Sustainable Energy and the Environment (P.Grad. Dip)

Program Overview

The Sustainable Energy program equips students with knowledge in energy efficiency, sustainable technologies, and management strategies. Through three modules covering energy management, sustainable technologies, and an individual research project, students gain a comprehensive understanding of the field. The program prepares graduates for careers in renewable energy, environmental engineering, and sustainability consulting, offering flexibility through blended learning options.

Program Outline

Outline:

• The Sustainable Energy programme will advance students’ knowledge in efficiency techniques, sustainable energy technologies and energy management systems and strategies.
• The course consists of three taught modules:
• Module 1: Energy Management and Efficiency module will introduce topics such as energy physics, energy resources, climate change, and the environment.
Energy demand and management will be detailed in terms of policies in different sector, including buildings, transport and heavy industry. Topics in energy economics, policy, embodied energy and life cycle analysis, and legislation and energy markets will be addressed.
• Module 2: Sustainable Energy Technologies will introduce energy generation and conversion.
It will concentrate on renewable energy generation technologies (including lectures on wind, wave, tidal, biomass, biofuels, geothermal, hydro, solar, waste to energy) and low carbon technologies (such as nuclear energy, hydrogen, fuel cells). Grid integration and energy storage will be addressed as well as the future of fossils including clean coal and carbon capture and storage.
• Module 3: The Individual Research Project is a key element of the course where the theoretical and technical aspects of Sustainable Energy which has been presented, analysed and discussed in the other two modules are brought into practical and innovative focus.
Each student will be expected to engage in a piece of original study to reveal a novel aspect of sustainable energy.

Assessment:

• The Diploma award is based on a combination of the results of two examination papers and the individual project.
• Students must pass each paper and the project and neither of these can be deferred.

Careers:

• This course widens job opportunities for its graduates and allows them to access such positions as Renewable Energy Administrator, Energy Engineer, Environmental Engineer, and Sustainability Consultant.

Other:

• The course schedule and blended-learning format of this course will provide flexibility for students to participate in the course out of standard working hours, with the majority of the programme participation offering in-person or virtual learning options.