy ambassadors can answer all the questions you might have about courses and studying at Strathclyde, along with offering insight into their experiences of life in Glasgow and Scotland.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements/experience | Normally a first-class or second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) in architecture, engineering or related subject. Entry may be possible with other qualifications provided there is evidence of relevant experience and of the capacity for postgraduate study. |
---|---|
English language requirements | If English is not your first language, please visit our English language requirements page for full details of the requirements in place before making your application. |
Pre-Masters preparation course
The Pre-Masters Programme is a preparation course held at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre, for international students (non-UK/Ireland) who do not meet the academic entry requirements for a Masters degree at University of Strathclyde.
Upon successful completion, you'll be able to progress to this degree course at the University of Strathclyde.
Please note: Previous Maths & English qualifications and your undergraduate degree must meet GTCS minimum entry requirements as well as the pre-Masters course and an interview will be conducted before an offer can be made.
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
How can I fund my course?
Scottish postgraduate students
Scottish postgraduate students may be able to apply for support from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). The support is in the form of a tuition fee loan and for eligible students, a living cost loan. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from England
Students ordinarily resident in England may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance England. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Wales
Students ordinarily resident in Wales may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance Wales. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Northern Ireland
Postgraduate students who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland may be able to apply for support from Student Finance Northern Ireland. The support is a tuition fee loan of up to £5,500. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
International students
We've a large range of scholarships available to help you fund your studies. Check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Careers
Job titles include:
- Graduate Design Engineer
- Project Engineer
- Renewable Energy Consultant
- Thermal Performance Engineer
Employers include:
- Arup
- Eaton
- Esteyco Energua
- Granite Services International
- Moorfield International
- Mott Macdonald
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city
Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.
Glasgow is very famous for shipbuilding. I wanted to study my course somewhere with a long history of naval architecture as well as modern technology. Strathclyde is the perfect place for me.
Sustainable Engineering: Offshore Renewable Energy (MSc)
Apply
During the application process, you're required to upload the following supporting documents. If these are not provided, we'll not be able to process your application:
- certified individual semester mark sheets/academic transcript showing subjects taken and grades achieved for all qualifications
- if still studying, provide individual semester mark sheets to date
- certified degree certificate for all qualifications
- if still studying, provide this after completing the qualification
- provide evidence of suitable English language proficiency if English is not your first language, or you're not from a “UKVI recognised "Majority English Speaking" country”; check the University’s language requirements
- if you have been out of full-time education for over two years, provide a CV, detailing employment history, organisations worked for and a brief description of roles and responsibilities
- a copy of your passport containing your photo and passport number
- a copy of your sponsor letter/scholarship award (if appropriate)
- names, job titles and email addresses for two nominated referees
Start date: Sep 2024
Sustainable Engineering: Offshore Renewable Energy
Start date: Jan 2025
Sustainable Engineering: Offshore Renewable Energy (January)
Start date: Sep 2025
Sustainable Engineering: Offshore Renewable Energy
Start date: Jan 2026
Sustainable Engineering: Offshore Renewable Energy (January)
Contact us
Have you considered?
We've a range of postgraduate taught and Masters courses similar to this one which may also be of interest.
Fees & funding
All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.
Please note, for courses that have a January 2024 start date, 2023/24 academic year fees will apply. For courses that have a September 2024 and a January 2025 start date, 2024/25 academic year fees will apply.
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Annual revision of fees
Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that tuition fees are revised annually and may increase in subsequent years of study. Annual increases will generally reflect UK inflation rates and increases to programme delivery costs.
Scotland | £10,800 |
---|---|
England, Wales & Northern Ireland | £10,800 |
Republic of Ireland | If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process. |
International | £27,500 |
Additional costs | Course materials & costsPrinting Services Printing: Prices variable per size Binding: £3 per copy approx. Placements & field tripsTravel to the Kelvin Hydrodynamics Laboratory may be required depending on selected courses. Frequency variable: Average 5 visits if relevant to subjects. Bus fare £2-3 each way. Other costsAccess cards are provided free of charge. £10 charge to replace a lost card. |
Available scholarships | Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities. |
Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.